My Life in France by Juila Child // Review

 

Just speak very loudly and quickly, and state your position with utter conviction, as the French do, and you'll have a marvelous time! - Julia Child on French dinner parties.

I have loved Julia Child ever since watching Julie and Julia several years ago,  and falling so in love with it and both women, and as a result, I ended up hosting an elaborate French party just to have an excuse to show the movie to friends. Earlier this month I was catching up with a favorite youtube channel, and Petie heartily recommended "My Life In France." I've read several other books per Petie's suggestions on her blog, and loved every single one of them. So I ordered "My Life In France" from the library and was excited to read it. But I wasn't expecting to fall quite so in love with it. How could a book rival Julie and Julia? But this book is insanely adorable. One of the things I loved the most was the way Julia describes her experiences with food. She's not just telling stories about food, but she makes it almost as though the reader is experiencing the dishes with her, through her pen. It's not just a meal, but every bite of food was an exquisite experience for her. I find it amazing how she remembers every detail of different meals and dinner parties, right down to the sauces and particular bottles of wine.Another favorite aspect was Paul and Julia's relationship. It was interesting, because they met later in life, and married around 35 and 45, but never had children. But their relationship was sweet, fun and inspiring. She whole-heartedly supported him in his work and dreams, while he cheered her on right from the beginning. (He wrote to his twin Charlie, "Julie's cookery is actually improving. I didn't quite believe that it would, just between us, but it really is.") And they seemed so compatible. They both had their separate talents, interests and dreams, but they also shared a lot of the same interests, and they found great ways of meshing together and complementing each others strengths and weaknesses. Julia had so much energy. She was always off attending a professional lecture by some renowned Chef, exploring through the marketplace for the absolutely perfect mortar-and-pestal, or starting her own private cooking school, or a tv series, or traveling back and forth from the States and France. (Not to mention perfecting her mayo recipe, and using 200+ lbs of flour to find the perfect way to make french bread in a standard American oven. :) All in all, I loved this book so much. It was entertaining, funny, inspiring and entirely enjoyable.  {5 stars}      

5 Books I Will Never Recommend // a list

The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
I'll be honest. I did recommend this one a couple of times. But after trying to explain the plot and characters to people and seeing their horrified expressions, I won't be recommending this book! (It's not a bad book, in fact I thought it was brilliant and fascinating. But it's narrated by a character that is, quite literally, Death, and it sounds morbid and terrible when you try to explain that Death travels around the world carefully collecting souls... See, you probably think I'm super weird now. ;)

The Master of Ballantrae - Robert Louis Stevenson
I love most of Stevenson's books, but this one is one I read once and will never read or think about again. (although it's sitting on my bookshelf and I won't get rid of it because I'm a book hoarder.) It was just strange, and the ending was so ridiculous I laughed, although I think it was supposed to be a depressing ending.




Jacob Have I Loved - Katherine Paterson-
I've actually read this one twice, but it's so weird and depressing, (not to mention that she basically falls in love with a 70-year-old man when she's 14. STRANGE!) I don't know what I think about the story. It's sad.

Hard Times - Charles Dickens
UGH! I usually love Dickens, but this book was just positively awful! I finished it simply because I'm working though all of Dickens works so that someday I shall have the satisfaction of knowing I read them all, but unless you want a similar accomplishment, DON'T BOTHER WITH HARD TIMES!!


Call of the Wild - Jack London
I really intensely disliked this one. I think the perspective (from a Dog's point of view) was interesting, but so far fetched and absurd that I didn't enjoy it, and I actually don't let my siblings read it. (I do most of the previewing for my family.)

five fictional characters I would bring to life if i could

1. Anne Shirley

     Anne is so original, so inspired and beautiful. I think in some senses, she is a bit overly dramatic, (occasionally WAY over dramatic,) but she's fictional, so we have to forgive her of some faults. :) She's witty, eager to please, a dreamer and a go-get-er. She reaches for the moon, and then past it. Anne has dreams bigger than her own imagination, but she clings to the simple way of life, the little pleasures, if that makes sense. If I had got to pick a fictional bestie, Anne-girl would probably be the one I picked. (Sorry, Diana!)

