Joan ReardonRezensionen

I'm just a Julia Child fan, so I was bound to like this book. And I did. Julia was much more than a cook. She was dynamic person who led a very interesting life and was a very lucky girl to have an intelligent, supportive, and loving husband and some very good, close friends. She's an inspiration.

Pleasant read, but doesn't add much more than the Alice Waters blurb. Keep it simple Mary Frances.

I liked this book. I remember watching Julia Child on Public Television when I was a kid. Julia was one smart and talented woman. I watched the movie Julie and Julia and read Julie's book, but Julia's was so much better. After reading it I wanted to run right out and get the Art of French Cooking no matter how many volumes it has.

winner IACP cuisinart award for literary food writing

This is an interesting insight into Julia's life and the times. She and Avis write back and forth about what food items are available in France vs the US, recipes, politics (both liberals - a lot of discussion about McCarthy), and about the process of getting a book published.

Hardly a book I expected to find so engrossing and detailed and personal; with very minimal bridging materials and introductions, this collection of letters between the title women is engrossing for their discussions of cooking, writing, contemporary politics (fascinating looks at the McCarthy era on both their parts), and more. A book of interest whether you're a fan of cooking or not.

I'd picked this up on a whim at the library for my wife to thumb through, and insomnia (and a well structured book with great voices in the letters) had me finishing this before she'd even looked at it.

I have been slowly picking away at this book. I love it while I am reading it but I think it is time to turn it in. I will come back to it, I love watching the friendship between these 2 women grow through letters.

Really worthwhile but not a fast read. Through their correspondence, Julia Child and Avis DeVoto became not only the best of friends but also wildly successful publishing collaborators (in bringing to fruition arguably the most famous and influential cookbook of the mid-twenteth century). Reading these letters, which can feel uncomfortably intrusive at times, is a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Joan Reardon does an admirable job of filling in the background and including discreet footnotes identifying the many people who are mentioned in passing. The subject matter occasionally gets repetitive and tedious (particularly the political observations, which after a while tend to fall into the category of "more of the same"); personally, I would have been much more heavy handed about winnowing the letters. Nevertheless, the book is a real treat, a rare opportunity to observe the myriad circumstances which brought about publication of a seminal book and ultimately launched Julia Child into the public eye.

Julia Child (1912-2004) is the well-known author, with Simone Beck, of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a comprehensive two-volume cookbook that demystified French cuisine for millions of American home cooks. As Always, Julia shows how this master work was discovered, created, and published, and tells the story through letters between Julia and Avis DeVoto. Without Avis, the cookbook might never have been seen by the major US publishing houses. And Julia and Avis might never have known each other, were it not for a letter from Julia to Bernard DeVoto, who wrote for Harper's Magazine. Avis was handling her husband's correspondence, and in replying to Julia began a friendship that blossomed and endured throughout their lives.

The letters between Julia and Avis are a delight to read. The two women chat amiably about their families, discover common ground in their political beliefs, and share their passion for fine cuisine. Their initial reserve melted away very quickly, and it's clear each had discovered a kindred spirit. As Julia developed recipes, Avis worked tirelessly to establish connections with the publishing industry. Also, since Julia was stationed in Europe with her husband Paul, Avis also provided valuable insight on the typical American cook, and ingredients commonly found in American supermarkets. The two women also routinely sent each other ingredients and equipment that the other could not find locally.

Having used Mastering the Art of French Cooking myself, it was interesting to see how some of the recipes developed over time, and the logic behind the book's overall structure. I'm eager to try my hand at some new-to-me recipes, and will enjoy doing so with Julia and Avis' friendship in mind.½

Fascinating biographies of these three great American food writers and cooks. It provides a broad perspective of the food scene in both America and France in the years spanning the periods of these writers' lives, as well as a close look at the three women individually. Well researched and written. A solid achievement.

Includes article titled "The Cinematic Me", which is an excerpt from Joan Reardon's biography of Fisher, The Poet of the Appetites, from the chapter published as "Hollywood Scenarios: 1941-1945". Illustrated with photo of Fisher. pp. 120 .

Reardon has done an excellent job with these letters. Anyone interested in Julia Child, Bernard DeVoto, the early life of Mark DeVoto, Cambridge, Mass. in the 1950s, American book publishing in the 1950's, American cooking in the 1950s, the hatred of Democrats for the Eisenhower administration through the eyes of Avis DeVoto, or the making of Julia Child's masterpiece cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, will enjoy this book. 5 stars, with no hesitation. Highly recommended.

Love Julia and couldn't put down "My LIfe In France" when it was released a few years back. While I enjoyed getting a glimpse into a serendipitous friendship as it matured over time and loved Julia's take on her world and her cookery-bookery and the McCarthy era, I simply got bored about 200 pages in. The imbalance toward Ms. DeVoto's correspondence and the repetitive nature of some of it made me give up . . . better editing would have helped.

I've never read any M.F.K. Fisher. She's on my list, obviously, but I wondered if starting out with a biography might work. You know, to provide some background and context to her actual body of work. Also, I had this book but nothing of M.F.K.'s, so that played into the decision-making process as well.

Took some time to read, but well worth it. Had insight on the time period, lovely descriptions of France, and now I really want to read mastering the art of french cooking.

One of the best books I've ever read! Delightful from beginning to end. Excellent commentary on publishing and a great mirror on the times (late 50s to early 60s).

While I've enjoyed watching Julia Child occasionally on TV, and I own a copy of her famous cookbook, I have always felt somewhat intimidated by this matriarch of elegant meal prep.

