Features:
- ISBN13: 9780316013260
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Product Description
Nearing 30 and trapped in a dead-end secretarial job, Julie Powell resolved to reclaim her life by cooking, in the span of a single year, every one of the 524 recipes in Julia Child's legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her unexpected reward: not just a newfound respect for calves' livers and aspic, but a new life--lived with gusto.
Review
Julie & Julia is the story of Julie Powell's attempt to revitalize her marriage, restore her ambition, and save her soul by cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I, in a period of 365 days. The result is a masterful medley of Bridget Jones' Diary meets Like Water for Chocolate, mixed with a healthy dose of original wit, warmth, and inspiration that sets this memoir apart from most tales of personal redemption. When we first meet Julie, she's a frustrated temp-to-perm secretary who slaves away at a thankless job, only to return to an equally demoralizing apartment in the outer boroughs of Manhattan each evening. At the urging of Eric, her devoted and slightly geeky husband, she decides to start a blog that will chronicle what she dubs the "Julie/Julia Project." What follows is a year of butter-drenched meals that will both necessitate the wearing of an unbearably uncomfortable girdle on the hottest night of the year, as well as the realization that life is what you make of it and joy is not as impossible a quest as it may seem, even when it's -10 degrees out and your pipes are frozen. Powell is a natural when it comes to connecting with her readers, which is probably why her blog generated so much buzz, both from readers and media alike. And while her self-deprecating sense of humor can sometimes dissolve into whininess, she never really loses her edge, or her sense of purpose. Even on day 365, she's working her way through Mayonnaise Collee and ending the evening "back exactly where we started--just Eric and me, three cats and Buffy...sitting on a couch in the outer boroughs, eating, with Julia chortling alongside us...." Inspired and encouraging, Julie and Julia is a unique opportunity to join one woman's attempt to change her life, and have a laugh, or ten, along the way. --Gisele Toueg
Customer Review:
Rating: 
Summary: A big disappointment!!!
After seeing the film, I looked forward to reading the book it was based on. I loved the movie! Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the book. Usually, the book is better than the movie, but not in this case.
I don't know how Powell was able to get this thing published, except that it was a novelty at the time. The writing is poor, and rambles on about nothing in particular. Not to mention the fact that her use of vulgarity is unnecessary and used way too often to suit any reader. Unlike the movie, the books dosen't go into the preparation of meals and the humor in preparing them. The only light present were the excerpts from Julia Child's life.
All I can say in closing is stick with the movie. If you like the movie, don't read the book.
Customer Review:
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Summary: A good read
I thought this book was a good read, but I can see why certain groups of people don't like it. Apparently most people either love it or hate it. I found it entertaining.
Don't read this book if you are a prude. Also, if you are looking for more information on Julia Child's life, read Julia Child's books instead for that.
Customer Review:
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Summary: it's a shame shame shame...
..that julia child's name is even used in conjuction with this book. it should be called the whiny, unrelentingly self absorbed brat, julie powell & what she's complaining about today.. the woman has no talent. it gives me great pleasure knowing julia child never read this overpriced piece of crap! she used juila child to gain fame & tricked us all into believing she actually cared about her, about cooking & about being a decent writer. stick to your blogs, julie. that way you can just disappear into the masses of mediocre writers & name droppers where you belong. ps- i was routing for your husband to leave you the entire time.
Customer Review:
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Summary: Loved it!
Great book! I loved her writing style and can't wait to read the next one.
Customer Review:
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Summary: Julie & her editor
It seems like most reviewers have more or less neatly divided themselves into those who hated the book AND Julie, and those who loved both.
I find it funny when people start giving a negative review to a book because the author swears or her kitchen is dirty. As psychotic as Julie is often portrayed (and I'm sure that Powell uses a healthy dose of hyperbole in the book), I think we all know exactly where she's coming from. I would bet that there isn't a single woman out there who could not relate to Julie in at least some way, most of us - in more than one.
The book, however, ended up disappointing me (thus the two stars). I can't believe some people call it "inspirational" and "profound". I think the book fell very short on profound stuff, even though it seemed to be heading in that direction for a while. And I failed to see how it's inspirational to know that of millions and millions of blogs out there a few managed to bring their owners money and fame. Maybe it's just me, but I find something "inspirational" when it compels anyone who reads it to make a change for the better, however small. By Julie's own admission, her life would have quickly returned to sucking after her 15 minutes of fame, had it not been for the book and the money. NOT the project.
So, really, the title of the book should have been "Julie&her editor", since THAT was what changed her life. Julia was just a pretext and didn't really take her (and, therefore, her reader) anywhere new psychologically and spiritually. Just out of the hated job and old apartment. And since we cannot follow her down THAT path, the end of the book felt very anticlimactic to me (I kind of figured she got the book deal from, well... the cover?).
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