julie and julia

Julie and Julia [Book v. Movie]

Michelle13 Comments

I may be the last person on earth (or at least the blogosphere) to read Julie and Julia by Julie Powell despite the fact that I’ve been meaning to read it for quite some time. While I’m not a foodie like many of you, I did read My Life in France (for law school – weird, right?) and I adored it. But I was disappointed by Julie and Julia.  I didn’t like Julie. At all. I thought she was selfish and whiney and almost stopped reading about a third of the way through. I couldn’t imagine being Eric, her poor husband that had to put up with all of it. I know that people do like her because people read her blog and she must have been just as annoying then, but this book just wasn’t for me.

I did, however, enjoy the movie. The movie feels more like a mash-up of Julie and Julia and My Life in France. I thoroughly enjoyed the Julia scenes (how could you not love this woman?) and I like the movie version of Julie much better than the book (or rather the real life) version. This is one of those rare occasions where the movie is better than the book. See also, Charlie/Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Quick thoughts this morning, but I really don’t have much to say except that I disliked the book and liked the movie.

Teaser Tuesday 3-2-2010

Michelle11 Comments

“And as the week progressed the throbbing of my biological clock syncopated with my crepe anxiety until they formed one jazz rhythm. Because what if I got to the age of thirty without having learned to make a crepe? What would have been the point of this whole exercise then?”

– p. 207 of Julie and Julia by Julie Powell –

teasertuesdays31

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Sunday Salon 2-28-10

Michelle4 Comments

Just a normal recap this week.

On Sunday, I went to my first book club meeting (as discussed last Sunday). We met at the movie theater, saw Shutter Island, and then went to Panera to discuss.  I think it went pretty well.  Two members loved the book, one was less than thrilled with it, and I was somewhere in the middle. So it made for a decent conversation. Next month we’re reading/watching Alice and Wonderland. Thanks to everyone who left comments on last week’s TSS.

I finished Eating Animals this week and I decided to finally become a real vegetarian. Of course the next book I picked up was Julie and Julia which is just filled with meat (including a rather disgusting description of bone marrow). Actually, it might be turning me off meat even more. But more on that when I write my reviews.

I posted my review of Genesis, teased you with a couple lines from Eating Animals, joined the Reagan Arthur Books Challenge, and added too many books to my TBR list.

On Wednesday, Ben and I went to the U.S. Men’s Soccer game in Tampa. It was cold, rainy, and I was wearing everything I would wear to go snowboarding back in Michigan (aside from the jeans).  Ben’s the one that likes soccer, but the overkill on the clothes kept me warm and dry enough to actually enjoy the game. The US beat El Salvador 2-1 scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.

We also learned that Ben needs to have knee surgery (3rd time if anyone is counting) as a result of his own soccer playing. He scheduled it for March 12 so thoughts and prayers for him would be much appreciated.  He’s not looking forward to yet another long recovery.

On a bright note, Spring Training starts this week and I will be at the Phillies opening day on Thursday and the Tigers game in Lakeland on Saturday. Here’s to hoping that nice Florida weather I was promised when I moved down here will actually show up.