Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Sunday, July 12, 2009

I am so very disappointed. So very disappointed. I have had Julie & Julia on my shelf for quite a while. Just waiting for vacation to sit down and read this book.

My first inkling that this would not be a book I finished came on page 67 when she referred to dealing with the families of 9/11 victims as "emotional shitwork" that "Republicans had some family-values sort of notion that women possess inherent delicacy and sensitivity"



Classy.

The repeated bashing of Republicans throughout the whole book just left a bad taste in my mouth. I stopped reading and shut the book on page 147 when I read this:

"Aunt Sukie is a schoolteacher in Waxahachie, Texas and one of those smart, kind people who nonetheless mystifies you by continuing to vote Republican."
Well Julie Powell. You can kiss this smart, kind, REPUBLICAN'S Rosie Red Ass.



I don't really discuss politics with anyone. I vote for who I think is the best person for the job and whose ideologies best align with mine. Right now I am really not sure if the Republican party best lines up with what I believe, but I do know they come a lot closer than the Democratic party. But no matter what I believe or what YOU believe, I will NEVER call you stupid for what you believe. I will NEVER make fun of you for voting who you vote for. Repeatedly, throughout her memoir, Julie Powell makes disparaging comments about the Republican party. It is one thing to express your support for one party in your book, it is quite another to make disparaging comments about the other party & the people who vote for them.



I really wanted to like this book. The trailer for the movies make it look cute. I can only assume that the producers were wise enough to take creative licenses with her day job & her feelings about Republicans. Makes no matter, now I won't shell out the $8.50 to go see the movie. Which is too bad, because I really was looking forward to this movie.







Jerilynn said...

thank you for saving me from buying this book - I also do not care for books that invoke an over the top political agenda. I appreciate your blog and finally added it to my side bar so that I wouldn't miss your updates. I am currently listening to the Deliverance Dane book you recommended and I am enjoying it. Ü

Anonymous said...

I've been feeling the same way about the book. I was so excited about it, but her attitude in general was disappointing.

Charlotte's Web of Books said...

Jerilynn, thank you for adding me to your side bar!


Mountainsofbooks - I am so very glad to know that I am not the only one who felt that way.

Lisa Mandina said...

I agree with you. I really hate when people have to call someone stupid or wrong because they don't agree with you. That's what I think is great about our country is that you can have your own beliefs, and if they differ from that of the "leader" you're not killed for them. I had no desire to read this book, but it is interesting to know in case I'd seen the movie and been intrigued or something.

The Dreamstress said...

Wow...I was kind of excited about this book, and would never have guessed it to be one that would be all political . I guess it doesn't matter that I don't have any time to read it then!

Debbie's World of Books said...

Wow, now you have me intrigued. I also have this book sitting in my TBR pile. I might just have to read (or start reading) it out of curiosity.

Joseph said...

You might want to balance things out by reading a very, very, very good 5-star (in my opinion) book, Everything Matters! by Ron Currie, Jr. I don't believe it has any politics in it, and it is pretty inspirational fiction with a bit of science fiction and a touch of the spiritual to it (although not in an organized religion way). Hard to believe that the author was a short order cook year before last! Jos. from josephsreviews.wordpress.com

Mimi said...

As I mentioned on the place where we met, this book was good, but you have to be able to let go of what you expected it to be (a cooking memoir) and just go with the (unexpected fact) that it's going to be about sex and drinking and her politics.

Having said that, it's certainly not for everyone, it is very raw, and scandalized about half of my book club.

I think the movie will be a lot different, and as is rarely the case, better than the book, because I think it'll actually be closer to the premise than the book was.

And, I agree, actually, even though I'm a Democrat, I really dislike when someone goes off on politics when that isn't the point (Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog was the most recent example that I read)

Mimi said...

PS - could that comment have had any more run-on sentences? I'm sorry about that.

Anonymous said...

Perfectly said!!! Thank you!

Jerilynn just gave me your link, and I have it bookmarked. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and have added a bunch of your suggestions to my running list of "must reads."

Have a wonderful summer!

Shannon

Louise said...

Charlotte: I recently found your blog and enjoy it. Are you really reading a book a day??! I started reading Julie and Julia. Her language and her remarks about Republicans don't really bother me..it's like a 3-year-old saying "I hate you, Mommy". You just can't take it seriously. I doubt there's much thought behind her comments, at least none that she articulates. I guess I'll finish the book because I find the cooking parts interesting, but I won't seek out any future books by her. Louise

Jamie said...

If you haven't already seen the movie, you should. Its really good. Better than this book.

Charlotte's Web of Books said...

A year later and I want to say that I *did* see the movie (on DVD - for $1 -- Thank You Redbox) and thoroughly enjoyed it. But then again I have yet to see a Meryl Streep movie that I did not love.

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