Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
My Life in France
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
Julia Child singlehandedly created a new approach to American cuisine with her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show The French Chef, but as she reveals in this bestselling memoir, she was not always a master chef. Indeed, when she first arrived in France in 1948 with her husband, Paul, who was to work for the USIS, she spoke no French and knew nothing about the country itself. But as she dove into French culture, buying food at local markets and taking classes at the Cordon Bleu, her life changed forever with her newfound passion for cooking and teaching. Julias unforgettable story struggles with the head of the Cordon Bleu, rejections from publishers to whom she sent her now-famous cookbook, a wonderful, nearly fifty-year long marriage that took them across the globe unfolds with the spirit so key to her success as a chef and a writer, brilliantly capturing one of the most endearing American personalities of the last fifty years.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
TheSpineView
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Movie: Julie & Julia

Klou Perfect! 4mo
TheSpineView @Klou ❤️🍽 4mo
47 likes2 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

I first read this book when the Julie/Julia project blog was happening, and I was thrilled to read it again with my current #LMPBC group. Julia Child is someone I really wish I could have met.

@BookishBelle I‘ll get this in the mail by the end of the week. Just need to finish up writing my notes.

TheBookHippie It was a nice revisit!!! That was my third time through! I would have loved to meet her as well! 5mo
ChaoticMissAdventures I didn't know anything but that she had an interesting voice and cooked on TV before I picked this up, it was such a wonderful book I fell in love with both and Paul. They were amazing people. 5mo
Traci1 I loved this one. 5mo
MatchlessMarie That must have been neat to read while the project was ongoing! 🧁 5mo
67 likes5 comments
blurb
TheBookHippie
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

@megnews books arrived #LMPBC ♥️

review
BookishBelle
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed reading about Julia and Paul‘s time in France, etc. It made me hungry for travel and for all the yummy food she describes. I‘m planning to get this in the mail this week. #LMPBC @suvata @megnews @Bookwormjillk @TheBookHippie

Bookwormjillk I better make a snack before I read this one. 8mo
19 likes1 comment
review
MaureenMc
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

Charming and delightful! Loved spending time with Julia and Paul during their adventures in France. Perfect springtime read. #50in50

mabell This was such an interesting, enlightening read! She lived quite a life! 10mo
MaureenMc @mabell Yes, truly amazing! 10mo
51 likes2 comments
blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

#WomensHistoryMonth recommendations

I have raved about this book before, but Women's History Month is the best time to push again for people to read this!!
I am famous in my friends and family circle for hating everything about cooking or the kitchen, but this Julia Child memoir still had me obsessed! Her humor and grit shine through her writing, she talks about not only cooking but fighting her way through school, infertility, and her love.

blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

#manicmonday #letterm @CBee @Librariana

📚 My Life In France
✍️ Emily St John Mandel
🍿The Mummy
🎤 Tom Morello
🎶 Montero (Lil Nas X)

Librariana I have not read anything by Emily St. John Mandel and yet... I have three of her books at home because I am convinced I will love them. I'm awful, aren't I? 🤪 Thank you for tagging me! And hooray for a Little Nas X song choice! 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures @Librariana I do this so often!! My TBR bookcase is out of control, I have started the purge. 1y
18 likes2 comments
review
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

A rare 5⭐read

Me: a vegetarian who hates the kitchen

This book: a masterpiece.

I loved the interjections and excessive use of exclamation points!! Julia Child sounded like a riot of fun and love. The story was adventurous and entertaining, it is her memoir so it is a one sided story. I am curious now about Simca's version of how the books came together.
A well written & whitty feminist book about a woman finding her passion. Loved it.

quote
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

"French bread was the recipe I worked hardest on that the fewest people bothered to try"

The first version of Child's volume 2 cookbook had people placing the bread in the oven on asbestos cement slabs!! It was a good thing not many people attempted the recipe.

quote
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

Just lovely. Does anyone know -does Paul Child have a book of his work? Many of the photos in this book were taken by him, it would be wonderful if there was a book or exhibit of his work.

quote
ChaoticMissAdventures
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

I am blown away by this book. I love her story and storytelling, and these photos in the book are gorgeous.

review
Beatlefan129
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

Of course I knew who Julia Child was before I listened to this audiobook, but I didn‘t know many details of her life. This book captures the period of her adult life starting when she moved to France with her husband Paul in 1948. I was completely charmed hearing about how she fell in love with French food and culture. I also learned that she did not take her first professional cooking course until she was 37 years old, which I find so inspiring.

