Comments on: Julie, Julia, and Ilene http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/ Behind the Book Reviews--The Official Blog of Booklist Online Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:54:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Laurie Cavanaugh http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-385433 Laurie Cavanaugh Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:37:00 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-385433 I just dug out my notes about Julie & Julia by Julie Powell because I remembered enjoying it, but the comments about whining made me wonder. I read it back in January 2006 and noted at the time that it was very funny, a “snappy memoir”. Julie was nearing 30 when she wrote her blog. People often tend to come across as a little self-absorbed and whiny at that age…especially to older people who wish they had the luxury of worrying about turning 30 again.

]]> By: Guy http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-385358 Guy Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:28:26 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-385358 Yes! Read My Life in France, for so many reasons: for Julia’s irrepressible joie de vivre, for her love of France’s culture and its people, for her insights into food and its preparation, for a first hand view of post war France and the American diplomatic corps of the time (including the plague of McCarthyism), for the painful getting published process, and for so much more. No whining from the good humored, laugh at myself Julia, just perserverance. Allez-y. Lisez.

]]> By: Paige http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-385086 Paige Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:00:12 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-385086 I disagree with Ilene’s review of Julie and Julia. I loved Powell’s witty comments and pop culture references. I didn’t think she was whiny, just real and her use of blog-speak is virutually a new genre in literature.

]]> By: Kate http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-385018 Kate Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:01:47 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-385018 I absolutely adored the movie and have actually seen it twice. And it of course made me want to read the books it was based on.

I’m almost done with Julie and Julia and while I’ve mostly enjoyed it, will not read it again. Julie is a whiny brat most of the time and doesn’t seem to take anything seriously. Reading her in Amy Adams’ voice does help, but I see now why Julia Child may not have liked her blog. I definitely prefer the movie Julie over the book one. I just bought My Life in France and can’t wait to start it. It looks wonderful.

]]> By: Noreen Fish http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-384978 Noreen Fish Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:04:04 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-384978 “Whiner” was my first reaction to Julie & Julia (the book) as well. I expected to enjoy it because I did rather enjoy her blog. The movie was amazing. Meryl Streep seemed to just inhabit Julia!

]]> By: Ellen http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-384940 Ellen Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:30:10 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-384940 I thoroughly agree with Ilene’s assessment of both books and the movie. I did manage to finish reading Powell’s book, although I admit to skipping large chunks of it. I am in the middle of My Life in France right now and it is DELIGHTFUL!! I find myself laughing out loud at it quite often. It’s one of those books that I don’t want to end. I was pleasantly surprised at the way Amy Adams made Julie’s character in the movie so much less annoying than she came across in her blog/book.

]]> By: laura http://blog.booklistonline.com/2009/08/19/julie-julia-and-ilene/comment-page-1/#comment-383458 laura Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:35:54 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/?p=3017#comment-383458 I haven’t read My Life in France, but I loved Julie and Julia. I shall have to check out the former and see if I like it, too.

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