Book Review: Julia Child Rules by Karen Karbo

Book: Julia Child Rules: Lessons on Savoring Life by Karen Karbo
Genre: Biography / Memoir / Self-Help
Publisher: Skirt! an imprint of Globe Pequot Press
Publication date: October, 2013
Pages: 240

Source: e-ARC from the publisher

Summary: In the latest of her Kick Ass Women series, Karen Karbo cooks up some “Lessons on Savoring Life” by examining the problems and passions in the biography of Julia Child. Here’s one reason Julia Child’s life is so illuminating for contemporary women:

My theory is that our real attachment to Julia is less about her cooking, or even about what she did for the cause of serious cuisine, and more about our admiration for her immutable aptitude for being herself. Julia’s real genius wasn’t in breaking down the nine million steps in cooking a mind-blowing beef bourguignon, or assembling a thousand-page cookbook, but in having the confidence to stand in front of a camera, week after week, without trying to change one thing about herself. p. 10

Julia Child Rules tells the story of Julia Child’s life in broad strokes within a structure of 10 rules for living. Rule Number 1 is Live with Abandon.

Thoughts: I can’t remember being as excited about the release of a book as I am about Julia Child Rules. Vasilly of 1330v suggested that I read another of the Kick Ass Women series earlier this year: Book Review: How Georgia Became O’Keeffe. I loved the quirky mix of memoir, biography, and self-help. Naturally, I had to read the Coco Chanel book before our trip to France: Book Review: The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo. The first book in the series was about Katherine Hepburn, How to Hepburn, a book I’m saving to enjoy at Christmas time along with my favorite unsung Christmas movie: Desk Set.

I was never going to be an artist like O’Keeffe, a fashion designer like Coco Chanel, or an actress like the great Kate. Living like Julia, though? Well, I cook dinner pretty much every night.

Julia Child wasn’t a big part of my childhood, except as played comically by Dan Aykroyd. My mother was more the Peg Bracken I Hate to Cook Book type with a great fondness for Hamburger Helper. The first Christmas after I was married though, Rick and I bought ourselves The Way to Cook by Julia Child and used it to learn to make everything from chicken soup to pumpkin pie.

My passion for Julia Child as a model for living came just a couple of years ago when I read her autobiography as part of a week-long celebration of all things French around Bastille Day: Book Review: My Life in France by Julia Child.

Julia Child Rules was the book I wanted to read after My Life in France and I’m so glad that Karen Karbo wrote it!

I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Live Like Julia project to introduce Julia Child Rules. Bloggers chose one of the ten rules to live for a week. I posted my progress most days during the week that I lived Rule Number 6: To Be Happy, Work Hard:

Karen Karbo has been compiling Live Like Julia posts as well as reflecting on the rules in her life on her blog, Karbohemia.

Watch this space! Next week, Karen Karbo will be here for a Question and Answer session (edited to add link).

Appeal: Julia Child Rules will have broad appeal for women and some men. You’ll find echoes in Julia’s life if you love cooking or France or tackling big projects. There will be things to learn if it’s time to Obey Your Whims (Rule Number 4) or Solve the Problem in Front of You (Rule Number 7). If you love a great real-life romance, a wry bit of memoir, or fish-out-of-water tales, Julia Child Rules is for you.

Challenges: With such a broad appeal, it’s no surprise that this book slips right in to my favorite challenges and memes:

Book 12 in the Books on France 2013 Challenge
Book 3 in the Back to School Reading Challenge
Book 8 in the Foodies Read 2013 Challenge

I’ll also link this review to Weekend Cooking at Beth Fish Reads on Saturday morning and to Dreaming of France at An Accidental Blog on Monday.

What are your memories and experiences with Julia Child?

Comments

Book Review: Julia Child Rules by Karen Karbo — 26 Comments

Beth F on September 21, 2013 at 9:26 am said:

I love this idea. I haven’t read any of Karbo’s books, but this Julia book sounds perfect for me. What a great theme for a blog tour, too.

