Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

Completion Date: 09.21.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages:359

Most Memorable Quote: "Fiddling with the damp terragon left me so intensely irritated that when I was done I had to stick the ramekin/mise bowls back in the fridge and go watch both the episode where Xander is possessed by a demon and the one where Giles regresses to his outrageously sexy teen self and has sex with Buffy's mom, just to get over it." -- I think we all know why I love this quote. It's because it mentions Buffy. Also because it portrays Julie's eccentric, bizarre personality and writing style quite well -- straightforward, to the point, slightly unstable, and simply funny.

You know, that quote up there isn't the only quote about Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that book! In fact, Julie mentions it quite often, which rocks. That's probably why I love it so much. I always have another Buffy quote to look forward to. And hey, she even referenced Firefly once! She must be a Whedonite. That fact made me love her, even before I learned how seriously funny and insane she is.

Aside from the Buffy-ness of the book, I really liked Julie and Julia. It was great. It made me literally laugh out loud. OUT LOUD. It has been such a ridiculously long time since I've laughed so hard at a book. Granted, that's because I've been reading thrillers and serious, intense books lately, but still. I was so pleased.

Julie Powell has an awesome writing style. It's just so...honest. She doesn't beat around the bush, sugar coat things...she said a couple of things that were awkward enough to make me squirm a little, which is quite impressive. She doesn't hold back. She puts her entire personality on the page, saturating it with witty, unstable goodness.

I was really shocked at how interesting this book was. I mean, it's about an average New Yorker making a blog about cooking a lot -- but the humor and other little side stories made it worth getting through the stuff that I didn't comprehend in the least.

For a book about cooking, there was a tonnn of swearing and sexual references, so be warned. I mean, honestly, it adds to the charm of the book; without the stream of swears and awkward cooking vs. sex comparisons, it just wouldn't be the same! However, this may make it so that it's not for everyone.

Talking about the story, it's pretty awesome, what Julie Powell did. I know I couldn't cook 524 French recipes in 365 days. That's just silliness. She pulled it off though, which is certainly commendable. And now she's all famous, with a book and a movie. Just goes to show, it doesn't matter what situation you're in -- set goals and accomplish them. You never know what could happen.

Well, I liked it. Mostly for Buffy, but for the rest of it, too. ;)

[CHECK]