Thursday, October 22, 2009

A Good Read

This book made a delightful traveling companion as I flew first to Atlanta and then to Indianapolis. If you loved the movie Julie & Julia, or even if you just loved the Julia parts, this book's for you. It deals in loving detail with Julia's years in France and her voice comes through beautifully.

I find it a little weird that it's Meryl Streep on the cover rather than Julia but suspect that it was a Marketing decision. And anyway, by now I'll wager that Ms. Streep is the image that comes to mind when many of us think of Julia.





. . . and now for a few pictures . . .




The Morning Star -- it's there, really! Maybe if you biggify . . .



Closely watched geraniums (pelargoniums)


Happy to be back with my Nikon and trying to learn its ways.

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15 comments:

Victoria said...

I can see the morning star without biggifying. It's the first star on the right, right?

You're doing great with your Nikon. Beautiful pictures of the pelargoniums!

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

For some reason I didn't have this book in my collection. So after the movie I thought I might pick up a copy. I too thought it was weird that Meryl Streep was on the cover and came to the same conclusion as you did...marketing to a new audience.

It's amazing how certain people's voices come through in their writing. Julia is one, Mark Bittman (NYTimes) and one that isn't around anymore - The Frugal Gourmet, who had a show on PBS and several cookbooks.

I have to go now before my husband sees what great pictures your Nikon takes. He wants to upgrade from his Nikon Coolpix and if he sees this, he'll be sold.
Sam

Pat in east TN said...

I love when you recommend books, and I've heard over and over again how good this one is.

Great pictures, but the petal is so simple, yet so beautiful.

Carol Murdock said...

I have it in my TBR, which will hopefully start to decline soon!
Love the shots! Great camera! :)

Vicki Lane said...

Victoria -- first star on the right and straight on to mornning, indeed!

Sam -- Two of my favorite cookery books for voice are Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings CROSS CREEK COOKERY and Phineas Beck's CLEMENTINE IN THE KITCHEN. I read them as I would a novel.

And I had a Coolpix and it was a nice little camera and then I upgraded to the Lumix which had better telephoto and then Merisi, who blogs in Vienna, told me I ought to upgrade to a SLR. What could I do? Now I adore my big Nikon -- and would recommend it to anyone.

Pat -- I too just love the simple line of the petal.

Carol -- Ah, that TBR pile -- I know it well.

Unknown said...

Vicki - If you have clear skies tonight - the Orionid meteor shower is occurring right now and the experts says this should be a good year as there is little moon interference. The Earth is passing close to debris that was from 1200 BC - how do they know that anyway? But it's pretty cool! (I'm pretty sure your morning star is Venus. Glad to hear your trip to Indy was fun. Take care ~Liz

Miss_Yves said...

I have not seen this movie, but I 'll follow your advice !
A gorgeous sunset and a lovey petal...

maria cecilia said...

Hello Vicki, thank you very much for your nice comment in my blog which has allowed me to meet you, and thanks for being interested in my garden which I work hard to get the rewards you have seen.
Have your books been translated into spanish?... I would love to read your novels. English is very hard for me to read and write so please excuse my writing.
It´s has been a pleasure looking through your wonderful and interesting blog.
Muchos cariños
María Cecilia, from Chile

NCmountainwoman said...

I love Julia Child and very much liked this book which I bought when it first came out. I must admit it makes me a bit angry that it has been reprinted with Meryl Streep on the cover. She will never be the image that comes to my mind when I think of Julia Child. Of course, that Saturday Night Live parody creeps into my mind as well.

Vicki Lane said...

Hey, Liz -- I was out looking night before last at 2:30 AM but got cold and gave up before I saw any. I'll try again tonight.

Miss Yves -- Both book and movie are about Julia Child's love affair with France.

Maria Cecilia -- Alas, my books have not been translated to Spanish! The first two are in French but there are no other translations.

I think you do a wonderful job with English! I studied Spanish many years ago and, for lack of practice, have forgotten most of it.
I'll be back to enjoy the Spring on your beautiful blog!

Mountain woman -- Julia Child's estate is reaping the rewards of that movie -- NYT bestseller list etc. But it does seem disrespectful.

Tess Kincaid said...

This book has been on my "must read" list since I saw the movie. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I totally agree. It should be Julia on the cover. Good grief.

Vicki Lane said...

I found the book charming! Quite a lot of detail -- which I enjoy.

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Vicki - I am so impressed with what you're doing with your new camera. The single petal photo is "whoa-wonderful," I think!!!

Vicki Lane said...

Thanks, Kaye! I'm hoping to get some tips from my photographer friend Cory who's coming out tomorrow. So far I'm doing just point and shoot stuff. And eventually, I'll have to take a look at the manual and the CD that came with the camera.

Merisi said...

That pink petal on golden background would make a beautiful bookmark! (I just finished studying another page of my manual - unbelievable, the things I still don't know about my camera! *grin*)

I have a hardcover edition of Julia's Life in France with the real Paul and Julia on the cover! I shall take a picture tomorrow morning, in daylight, and mail it to you. I still haven't read it, too many must-read non-fiction book on my daily diet.