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

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.

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.

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.

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.

truly inspiring

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

Compelling read

If you could sum up Appetite for Life in three words, what would they be?

Every Executive should be compelled to read this book. Even if they don't relate to the marvellous contents, the work ethic it describes, the dedication to beliefs, the altruism, the commitment and the partnership that this book has in bucketsful couldn't help but develop anyone.

I love the dedication to food, the Childs' dedication to each other, their dedication to work, and their spirit, the biographer captured it all.

What about Nadia May’s performance did you like?

Nadia May is always a delight to listen to, her voice is calm and soothing and her pronunciation is always excellent, and none of the French in the book phased her at all.

Any additional comments?

This is a read no one will regret.

Appetite For Life

I absolutely loved this book. The reading was excellent and the book was detailed without being confusing!

More than I wanted to know

Julia's life is indeed interesting. I was overwhelmed with the descriptions of food preparation, dinner party guests and other details bogging down the story. This book is one that could use a good abridgement.

pretty good book - terrible, awful recording

This book starts out well, but by the end I was bored and I LOVE Julia Child. Part of the problem is that the recording is really awful. The volume is inconsistent and my ipod kept thinking that it had reached the end of the book and would continue to the next book. This would require me to go back and then fast-forward to where I ended. I guess I just got sick of it.

Julia is wonderful

It's a treat to get to know the young Julia, a charming person liked by all. And to watch her career emerge. The reader's British accent is perfect for lending gravity.