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Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child

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'Appetite for Life: The Biography of Julia Child' by Noel Riley Fitch provides a detailed account of Julia Child's life, showcasing her integrity, hard work, and passion for food. It delves into her relationship with her husband, Paul Child, and how he played a significant role in shaping her career. captures Julia's fun-loving and determined personality, highlighting her journey from a late bloomer in the culinary world to an iconic figure who revolutionized American dining.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends detailed narratives with engaging storytelling, though some readers found it overly detailed at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The biography details Julia Child's remarkable journey from the OSS to culinary fame, illuminating her marriage with Paul and her significant impact on American food culture.

Setting:

The setting spans post-war France and America, exploring Julia's culinary experiences and broader cultural shifts in dining.

Pacing:

While generally fast-paced, the book's excessive detail in some sections can slow down the reading experience.
PAUL DROVE Julia by jeep to a mountain retreat for a weekend, where they talked of meeting each other’s families: he had a twin brother, whose family lived in Pennsylvania, she two siblings and a fath...

Notes:

Julia Child worked for the OSS during World War II before becoming a chef.
She studied culinary arts in France, learning to cook in Paris.
Julia Child authored the influential cookbook 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' in the 1960s.
She had a colorful life filled with significant historical events, such as the McCarthy Witch Hunt.
Julia and her husband Paul Child were an incredible team in both marriage and cooking.
Her personality was characterized by integrity, passion, and a sense of fun.
Julia Child's influence raised American dining from mere sustenance to pleasurable experiences.
The biography details not just her cooking career but also the events that shaped her life.
The book provides a comprehensive look at her life but includes a lot of detail that some readers may find excessive.
Julia Child is remembered for her humor, gusto, and fearless approach to life.

From The Publisher:

Julia Child entered the lives of millions of Americans with her bestselling cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking; her popular and long-running cooking show, The French Chef; and her beloved memoir, My Life in France. In this intimate and revealing biography, based on exclusive interviews and scores of private letters and diaries, Noel Riley Fitch leads us through her incredible life.

We travel with Julia from her exuberant youth in California to her raucous days at Smith College; from her volunteer service with the OSS during World War II to the day she met Paul Child, the man with whom she would enjoy a fifty year marriage. We're with her when she takes her first culinary course at 37 and discovers her true calling; when she begins work on her landmark cookbook and suffers the rejections of most publishers in New York. And when finally her vision strikes a chord with a generation of Americans tired of bland cuisine, we're there to share in the making of a legend.

Julia Child became a household name by resisting fads and narrow conventions, by being the quintessential teacher and an inspiration to modern women, and by doing it all with her trademark humor and aplomb. Appetite for Life is her truly remarkable story.

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