76 likes2 stack adds
review
rachelk
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

Child is so charming that you can‘t help but enjoy spending time with her on a journey to late 1940‘s early 1950‘s France where she finds her true calling. The book reminded me that the political climate of her day (McCarthyism) was awful too. It also reminded me that everyone starts somewhere…and that I‘d love to make something delicious from one of her famous cookbooks. Bon Appétit!

AmyG This book was a surprise for me….how much I enjoyed it. 2y
rachelk @AmyG That‘s exactly how I felt! 2y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Chab256
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

Although I've never cooked a thing from her cookbooks, I've always adored Julia Child. I love My Life in France! #CurrentlyWatching the new HBO Max series Julia. Loving it so far!

AmyG Thanks for the heads up! I meed a good series to watch. 2y
32 likes1 comment
blurb
tpixie
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

I was delightfully surprised by this book I read LAST YEAR. I have her cookbooks. I hope to finally explore them this year!
#FirstLast

EvieBee 😍😍 2y
tpixie @EvieBee she was really proud of her mayonnaise recipe so I‘m going have to be brave and eat raw eggs! she also worked hard on her bread recipe. 2y
EvieBee You‘re a brave soul! I eat everything BUT I have this weird mayonnaise phobia. 🤣 2y
tpixie @EvieBee lol 😂 well I‘m kind of worried about the raw egg I‘m not certain if I‘ll be able to make it. But I love Hellmann‘s! 2y
64 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
EvieBee
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

I saw the new JULIA documentary
at an independent theater last week.
It was soooo good! The material is
gleaned from all the biographies written in
the last 15 years.
Highly recommend! And now to get to
all those books! The tagged book is
the only one I‘ve read thus far.

https://youtu.be/aon49topYHo

tpixie Sounds so good! Can‘t find it near me 😒 2y
EvieBee @tpixie I keep checking to see when it will be for sale, but nothing thus far. 2y
tpixie @EvieBee I will too ( adorable puppy 🐶) 2y
See All 9 Comments
EvieBee @tpixie Thank you! ♥️ 2y
EvieBee @tpixie Julia‘s available to rent! I added it to my watchlist because I have a feeling it‘ll be for sale in another month or so. https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Jos%C3%A9-Andr%C3%A9s/dp/B09MZPRTSW (edited) 2y
tpixie @EvieBee awesomeness thanks 😊 2y
tpixie I started listening to the book today!! I‘m going to tell my sister to read it and then when I visit her at the end of January we can watch the movie 🎥! 2y
EvieBee @tpixie That sounds like a perfect plan! I know you‘ll enjoy this book. I also took it in on audio and it was great! 2y
tpixie @EvieBee 🥳😊♥️ 2y
61 likes9 comments
review
Amiable
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Julia Child in this memoir —she was witty, intelligent and wickedly funny. I admire her passion for learning how to cook and mastering her craft. Some of the book is overly detailed (too much so, IMO), but Julia‘s charm and joie de vivre wins out in the end. Thanks for the experience, #LMPBC #Round12 #GroupN !

sharread Yippee 📚👻🎃❤ 2y
59 likes1 comment
review
sharread
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

5 stars. This was a delightful read, easy to follow, funny at times but mostly very interesting. Julia lived an amazing life, with some challenges she overcame every one. I really enjoyed this one, made me hungry at times. LOL Thank you for sharing #LMPBC @Amiable @ncsufoxes @Hazel2019 @suvata Oh the photo on the cover is a Valentine's Day card, they mailed out every year of themselves. #ROUND12

Amiable Looking forward to this one! 3y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
JenlovesJT47
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

This has been on my TBR for years, since my first time watching Julie & Julia (which I love!). I‘m giving this a pick because I enjoy learning more about cooking and especially anything to do with France — it‘s exciting to me that I can read all of her French phrases and understand most of them very well! I can also appreciate the massive amount of tedious work that Julia and Simca put into Mastering The Art of French Cooking I & II. The only ⬇️

