Appetite for Life

The Biography of Julia Child

By: Noel Riley Fitch

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 23 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

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

If You Think You Know Julia Child, You Don't ...

What did you like best about this story?

The depth of the author's research. The Julia Child most everyone knows is perhaps one-tenth of who the woman was and the life she led. For someone who considered herself a late-bloomer, she packed more lives than most into the life she had.

What three words best describe Nadia May’s voice?

Completely Wrong Here

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, it was hard to stop and I found myself anxious to continue when I had to.

Any additional comments?

Whoever chose Nadia May and her English voice to narrate the story of Julia Child must have been smoking crack. She's completely wrong, and her mispronunciation of so many commonly known American words, businesses, and food personalities' names is annoying. The mangling never stops, from Ruth Reichl to Spago and on and on and on and on. She's worth putting up for because the story (and depth of the research) is so compelling, but many others would have been better choices.

Good book, bad sound

The book is comprehensive and well-written. The narrator does a very good job too. My complaint is with the audio quality of this book - it's almost the worst I've experienced in all my several years as a listener. The voice is sometimes muffled, then there a "zip" sound and it's as if the narrator has stepped out of a closet briefly, then "zip" and she's in an echoey bathroom. The sound is never as good as other audiobooks. Hopefully this won't prevent your enjoyment of the book, but it IS distracting.

Fascinating, though a little long-winded

A wonderful insight into the background and makings of our friend, Julia. But I, who insist on only unabridged versions of books, wish this had been a bit shorter. The lengthy descriptions of Julia's grandparents and great-parents was of limited benefit later on.

All in all, though, a fascinating insight into this great, boundary-busting grande dame.

fallen head over heels in love with Julia!

honestly, there were times in the center of the story where all I would do is stop the book and watch old episodes of the French chef on you tube. I fell in love with Julia. I wanted to be her friend. cook with her, laugh with her have properly inappropriate conversation with Julia. this book is well written, very well narrated and a book that needed to be done. I encourage you to indulge. bon appetit!

An Important American History Story

Julia Child was in her lifetime, and in this book, an inspiration for living and being free, confident, engaged and fully richly self-expressed. She is not given her due as the transformational force in the quality of life of the people of the United States. Her conviction, tenacity and unbridled enthusiasm and passion for her principles of good dining being fundamentally an integral and essential part of good living, and neither being exclusive to high society, but rather accessible to anyone who desires to live a full and healthy life is contagious and a treasure well expressed in this work. She is a model American hero. I may not agree with her every political opinion but I respect her integrity and esteem for individuals and common sense, and her irrepressible passion for joyful living. Appetite for Life is the perfect name for a book that spans her life, and gives the reader a fun and interesting travel through a period of history that rode the wave to the height of the industrial boom in the U.S. and ushered in the computer age. She adapted and though it all never lost sight of her identity and her purpose. We would be a better world if she were part of every American's study of U.S. History. Her story is edifying and delightful! Bon Appetite!

Interesting but too much detail

I came to admire Julia Child through this book - her enormous energy and capacity for work, her passion for food and cooking, her love of teaching, and her integrity and common sense. I also was touched by the deep love and loyalty she she showed her husband. A remarkable story of a great lady. But be warned... you will hear lots of details about her friends and social life, including the specifics of many meals eaten over the years. I think a good editor could have shortened this book considerably.

Disappointing

I admire Julia Child. However, if i did not know something of her and her career this book would have me believe that she was an intellectual liberal elitist. I never got a real feel for Ms. Child or her husband. I felt they were described "once removed." The endless lists of wines they drank and dinner guests felt like name dropping or page padding.

Also, I disliked the English/British narrator for this book. There were many mispronunciations of common American names and terms.

I was greatly disappointed in this biography.

I would not recoommend.

One big gossip column

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Ug -- I meant to get the recent autobiography -- this was full of nosey information fit for a gossip column. We couldn't bear it after a few chapters.

Don’t bother, yet

I find Julia facilitating. Would like to hear about her life. Sadly the editing on this cut is horrible. The voice talent is good. But sentence beginnings are dropped, the audio equivalent of a jump cut. Sounds like chunks of the story are cut out. Shame on Audible for not caring about the edit of this. It’s like quality control of the edit was ignored, Such a disrespect to the woman who changed attitudes on food in the United States and began what would eventually become a revolution in the culinary acumen of America.

This Title will Download But Does Not Play

I have downloaded this book 3 or 4 times and I am still yet to hear it as it is a damaged file.I reported it about a year ago but it is still damaged.

This is the only time in several years as an Audible member that I have encountered this problem.