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jama on September 21, 2013 at 10:10 am said:

Oh, I’m so excited to read this book! LOVED My Life in France and the other Julia books I read last year for her 100th birthday celebration. Hadn’t heard of this series — great premise. The other books sound good too. 🙂

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Dana Britt on September 21, 2013 at 11:28 am said:

I read and enjoyed Karen’s book about Georgia O’Keefe and have been looking forward to this one about Julia. The quote you posted from the book was a great one, a perfectly intriguing hook 🙂 I’ve recently decided to embark upon a reading about Julia project, as I’ve yet to really read much beyond short snippets here n there. I’m excited! Thanks so much for a great post, Joy!

~

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Vasilly on September 21, 2013 at 11:53 am said:

I’m so glad that you put this book on my radar! Karbo is an amazing writer and that quote is perfect.

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JoAnn @ Lakeside Musing on September 21, 2013 at 12:45 pm said:

I’ve never read Karbo’s books, but clearly need to begin. Julia Child Rules sounds like a book I will love…thanks for linking to your other posts!

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Nikki-ann on September 21, 2013 at 1:43 pm said:

Not an author I’ve heard of, but it sounds like I should give these books a go!

By the way, I’ve now linked my review post to Weekend Cooking 🙂

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- Joy Weese Moll / @joyweesemoll on September 21, 2013 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  Great! Glad you joined us!
  
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Molly on September 21, 2013 at 1:58 pm said:

I read a review for this book about two weeks ago and immediately put it on my Christmas wish list! I have not read any of the author’s other books in this series, but I love your idea of doing so before the holidays.

I am anxious to return here for the Question and Answer post 🙂

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Carole on September 21, 2013 at 2:26 pm said:

Joy, based on your recommendation I am adding this to my library wish list. Cheers

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Heather Webb on September 21, 2013 at 2:32 pm said:

I’ve never heard of this series, but this sounds fantastic! I always enjoy your posts, Joy. 🙂

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Tami on September 21, 2013 at 2:48 pm said:

I have never heard of this series, but you can bet they are on the list for my next bookstore run – especially the Julia Child book. Thanks for the review, and my husband thanks you for adding to my list. 🙂

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Jennifer on September 21, 2013 at 4:39 pm said:

Hey Joy,

Thanks for reading my post about Julia Child Rules. I went to your Facebook page to follow you and saw that you are in Kirkwood. It’s such a small world! My husband and I are from St. Louis. He went to Webster High and I went to St. Joe.

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- Joy Weese Moll / @joyweesemoll on September 21, 2013 at 5:12 pm said:
  
  Cool! Obviously you’re from St. Louis — you know the importance of the high schools. I grew up and went to high school in a small town between St. Louis and Hannibal on the scenic route: Louisiana, Missouri. We love living in Kirkwood — all the advantages of the metro area but with some of the feel of a small town.
  
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Esme on September 21, 2013 at 6:33 pm said:

I have not heard of the series but I do want to read them.

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Esme on September 22, 2013 at 12:37 am said:

Joy,

You may also want to look at The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater-I have only started reading it and it is by seasons also.

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Kerry Ann @Vinobaby's Voice on September 22, 2013 at 10:03 am said:

Oh, this book sounds delightful! I DID grow up watching Julia cook wondrous dishes (and burn tea towels) on TV. I’ll have to check these out–I’m a huge Kate the Great fan as well (and I adore Desk Set).

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Paulita on September 23, 2013 at 8:42 am said:

Joy, You make this sound like a great book. Okay, more than a book, a lifestyle. I’m going to check out the series. Thanks for playing along today. Here’s my Dreaming of France meme

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Melissa on September 24, 2013 at 7:18 am said:

I will have to pick this book up soon (and maybe all her others too)! She sounds wonderful.

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