Julie & Julia

There has been a bit of controversy about this book. Who would have ever guessed? Controversy over a memoir of a non-famous person. Only in America. (First person who gets that reference earns an invisible cookie). 

I think many people got the wrong impression when hearing about this book (I did too, until I actually picked it up). This book is not really about cooking. Well, it is, but not in the way that actual foodies (who are probably the majority of first readers out there) are going to appreciate. This book is about Julie Powell's life for that year... the cooking is just a big part of it. However, she doesn't explain her recipes much, you're not going to glean wonderful tips about how to prepare the food, etc. It's mostly about her journey... funnily enough, this is a lot of what I read people complaining about-- her self-centerdness. I laugh a little at that considering this is actually a memoir, not a cookbook. I imagine if one was opening the spine to have a look at some fantastic recipes they would be mightily disappointed. 

I wouldn't necessarily call her whiney, but she's definitely not gentle. I am assuming the movie is going to cutsie her up some to appeal more to the masses. I think she can be funny, raw at times, honest (to a point which might offend some people), and articulate. Would I want to go have a cup of cocoa with her? No. Do I feel bad for her husband because of the way she treats him sometimes? Yes. However, she wrote the book, therefore portraying herself in this light. So, I can only imagine she did it on purpose. My thoughts are that she's someone who, during the book, is at the end of her 20's, in a job she doesn't like, leading a life that she doesn't know where is going... so she decides to try something that will give her an ounce of control. 

I hope those who are giving the excessively negative reviews (not the people who just didn't like the book-- it's to be expected that not everybody would), because of not liking the direction, flavor, and purpose of the book, recognize that this book was not meant for them. And neither was the original blog. Perhaps they had no business reading it if they were not coming at it with the understanding of what it's like to define or redefine yourself, and definitely not judging it. Because, how can you judge something that you know nothing about? If you've never taken the kind of risk that Powell did (doing something that others deem entirely crazy in order to prove a point to the most important person in your life-- yourself) how can you possibly make any claims about the endeavor?

As you might have guessed, I feel like I can relate to Powell's journey. She started her blog at 29 (me too) when she was desperately unhappy with what she was doing with her life (I was as well), and thought a project might bring a little more meaning to her life... a purpose to come home to (mine was a purpose to start my day with). She wanted to find something fulfilling. The project wasn't meant to make her a gourmet cook, it was a way of shattering the mundane colored wall that surrounded her existence. It wasn't her ultimate passion, it was an avenue that led her to it. Just as I never dreamed of being a blogger, it's the avenue that has allowed me to do what I am enthusiastic about - reading - and reminded me what I had forgotten; that I love to write. I love the way it makes me feel and the way it empties my head of the way-too-many thoughts that bump around in there.

I can also relate to Julie's impulsiveness. I am the Mayor of Impulsive Town. At the beginning of the book, Julie references the 'Talking Down from the Ledge' conversations that she has with her mother. She says, 

"I have been having this conversation with my mother my entire life. There was the time when I was six years old and had to wear my favorite sundress for the St. Valentine's Day party at school--when my mother told me it was too cold, I stood goosepimply on the front porch in my Wonder Woman Underoos for two hours to prove her wrong." 

I get that. My mother gets that. Because for me it was the time (well, this or one of the other billion times in the past 29 and a half years) I had to go to drama camp on the east coast, even though I'd never been to the east coast and had been going to the same loving, outdoorsy, mountain camp in Colorado my whole life. I applied to said drama camp, got in, went back east, and hated it. A few days later (can't remember how many days exactly, but if you asked my mom, she'd know exactly), my mother was flying back from Europe -- jet-lagged, exhausted from her trip, and rescuing me because I was beyond miserable and about to run away with or without anyone's permission. However; now I know I don't like drama camp on the east coast. So, like Julie (and maybe others of you can relate), I am a person who needs to run - headfirst - into the brick wall to believe that it's made of brick. I will not just take your word for it. Though, when I (we) come back bleeding from the head, at least I know what a brick wall feels like. 

I tell you this to point out that even Julie realized that her Project had it's pointless parts, and we, her readers, wonder sometimes why we are reading about a woman who is tormenting herself to get through a cookbook in a year. But once you get to the end, you realize it's because you needed to see what was waiting on the other side; to see that hope comes in all forms and from all kinds of craziness. But the important part is that it comes. And that we can be big enough people to not judge (or impede) with anyone's quest for it. 
Four Coconuts

xo,
The Coconut Librarian

Comments

[jaydek]

Good post CL - I like the windows in to your life that made me laugh! I'm now halfway finished with this book and I can TOTALLY see why you like it. The similarities are hard for anyone to miss. But, also, I have to admit that despite my initial reservations, I have been charmed by her funny stories and relatable life lessons. Being around her age and also going through a period in my life where I'm trying to find fulfilling things in my every day life, I am impressed by her passion for and dedication to cooking. I love that she turned to the eccentric and old-fashioned Julia Child as a lifeline, proving that one really can find inspiration in all things if you just look around. I'm excited to see the movie, but can already tell it will be very different from Julie's story.

Here's to brick walls!

[Coconut Library]

I saw the movie today. Nora Ephron combined Julie & Julia with Julia Child's My Life in France to make the movie. I have that book on my wishlist already, but reading Julie & Julia and then seeing the movie made me want to read it even more.

The movie was cute, and very Nora Ephron-y (which is a good thing in my book-- there's always room in my DVD drawer for a sweet, light chick flick). Julie isn't as rough in the movie (but we knew she wouldn't be) and they didn't develop one of the main story lines as much as they should have, but having read the book I knew exactly what was going on. Although, I'm sure it would have been equally as cute if I hadn't read the book, I think I appreciated it more because I had.

[jaydek]

i agree about having a new interest in julia child...she sounds like such an interesting woman! i, too, want to read her life story after finding out at one point she worked for a spy agency! hilarious.