Since delving into enchanting literary works such as Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires, David Shalleck’s Mediterranean Summer, and Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun, I have been eager to expand my literary horizons and explore more of the “foodie lit” genre. In line with this pursuit, a couple of weeks ago, I picked up a copy of Julie Powell’s Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously at Half-Price Books.

Oh, how wrong my choice was!

At what juncture does one cease reading a book that is, quite frankly, dreadful?

I truly believed it was my issue until, just moments ago, I visited Amazon to obtain the book’s cover art and discovered its measly 2 1/2-star rating. Could it be that, by some slim chance, it’s not solely my perception? Can I now put an end to this torturous reading experience?

Julie and Julia is not even worthy of the effort expended in attempting to read it. The language! There is an excessive amount of information regarding intimacy! And more inappropriate language!

I would not touch this book again with a ten-foot pole, and I haven’t even completed it yet. I still have two hundred pages remaining, but I now realize that regardless of how engagingly Julie Powell writes about lobster, chocolate, and—yes, I’m struggling to think of a third food item to complete that list!—this book is not worth any more of my time. It is the Lord of the Flies within the realm of foodie lit. It is the book that I have been compelling myself to try and finish merely for the sake of being able to say “I finished!”—much like Julie herself is forcing herself through Julia Child’s (may she rest in peace) Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I simply cannot endure it any longer.

Please, dear readers, do yourselves a favor and skip this book. Instead, go and watch Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in what I now understand to be (albeit still imperfect) a significantly cleaner “Julie & Julia”. Revel in Stanley Tucci’s portrayal of Paul Child. (Isn’t Stanley simply amazing?) Do not give a second thought to the book. You are not missing out on anything.

Saw the movie - had to read the book.

So far, I have my reservations, but I'm not very far in yet. I thought the book would offer more depth and details that the movie might have missed. However, as I delved deeper into the story, my initial excitement started to wane.

I read a few more chapters and gave up. The author rambles - and not in a good way. The narrative seems to lack a clear direction, and the characters are not developed enough to hold my attention. I could not work up any interest in the folks in the book - just didn't care what they did next. Combine that with the author's potty mouth, and it becomes a real turn-off.

It's back to the Library to find a book worth reading - maybe Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. I'm hoping to find a book that can engage me from start to finish and leave a lasting impression. This is one of those rare examples of the movie being a lot better than the book. It just goes to show that sometimes, the magic of a story is better captured on the big screen.

This is a truly rare instance in which I firmly believe that the movie outshines the book.

Perhaps I'm a bit biased as I watched the movie first. The Julie portrayed in the book is far more self-deprecating and depressingly so, compared to the Julie in the movie. I find the latter much easier to relate to and cheer for.

Moreover, I really missed having the Julia Child perspective in the book. As we all know, I have a penchant for a good double timeline.

Nevertheless, I generally took pleasure in reading about the trials and tribulations of cooking through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". It has even inspired me to perhaps make use of my parents' copy to create something, despite the book's potential outdatedness.

I also think it's rather dumb that Julia Child was offended by the blog. She should be elated that someone was so passionate about her cookbook in the 21st century and should recognize that cooking has indeed changed over time.

This was a book that I finished, but didn't really enjoy.

I can understand that Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking was a significant influence on Julie Powell's life. The challenges she faced in sourcing Julia's ingredients, such as canned onions and marrow bones, were no doubt difficult. And working in a post-September 11th environment, which was likely depressing, added to her struggles.

However, I couldn't overlook the casual mentions of sticky, filthy, cat-hair covered counters and reeking body odor. Julie's descriptions really grossed me out! I admit that I'm not a big fan of eating the kinds of things in Julia's cookbook, and I've managed to avoid touching raw meat my whole life. But the thought of maggots growing in her kitchen was just too much.

How could she not notice maggots developing in her kitchen, especially when she had hosted camera crews and food writers while preparing complex French dishes? Wiping down the counters shouldn't be that hard, especially in a kitchen where she was handling lobster and deboning duck. You'd think she'd be more concerned about bacteria, especially when marinating a leg of lamb at room temperature for three days.

