Me and Julia...on the Kindle

Cover of My Life in FranceThanks to my wonderful and much adored Kindle, I had the opportunity to read Julia Child's autobiography, My Life in France. Her writing is both passionate and revelatory. The book is a testament to both her passion for food and the wondrous love and acceptance that existed between her and her husband, Paul. At no point does she exclaim her adoration for him, nor he for her, but throughout the book it is patently evident that theirs was an extraordinary love story, filled with complete respect for each other. They obviously gave each other the space to be exactly who they were.

I had previously seen the film Julie and Julia and had fallen deeply in love with Julia Child through Meryl Streep's portrayal of her. The autobiography has only served to enhance that. Mrs Child's telling of her story is charming and humble. Her enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonderment at all she encounters is positively infectious and her humility at what both she and her husband achieved is, in itself, humbling. She is truly inspiring and has become something of a hero for me. I love how she conveys both her passion for and determination to master food (particularly French cuisine) and the extraordinarily subtle way in which her adoration for Paul intertwines itself throughout her story.

The story fills me with passion for food and a terrible wanderlust. This was a woman long before her time. A pioneer in her own way and definitely an exceptional advocate for strong women everywhere. I love her descriptions of herself and her sister. What a accepting family she was raised in. One that placed almost no importance on beauty and a great deal on learning. I like Mrs Child. If I could have a dinner with anyone, past or present, she'd be at my table and we'd be sniffing and tasting everything and comparing notes to try out recipes later.