JenlovesJT47 Drawback to this book for me is that it has made Julia a lot less relatable than she comes across in the movie (Meryl is amazing!) — for lack of better terms she comes across a bit arrogant and very snobby. But still, I admire her for her passion for cooking and how she was always bursting to learn new things, even in her 80s. She had a fascinating life. 4⭐️ #biography #memoir #cooking 3y
53 likes1 comment
blurb
ncsufoxes
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

July #bookspin board. I read 6 books for the month, 2 bingos, read both my #bookspin book & my #doublespin, first time that has ever happened. Hood Feminism was my favorite book for the month.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Great month!! 3y
20 likes1 comment
review
ncsufoxes
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

Finally finished my #LMPBC book & one more #bookspin book down. I have mixed feelings on this book, on one hand it was very thorough & interesting to see how much Julia Child kept track of or remembered about her life. On the other hand, it was very, very detailed, which got to be not as enjoyable to read. I liked the book & definitely learned more about Julia Child. She revolutionized how people viewed French cooking and even cooking in general.

ncsufoxes Good overall but I have realized that I am not that adventurous of an eater when she was describing some of the meals. On its way to you @sharread 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
sharread Can't wait. Thanks 3y
20 likes3 comments
blurb
ncsufoxes
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

Finally posting my July #bookspinbingo board, it‘s been a busy few days after flying cross country

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
13 likes1 comment
blurb
alisiakae
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

#Movie2BookRecs Day 1 #MerylStreep

I‘m terrible at photo challenges, but this is a fun one so I‘ll participate when I can. Day 1 and there are so many Streep movies I love! I felt she did an amazing job in Julie & Julia, and if you loved this movie, definitely check out Julia Child‘s memoir. It‘s a fantastic read and Julia‘s personality shines through! I love her just as much as Meryl. 😃

AmyG I, too, love this movie. I always watch it if I find it n TV. 3y
Klou Thank you for taking part in my challenge!! I haven't seen this movie, I definitely need to! Great job!! 3y
alisiakae @Klou Julie & Julia is a fun movie, and it's based on a book too 3y
See All 6 Comments
Chrissyreadit I sent you an email- let me know if you receive it, to make sure the email is correct. 3y
alisiakae Got it, thank you! 3y
Klou @4thhouseontheleft thank you for the info. I'll definitely add them too my tbr and tbw! 3y
53 likes6 comments
review
HeatherBookNerd
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

Julia Child had such an interesting life, a career she was truly passionate about, and a beautiful marriage. She had a joyful way of looking at the world and overflowing enthusiasm for every new food and person who came her way. Delightful book.

#readharder

Traci1 I loved this book. She was a fascinating woman. 3y
HeatherBookNerd @Traci1 I don‘t care about cooking AT ALL and still just loved hearing about her life. 3y
Traci1 @HeatherBookNerd me too. She actually made me want to learn to cook for about 5 minutes after reading it though. 😁 3y
41 likes3 comments
review
Howard_L
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

A rare autobiography where I like the person less after reading the book. I wasn‘t crazy about the writing style in general. It lacked substance and depth. I was disappointed in her cavalier attitude about her fathers passing and his portrayal overall. Also her ‘contratemps‘ with friends. Her love for her husband appeared genuine but he seemed to have been dumped in a nursing home toward the end, his and the books. Good food notes.

review
Mitch
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

There's so much passion in this book. Passion for family, friends, a country and most of all a passion for food. Passion is oozing from the page - along with delicate descriptions of tastes, restaurant experiences and kitchen layout! Along with evocative descriptions of daily life - of markets, apartments and dinner parties - this is a feast for every foodie!

Chab256 One of my favorites! 4y
catebutler Definitely one of my favourite foodie books!! So glad you enjoyed it! 4y
90 likes2 stack adds2 comments
blurb
Mitch
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

As I‘m sitting reading the tagged book I couldn‘t help but google her dreamily described south of France house. And you can stay there! It even has the same kitchen set up ! Just got to get rich quickly and then book it out for a few months straight 🤞🏼😱

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/julia-childs-home-in-provence-for-sale

Leftcoastzen I want to go! 4y
Mitch @Leftcoastzen the kitchen looks amazing.... and the heat .... and the pool ..... and the olive trees!💕 4y
squirrelbrain If we all start saving we could have a #readingretreat there in a couple of years! 4y
See All 6 Comments
Mitch @squirrelbrain 👍🏼🥳👍🏼🥳 4y
TheSpineView That looks lovely! What a dream!😍 4y
BennettBookworm Omg!!! 4y
72 likes6 comments
blurb
Mitch
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

