I started reading My Life in France by Julia Child. It’s her recounting of the time she spent living in Paris when she really discovered her love of cooking. I just started it last night. Downloaded a free sample into the Kindle and burned through that so quickly I knew I had to buy the whole book.
SIDEBAR: This sample thing really is, for me, the best part of the Kindle. I've probably downloaded about 20 different samples. If I quickly reach the end of the sample in one sitting and simply cannot wait to read the next line, I will buy the book. If I get to the end and I really don’t care what’s next, or if it takes me a long time to get through the sample, I probably won’t like the book and I don’t buy it.
Anyway… back to Julia… last night she and her new husband took a boat to the Continent and drove south to Paris. Along the way they stopped at a little place to eat and the meal turned into a pivotal moment for her. She used the word “perfect” twice to describe first a piece of and then the meal as a whole. My favorite part was when she heard the waiter mention “shallots” and she said to her husband Paul, “What’s a shallot?” Julia freakin’ Child said, “what’s a shallot?” Love it. But it was making me hungry reading it.
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3 comments:
I read Julia's biography a few years ago - I think it was "Appetite for Life". Absolutely fascinating woman. They don't make 'em like that anymore, I think. Love the shallot story - of course, it it was butter, she'd know what THAT was! :-)
Well... first time this has happened to me: Appetite for Life was my first choice, but it was NOT available on the Kindle. But I have to say, it's great reading an autobiography of her because she has such a distinctive voice - I can hear it as I read. It's very inimiate and charming too. A lot about her relationship with her husband and their experiences as a young married couple. If you liked the biography I'll bet you will like this too. Last night they adopted a stray cat that kept hanging around their apartment. The more I learn about Julia Child the more I love her. I don't have a lot (any?) heros, but I think Julia Child is becoming someone I really, really admire. She seems to be a very WHOLE person. Did you read the Julie/Julia book - about the chick who cooked her way through the art of French Cooking and blogged about it? You'd probably enjoy that too, but for completely different reasons.
I agree - I just really dig how she never conformed to others' expectations. As a girl she was big and not graceful and just kind of did what she wanted to do - not in a bad, screw 'em all way, but in a I don't understand society's conventions kind of way. She had terrific adventures during the war and went to incredible places for a woman at that time. You always got what you saw, and most of the time that was someone living life to the fullest with a big grin on her face. I did read the Julie/Julia book - you made me! :-) That was good, too, but wasn't really about Julia as much as you'd like. I'll have to put the book you are reading now on my ever growing To Read list...
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