Appetite for Life

The Biography of Julia Child

De: Noel Riley Fitch

Narrado por: Wanda McCaddon

Julia Child became a household name when she entered the lives of millions of Americans through our hearts and kitchens. Yet few know the richly varied private life that lies behind this icon whose statuesque height and warmly enthused warble have become synonymous with the art of cooking. In this biography, Fitch takes us through her life from her exuberant youth as a high-spirited California girl to her years at Smith College, where Julia was at the center of every prank and party, to her volunteer work with the OSS and to her meeting Paul Child, the man who introduced her to the glories of art, fine French cuisine, and love. A biography of a woman modern before her time, this is the story of a truly American life.©1997 by Noë (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Interesting but too much detail.

I enjoyed learning about Julia's life. However, there was too much detail. I found myself wishing for an abridged version. I really didn't need to know who she had dinner with and what was served. Also, each recording session seemed to have a different volume level and the quality of each session varied greatly.

Really enjoyed this!

All I knew about Julia Child came from the movie Julie and Julia and from Julia Child's wonderful memoir, My Life in France. I was a little daunted by the length of this book and also some of the reviews, but it was a truly well-written biography and well worth the time spent listening. I was fascinated by the behind the scenes of making the television shows, and by all the work involved in producing *all* the books, not just Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The narrator was superb.

Inspirations from a legend.

Yes, this audio book is long. But how can anyone possibly abridge the life of this legend? She's my hero, a person who was an independent female before the word feminist was coined. This audio is the kind you would listen to in segments over a few months and maybe come back to listen to over the years. It is very detailed and long, but she's had a very interesting and long life. To anyone she's inspired, famous or not, this barely touches the phenomenon we've known as Julia Child. It's worth listening to.

Better Than Expected, Abrupt Transitions

The book itself is much better than I thought it would be. I am a fan of biographies, and I finally got around to this one. The information is very interesting, and the writer includes personal details that give great insight into the personal relationships in Ms. Child's life. Very enjoyable listen, although at first the narrator does "the voices" in a rather forced manner. Also, The transitions between sections and chapters can be quite abrupt in the audio version. I doubt it would have the same effect in the written version. I definitely recommend this biography for anyone, not just cooking aficionados.

truly inspiring

this book makes me want to find all of her cook books and shows