"As Always, Julia" brings Julia Child to earth, and makes her not only approachable, but warm, human, funny, intelligent and someone you'd want to have for a next door neighbor. I had no idea who Avis DeVoto was until I read this book of letters between these two. I have not yet seen the movie in which she evidently becomes known to Americans, but she is introduced quite well in this collection of letters. Covering a span of over 30 years, Avis and Julia kept up a witty, no-holds-barred trans-Atlantic correspondence covering everything from how to poach fish, how to write, edit and publish a cookbook, the chilling impact of McCarthyism on American life, finding housing in France, Norway, Germany, to whether or not to use a pressure cooker for long simmering soups and stews.

Starting as pen-pals and continuing for several years before they had a chance to meet, the letter-writing cemented a friendship that coincidentally involved an unofficial business relationship, and reveals two well-educated, very talented women living out their lives in roles new to both of them. Their letters were at times about subjects many would consider banal, but they offer a glimpse into a world all but forgotten in today's high-tech environment.  It is a book that is big, bold, heavy and not easily read in one sitting.  Therein lies the beauty of it -- it can be read and savored, like a good wine, in small sips over a lingering period of time. For fans of Julia Child, it is a must read.

Joan Reardon has done a yeoman job of editing and compiling the correspondence to make it interesting, engaging, and compelling.

This is a collection of the letters between Julia Child, who revolutionised American cooking in the 1960s with her books and TV shows about classical French cooking, and Avis de Voto. I'd never heard of Avis but she was clearly a very interesting, bright woman. Her husband was Bernard de Voto, a well known author of books about the American west (including one that won a Pulitzer and one that won the National Book Award).

He also had a column in Harper's Magazine for many years, and wrote one about the poor quality of knives in the US. Julia Child replied to him offering to send him some good ones from France, and Bernard's wife Avis replied on his behalf. From this, a great friendship was born, and without it, Julia's book probably wouldn't have been published. Avis ended up being a publishing scout for Knopf for a while, and had lots of contacts in the publishing business.

The book is a dense 400 pages, and I couldn't read too much at one go, but I was glad I kept going. It goes from 1952 - 1960 or so, up till the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. As well as lots of really interesting stuff about cooking and US politics in the 1950s, there is plenty of day to day detail about their families. At times this got boring - who cares what was happening with Avis' wax flooring? - but it did show how the friendship grew to be very important to both women. And it was interesting to read about Julia and Paul Child's experiences in France, then Germany, then Norway. There was tons about how to get a book published in the 1950s, Boston society goings-on, setbacks with Hougton Mifflin, and trouble with the co-authors. Both women were ardent Democrats, and the Republicans could do no right. So if this is going to annoy you, it won't be a 4 star book! The recipes were discussed a lot, and most oozed butter but/and sounded delicious.

Joan Reardon edited the letters and put in an introductory few pages at the start of each section. This told you everything that was about to happen in the next 100-odd pages, and there were lots of spoilers. It might be better to read her sections at the end of the letters.

It all started with a fan letter written in March of 1953. “Housewife” and food junkie Julia Child wrote a letter to Mr. Bernard DeVoto agreeing with his “diatribe” against stainless steel knives in an article he’d written for Harper’s magazine. Julia’s letter was answered by Bernard’s wife, Avis. Many of us learned about the friendship between Julia and Avis DeVoto in the 2009 hit film, Julie and Julia. Now we are blessed with the treat that is Joan Reardon’s As Always, Julia.

Joan Reardon has done a superb job in selecting, compiling, editing and referencing what was originally more than four hundred letters written by Julia and Avis. Ms. Reardon is a culinary historian, cookbook author, and biographer. She also edits a quarterly newsletter for Les Dames d’Escoffier Chicago and serves on the advisory board of Gastronomica. In other words, Ms. Reardon knows her way around a kitchen and it shows!

Within the 430+ pages of this book, the letters not only chronicle the growing friendship between Julia and Avis, they also serve as steadfast barometer of the times. The letters span the years between 1953 and 1961. The world was changing rapidly and the commentary and banter that flows back and forth reflects the post-World War II “jet age” experiences. One of the things I found amazing was the pro-and-con 1953 debate spurred by new “labor saving devices,” in particular, the automatic dish washer, something a 2010 household thinks nothing about. However, Avis is appalled that the glasses and dishes have to be rinsed, that pots and pans shouldn’t be put in, and all things considered, they don’t clean that well.

Another discussion that takes place between Avis and Julia is one that would not take place today: the scarcity of fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables during the “off season.” Now-a-days most everything is available year round. They shared their struggles with cooking food within the “seasons” and offered each other alternatives to fresh foods, frozen (not so good) and canned (not so good always either).

This is a wonderful book of letters that shares more than the growth of a long distance friendship. As Always, Julia follows the publication of Julia’s ground breaking cookbook, Mastering The Art of French Cooking. Through the eyes of these two savvy, well read, well traveled, and very opinionated women we see the politics of the time, the McCarthy era, as well as their thoughts on American “fast food,” how to make a beurre blanc, and the perils of the frozen turkey.

As Always, Julia is a valentine to every cook, wanna-be cook, chef, and food lover out there. It’s also a valentine to a friendship that survived decades.

I can’t recommend this book enough. As Always, Julia is a wonderful read and it will make a fabulous gift to anyone who loves food and believes in enduring, unselfish friendships. Buy several, one to read and the rest to share with friends!

Source: This book was provided to me by the publisher at my request and in no way affected by review.

1st pub 1984.

Why this book? - I just started watching the series, Julia, on HBO Max and had no clue who Avis was so I Googled her and learned about this book. I love reading diaries and letters so I'm really excited to get my hands on this one.