I found Julie's life anecdotes to be off-putting, repulsive, and depressing. They seemed to overshadow the main point of the story, which was her journey through Julia's cookbook.

So, while I congratulate Julie on turning her life around and sharing her experiences with us, I don't think I'll be looking for any more of her books.

There are very good books that are adapted into movies and when we watch them, we feel that they are a bit lacking. Even though they are good movies, some are very good, but never as good as the books: "The Hours", "The House of the Spirits", "Jane Eyre", the "Millennium" series (I especially liked the Swedish version), and the various adaptations of Jane Austen's works.

Then there are so-so books that are adapted into movies and make nice, "popcorn" or "Sunday" type movies. In these, often it is the actors who elevate the narratives: "Eat, Pray, Love" (a book that bored me so much at the beginning that I couldn't continue it), and this is an example of that.

Although I didn't finish 'Julie and Julia', I consider it read since I have no intention of picking it up again.

The book tells the story of a woman who finds a path that makes her happy (although sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but we'll get there...). The theme is good, but there were two main problems that made me stop reading it:

1 - The vulgar language.

2 - The lack of the "magic of food".

1 - I have chronic hives when it comes to the use of vulgarity (especially swear words) in books. Call me fussy, but there's no going back.

In the specific case of this book, I don't know where the problem comes from. Whether it's a problem of translation; or if it's a consequence of the author having written the book from the blog* she created for her project: to make all the recipes from the book 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' by Julia Child in one year; or if it's really the way Julie Powell writes (and speaks!).

However, tripping over, on every page, a speech full of unliterary words (this doesn't exist, but it was the best way I found to express it), bothers me, and, apparently, also to her husband:

"- Damn! It's eleven o'clock at night and I'm shitting myself over this fucking bread! - she said as she took them out and arranged them on two plates.

- Julie, seriously, do you have to talk like that?" (p. 64)

Three vulgar words in a fourteen-word sentence? I'll make them my own words.

Moreover, although I very well understand the frustration inherent in a culinary failure, as I was reading, I felt that poor Julie was constantly miserable with life because she couldn't find marrow or her eggs turned out badly...

But after all, wasn't cooking supposed to bring her pleasure? It seems to me that the constant irritation manifested throughout the book (at least, of the 110 pages I read), will still cause her an ulcer. As the very dear Carlos Paião used to say "dwelling on things harms the gallbladder".

Or was it that American pressure to achieve success/to be successful that undermined the pleasure of the cooking process for her? There is a scene in the movie where Julia Child is cutting onions with an incredible speed (and perseverance). She is competitive, wants to be the best in a man's world, wants to be recognized and respected, and doesn't accept being told that she can't do something because she is a woman. But what Julia Child seems to have, that Julie perhaps doesn't have, is that ability to fight to achieve what she desires without getting frustrated along the way, and maintaining her elegance (no swear words!).

*Even in a blog/facebook/whatever, it seems to me to be a language that is too vulgar...

2 - It lacks the "magic of food" that is found in other books, such as "La cucina" and "Like Water for Chocolate". In those books, we imagine the entire environment around the food, from going to buy the ingredients, to their preparation, making, the smells and vapors in the kitchen, and then to their tasting. In those books, cooking and eating are pleasures. There is a sensuality in the whole process. In this book, what there is, generally, is a lot of difficulty in finding uncommon ingredients in the American kitchen, a lot of swear words during those quests, and of course there is the pleasure of the goal achieved (something very American) and also of savoring the final product, but it was lacking. The so-called magic that Laura Esquivel and Lily Prior manage to convey and that makes me want to fly to the kitchen... I love to eat, and also to cook, if the book had a little more of "this", perhaps I would have been able to overcome the issue of the language, and would have been able to read it to the end.

What a disappointment!

I had high hopes that it would be an enjoyable and engaging read. The concept of someone dealing with a life crisis by cooking their way through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume 1" seemed really interesting.

However, my excitement quickly turned to dismay after reading the first few chapters and skimming through the rest. The excessive use of profanity, baseness, and the constant dropping of the f-bomb was highly inappropriate.

It not only detracted from the overall tone and quality of the book but also failed to add any value or depth to the content.