It seems wrong to start a memoir on exquisite French food with a tall glass of Dr P! Fusion! #newbookday

Cortg Gorgeous yard! 😍 4y
Mitch @Cortg thank you 🙏 Lockdown has meant its got the attention it‘s always craved! 4y
Cortg Nice! Mine was getting attention but it fell to the wayside when I started back to work a few weeks ago. 4y
See All 9 Comments
AmyG I just loved this book. Hope you do, too. ❤️ 4y
magyklyXdelish Your backyard is GORGEOUS 4y
NikkiM5 Beautiful reading spot 😍 4y
catebutler This was such a fabulous read, enjoy!! 4y
tracey38 Beautiful spot! 4y
Chrissyreadit Dr P is my absolute favorite 🥳🎉 4y
98 likes3 stack adds9 comments
review
Tali
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
Pickpick

Love! One of my favorite food memoirs.

blurb
cjk
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

📚Indoors
📚coffee ☕️/gin and tonic 🥃
📚France because I‘m slightly obsessed with the food after finishing My Life in France. 🍽
📚turquoise
📚yes and no-it‘s patterned with bright green as well 😂

#Friyayintro @howjessreads

14 likes1 stack add
review
cjk
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

I became intrigued with Julia Child after re-watching the movie, Julie and Julia. I saw the movie when it was first released, but it didn‘t make an impression on me at the time. My Life in France is a charming account of Julia and her husband, Paul‘s life overseas and a fascinating look into the evolution of one of the world‘s most influential cooks.

cj82487 I just recently watched the movie on Hulu. I'll have to put this on my TBR 5y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
cjk
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

blurb
Well-ReadNeck
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
AmyG I loved this book. 💕 5y
98 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
Kboltz
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

If you grew up watching Julia Child when we all only had 4 channels you need to read this book. What a life! She and her husband were the best couple. Bon Appetit!

blurb
DebinHawaii
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

#WanderingJune
I imagine that American-born chef Julia Child & her husband Paul Cushing Child did a lot of #FrenchKissingInTheUSA as well as in their years living in France. By all accounts they were a very affectionate couple & made sweet & funny Valentine's Day postcards to send to their friends. ?❤️

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading it, Julia's "My Life in France" is one of my Top Ten Favorite Foodie Memoirs.??❤️

BiblioLitten Great choice! 5y
Cinfhen Julia Child always seemed so rigid to me, so im so glad to see this playful side of her 😍 5y
71 likes3 stack adds2 comments
blurb
dylanisreading
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
blurb
jb72
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

1. Crafting of all sorts and gardening.
2. Horror and nonfiction
3. 🐶 🐱 14 🐔 4 🐢
4. I‘m not sure how much of my Litsy TBR is unowned but probably most.
5. Salt and pepper shakers
6. I don‘t consider reading a hobby. It‘s a way of life and learning. It keeps the brain active and helps us understand one another.
#litsylovesurvey

review
davidjoseph
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

My brother-in-law recommended this one to me; he travels a lot and My Life In France is one he rereads every year.

I was really impressed. I had not realized how late in life Julia Child had married, learned to appreciate French cuisine, and launched her culinary career. I was surprised at how introspective this memoir was, and how honestly she spoke of her friendships and marriage. Just a delightful read.

CaramelLunacy I have been meaning to read this since I watched Julie & Julia as I enjoyed Meryl Streep's performance a great deal 5y
davidjoseph @CaramelLunacy Don't know if you ever read Julie & Julia, but this is so. much. better! 5y
jb72 That book was so good. I was surprised at how accomplished she was and loved hearing about her life and cooking career. 5y
DebinHawaii One of my favorites! 📚❤️ 5y
65 likes4 stack adds4 comments
blurb
kgriffith
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

DID YOU KNOW... that there are new Litsy wiki pages on LibraryThing? This is my first foray into wikis, prompted by the lovely #kindlitsy project @dariazeoli has been maintaining. Have you opted in? It‘s free, no obligation or tracking. Anyone with a LibraryThing account can edit the wiki, so add your name if you‘d like a chance to receive kindle books from fellow littens! https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/User:Litsy/kindlitsy @kindlitsy

