My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’Homme
Reviewed by: Susie Rivera, Reference Specialist
Genre: Nonfiction, Biography
Suggested Age: Adults
What is this Book About? Step into the shoes of famous culinary master, Julia Child, as she travels with her husband Paul to Paris in 1948. Discover quaint Parisian shops, delectable cuisine, and charming cafes where food is considered an art form. My Life in France chronicles Julia Child’s journey from learning the French language to earning her diploma from the famous Parisian cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. She begins a friendship with Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck which leads to the idea of collaborating on a French cookbook for Americans. This memoir illustrates the birth of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the cookbook that later became an American classic. You may have seen the film Julie and Julia, which is partly based on this book.
My Review: I love to cook myself, and I was hooked by the very first pages of this memoir. If you like true stories and appreciate good food you will love this book. The descriptions of the places visited as well as the cuisine will leave you feeling as if you had been the one who traveled to Paris. But, this biography is also inspirational as Julia Child adapts to a new country, language, and culture. She struggled to find a passion and once she discovered cooking, she was inspired to make French cuisine accessible to modern, American cooks by perfecting recipes over several years. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of this title, but the print version does include pictures, so you may want to check it out as well to enjoy those little extras.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Nostalgic, delicious, armchair travel
Give it a Try if You Like: Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl, The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food by Judith Jones, the Great British Baking Show
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