It was truly a letdown, and I couldn't bring myself to continue reading.

I ended up throwing the book in the trash, feeling rather frustrated and disappointed.

It's a shame that such a potentially great idea was marred by such inappropriate language.

Perhaps the author should have focused more on the actual cooking and the journey of the protagonist rather than relying on vulgarity to try and make the story more interesting.

Overall, it was a huge disappointment, and I would not recommend this book to anyone.

I don't think I've ever said this before, but here it goes: Skip the book and just watch the movie.

Nora Ephron's sweet, joyful film celebrates food, women, and marriages with plucky, likable heroines. This book, however, does not.

The real Julie Powell is portrayed as dour and disdainful. She's the kind of person who self-identifies as "sarcastic" but is really just an unfunny asshole. Her tone completely put me off, and her writing seemed lazy and often painful.

She made some truly bizarre comparisons. For example, she compared trussed chickens to "sex-crime victims." What on earth was she thinking? And she described microplanes as "almost pornographically simple." Again, what?

Some other highlights (or rather, lowlights) include her statements like "It makes me wonder if I just don't have a knack for this happiness stuff" and "I've never been much good at contemplation." Well, good thing she wrote a memoir, then.

One of those books where the movie is like thousands of times better.

There is not that much cooking in the book, but rather loads of pointless swearing and sex. The main character, she is just an egocentric, disrespectful, and sad woman.

I wonder how she managed to not get fired while constantly badmouthing her bosses in a government-paid job through her blog every day. No wonder the real Julia Child wanted nothing to do with her.

The book was read by Powell herself, and it was not good at all. It actually made the main character even more unsympathetic.

In conclusion, I do not recommend reading or listening to this book. It would be much better to watch the movie one more time.

The overall impression of this is actually about 2.5 stars.

The tone adopted throughout comes across as somewhat whiny. It seems that there is a constant undercurrent of dissatisfaction or complaint.

This kind of tone can be off-putting to the reader as it may give the impression that the author is not being objective or is overly focused on the negative aspects.

While it's important to express opinions and concerns, a more balanced and less whiny approach would likely make the piece more engaging and persuasive.

It might be beneficial for the author to reevaluate the tone and try to present their thoughts in a more constructive and positive light.

This could potentially enhance the overall quality and impact of the article.

Zabavno, duhovito i šarmantno od samog početka!

This description immediately catches our attention and makes us curious about what follows. It implies that whatever is being referred to is full of fun, has a lively spirit, and is charmingly engaging from the very beginning.

Perhaps it's a story, a performance, or an event that starts off in such an exciting and captivating way. The use of these adjectives creates a vivid image in our minds, making us eager to experience or learn more about it.

We can imagine the laughter, the energy, and the pleasant atmosphere that must have accompanied this thing from its inception. It seems to have the power to draw people in and make them enjoy every moment.

Overall, this short but impactful statement makes us look forward to uncovering the details and sharing in the zabavno, duhovito, and šarmantno experience.

In my opinion, the movie is extremely beautiful.

It has a unique charm that can attract the audience's attention from the very beginning.

The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns, making it impossible for the viewers to take their eyes off the screen.

The acting skills of the actors are also remarkable. They bring the characters to life vividly, making the audience feel as if they are in the movie themselves.

The cinematography is outstanding, with every frame being a work of art.

The colors are rich and vibrant, and the lighting is恰到好处, creating a wonderful visual experience.

In short, this movie is a masterpiece that is well worth watching. It not only entertains but also touches the heart and leaves a deep impression on the viewers.

Disclaimer: I don't usually write reviews as I believe that if I don't like a book, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a terrible one. It's just that it may not suit my personal taste.

I'm only penning this review so that I can recall what it was that I didn't like about it.

Although this book is well-written and has a certain wit to it, I simply couldn't bring myself to like it. Julie comes across as extremely whiny and is really mean to her husband. She constantly makes inappropriate comparisons to sex and swears like a sailor.

If these aspects had been more moderate, I might have been inclined to give this book three stars for its humor and interesting plot. However, unfortunately, that's not the case. It's just not the right book for me.

Maybe others will enjoy it more, but for me, it just didn't hit the mark.