Julie and Julia

I just finished the book, "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. If you read my earlier blog posting, I reviewed the movie and gave it a thumbs up for Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and a thumbs down for Julie (Amy Adams).

The book is better than the movie, although it does drag at times.

I have to say, the book is also somewhat different.

In the movie, Amy Adams comes across as an East Coast spoiled brat with a constant sour look. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I liked the main character in the book much, much more.

First, Julie of the book is a Texan who yearns to be a New Yorker. When I think of Texans, I think of nitty gritty, hardscrabble, 'git it done folks. And I think that Texas-ness came through in the book, but it definitely did not in the movie. Texan Julie Powell is a lot more likable in her book than East Coast Amy Adams is in the movie.

The other characteristic of the main character that I liked was that Julie Powell didn't shy away from disclosing her flaws; (to name a few) egg donation soley for greed (oooh Julie better to give away your big toe than your eggs), swearing, being a democrat and fears of becoming/being insignificant. By letting it all hang out, Julie of the book is relatable. Julie of the movie is not, since the movie just focuses on all of her whining and doesn't disclose any of her flaws in any depth. And in the movie, her husband is a saint. In the book, he's much more human.

She writes of hearing her biological clock ticking and how her husband just doesn't get it. She writes of late, late night cooking fests (for a year) and shit filled backed up plumbing. She writes of clothes that don't fit, meals that taste horrid and dismembering animal body parts.

The book really was about Julie and not so much about Julia Child. And that was okay, because it made sense...it was about Julie Powell attempting to make her life work. The movie, however, should've focused on Julia Child. Or, really, had better casting. I could see Sandra Bullock or Julia Roberts in this role. Amy Adams did not wear the role well.

But on to the book. It was interesting, if not TMI at some points. And towards the middle of the book, it really dragged and I considered putting it down. I don't think the book will have staying power because it isn't especially well written but it's not written badly either. As blogs become more mainstream and blogging is not longer considered so 'avant garde', perhaps this book will lose it's appeal. But it is worth reading now, especially if you've seen the movie already.

Julie and Julia

My good friend, Nini's mom, took me out to the movies a couple of days ago (I think it was Monday) and we saw Julie and Julia.

I have to say, going during the day in the middle of the week is the way to go. The theater was empty. I was surprised. Aren't more people laid off? Maybe they are, but can no longer afford the cost of a movie. Although, apparently during the Depression, movies flourished. So what is going on? I was a little confused.

But on to the movie.

It was a cute movie.

Julie was a spoiled East Coast brat who didn't understand why her richie rich prep school friends were making millions, while she was living above a cute little pizzeria with her gorgeous, understanding, kind, loving husband.

Boy oh boy she had it hard.

To top it all of, she had a job where she had to fend phone calls from victims of 9-11, seeking recomp. But she had a job.

Since she felt so sorry for herself (oh she had it tough), she continually whined to her put-upon husband (who also had a job, as a journalist I think). So life was really rough for the two of them. Did I mention that they had a place to live? A cute little apartment above a Pizzeria. They weren't living with anyone's parents, under a bridge, in a garden shed, a car...oh but I digress.

Hubby got sick of her whining.

"Why don't you start a blog?" he asked her.

THEN...He even CREATED the blog for her, while she sat there like the toadstool that she was, with her jaw dropping at his amazing technology skills.

All she had to do was update the blog (which was posted on Salon, by the way). Oh and do a little cooking.

How hard is that?

And through her contacts, I AM SURE, she was able to get some bozo from the Christian Science Monitor to bring a cooking editor to her house, posted it in the New York Times and she was able to publish a book and make a movie.

Oh, and by the way, the blog and book and movie, were all about Julia Child...although, it really seemed to spend a HUGE amount of time on the spoiled, overly impressed with herself, buttoned up East Coast brat who was creating the blog.

The greatest part of this movie, though, was how utterly amazing Meryl Streep was as Julia Child. She was better portraying Julia Child than the actual woman herself! I grew up watching Julia Child and I have to say, I could barely understand the woman. Meryl made her coherent, likable and actually appeared to be Julia Child - a huge six foot tall chef! Meryl Streep is probably the best actress there is...I truly believe that after watching this movie.

But Julie? Blech...