Flaneurette I keep getting server errors the last 2 days and can‘t see these pages (edited) 5y
kgriffith @Flaneurette would you email a screenshot to me at Kirsten@LibraryThing.com please? 5y
Flaneurette @kgriffith it‘s working for me today, not sure what happened before? Sorry I didn‘t get a screenshot, I just got a message saying the server stopped responding on safari 5y
51 likes3 comments
blurb
kgriffith
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

Awww, you didn‘t have to, @Traci1😍 I named my KitchenAid stand mixer Julia, and have been calling up the Mastress Herself on my google home hub for such things as pie crust and other baked delights. This will be an excellent accompaniment. Thank you!!! 💜 #kindlitsy

AmyG This is such a lovely book. Enjoy. 5y
Traci1 I always hear her voice in my head when I'm cooking mushrooms. "Don't crowd the mushrooms!" ? I really hope you like it. Her life was fascinating to me. 5y
kgriffith @Traci1 hahaha now I need to find an episode where she cooks with mushrooms just for that 😊 5y
52 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
Deborah42
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

When she and Paul moved to Paris for his job, Julia Child discovered a passion for French cooking and teaching. Despite clashes with the head of Le Cordon Bleu, she completed their program. Her partnership with Simone and Louisette led to Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the cookbook that brought French cuisine to US kitchens and made Julia Child a household name.

review
Foragingfantasy
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

C'était magnifique! I absolutely adored this book. I poached fish and made a buerre blanc last night after I finished reading it. I want to go to Paris now and eat food at obscure French restaurants on Tuesday nights. I envy her, her outspoken manner and boldness. Her love story and life were worthy of remembrance. I won‘t be happy until I have all of her cookbooks.

blurb
parttimedomestic
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

My #lmpbc #round2 #texeast book made it back to me! I loved flipping through to read everyone‘s comments, I really loved this book and the whole experience!
Thanks @LiteraryinLititz @bookish_wookish @shadowspeak17 for being a such great group and for sharing your books and opinions with me! ❤️☺️

LiteraryinLawrence Right back at you! That looks delicious, by the way. Did you make it? Is it focaccia? 6y
parttimedomestic @LiteraryinLititz Thanks! Yes, it‘s focaccia with eastern spices. I‘m trying out some recipes from 6y
28 likes2 comments
blurb
shadowspeak17
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

My Life in France is on its way back to you @parttimedomestic!

#lmpbc #texeast

LiteraryinLawrence Hard to believe the 4 months are done! 😥 6y
shadowspeak17 @LiteraryinLititz I know! It all went by so quickly. 6y
32 likes2 comments
review
shadowspeak17
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️1/2
Well, this definitely seems to be an unpopular opinion, but I didn‘t enjoy this one much. Maybe I would have liked it better had I been a fan of Julia Child or at least a fan of cooking, but I‘m neither. I did enjoy reading about the process of writing and publishing “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” but the rest I found rather tedious.

#lmpbc #texeast #catsoflitsy #Ember

Amabear For a second I thought you balanced the cat on top of your book and I was so impressed 😂😂😂 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 😽😽😽 6y
shadowspeak17 @Amabear Hahaha, that would have been quite impressive. 😂 6y
Crazeedi Here kitty kitty, you are a doll! 6y
41 likes4 comments
review
Becker
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image
Pickpick

I would have never picked up this book on my own but after hearing about it on a podcast, I was curious to try it. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It was a nice little reward for stepping outside of my comfort zone. She was a dynamic, inspiring lady.🍷

blurb
shadowspeak17
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

It has arrived! I‘m starting it now. 😊

#lmpbc #texeast #catsoflitsy #Ember

parttimedomestic Alright! 👍 Hope you like it! 6y
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
shadowspeak17
My Life in France | Julia Child, Alex Prud'homme
post image

Thank you, @parttimedomestic! This was such a nice surprise! 😃 The card is so cute, and the tickets make such cool little bookmarks. I‘m not much of a cook, but those recipes sound so good! I‘ll have to try them sometime when I‘m feeling adventurous. Thank you so much! I‘m looking forward to reading your pick! 😊

#lmpbc #texeast