2. George Knightly

     I love Darcy, and Tilney and all Ms. Austen's other heros, but when I think of Jane Austen my mind skips past all of them and right to Knightly. (actually, MR. Knightly. ;) I've always been adamant that marriages between people who's ages are too far apart (more than 8 or 10 years.) is weird and usually not a good idea. But then I read books about amazing people like Emma and Knightly and Little Dorrit and Arthur and I won't say they've changed my views but lets just say that I am more open to the idea than before. But seriously, Mr. Knightly is so sweet, so tender and not afraid to speak his mind even when it is painful. He is caring, sensitive, (Handsome, conveniently rich!), everything a young man should be! 

 My current TBR stack. 1. Hamlet, (can someone tell me that they loved this book please?! I've been too "scared" to start it. 2. The Space Trilogy, C.S. Lewis (I'm on the third one. They're weird.) 3. The Importance of Being Earnest and other plays. (the only one worth reading is Earnest.) 4. John Buchan's "The Four Adventures of Richard Hannay. (I'm struggling through these.) 5. The Hiding Place. (Really good so far, but I'm only two chapters into it. ;) I am excited to finally read her complete story. Ms. ten Boom was quite a woman!)

3. Edmund Dante

     It would be so cool to meet him, but terrifying at the same time. I'm not sure, if I had the power to make these literary hero's and heroine's really come to life, that I would bring Edmond. He is brilliant, and his knowledge and genius are overwhelming. While I love the story, the brilliance and complexity of the characters and plot-line, Edmond is actually terrifying, and I think I would be too scared to unleash him on the world. :) But since I don't have that power, I think it would be pretty cool to meet him! And he wasn't all scary, he had a sensitive, caring, and loving side to his personality as well. If you were his enemy, beware, you would come to ruin and probably lose your life in the bargain, but if this man was your friend or protector then you had the most amazing ally and the best and dearest of friends. 

This is a fantastic book following the entire war chronologically though with these nurses' experiences on the frontlines. I don't recommend reading it, though, unless you are doing research, or are REALLY interested in nurses during WW2. It's super sad, and really detailed. It is great, however!

4. Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter

     Technically that's four in one, but who's counting? :) I love the idea of really meeting them. (and to be honest, I think hanging out with Edmond would be a blast. Who said there isn't air inside?!) They're amazing and mature far beyond their years, especially after the first book or two. (although those are the best books.) 

5. Lizzy

     She's fiery, even a little radical for her day. She's outspoken and has quite the temper. She is loyal, loving, witty and charming. I think we would get along pretty well! Now the real struggle would be, would I bring her to my world? Or could I go to hers? :)

There are many more favorite fictional characters that I considered besides these five. But a lot of them I couldn't bear the idea of coming to life. Either their stories are much to sad or painful, or I couldn't stand the thought of pulling them out of their own worlds for even a minute. :) That idea probably sounds strange in itself. 

My math homework from today... or actually I think this was from yesterday, but nevertheless the notebook pages from the last few days have been rather filled with lots of tiny numbers. But they've been neater than usual. :) And I ate a package of smarties before sitting down to work this afternoon. Do you think that helped?! :)

Also, first prize to the person who can tell me what books these five lovely people are from, and second prize to those who caught the references. :) It should be pretty obvious, actually. :) 

autumn is a second spring // where every leaf is a flower - albert camus

this summer went by so fast, despite that it has been the "quietest" summer I can remember. we didn't have much going on, so I read. 42 books exactly since June 1st. I decided at the beginning of the year that this would be a year of much reading, because I have the time. I don't have a job currently, or college classes claiming all my time, so I set a relatively high goal for myself of 150 books. I just finished my 104th book late last night, and am 70% done with my challenge. 

I went on a road trip with some of my favoritest people on earth, (including this AMAZING person, she's in the gorgeous blue dress. ;)) and we got to play on the beach a little, and spend a lot of time being girls. :)

my brother trapped his second American Kestrel Falcon, (he is currently an apprentice falconer.) This is Odin, and his is gorgeous, fun to watch, and also insanely adorable when he puffs all his feathers out so that he looks like a super fat little robin. Kestrels are the smallest falcons in the US, and Odin is pretty tiny. Don't let that fool you, he is still perfectly capable of hunting and holding his own. 


I'm looking forward to fall, with the beautiful colors, {hopefully} the crisp, gorgeous days, dressing in boots, sweaters and scarves, and drinking many cozy warm drinks. This fall will bring lots and lots of school, (this is my senior year,) and maybe a job, and lots more changes. I think this is the year of change for me. 

this is a super rambly post, but ya know, i'm kind of a super rambly person, so it works. :) so let's talk.. how was your summer? Any special memories or experiences? :)

xx,