Julie & Julia

Julie & Julia (2005) by Julie Powell. Subtitled "My Year of Cooking Dangerously," this volume provides a variety of contrasts. First, there is the contrast between Julie Powell, who wrote the book, and Julia Child, who provided the inspiration for it. Next, there is the contrast between Julie Powell, creative and talented chef, and Julie Powell, crass and foul-mouthed woman. Although I am in awe of Powell's achievement of cooking her way through Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year, I find that Powell the person is a bit of a pill. Not liking the author diminishes the pleasure one gets from reading a first-person book (this one is derived from a blog). Grade: B