book review: julia's child

The scoop on Julia's Child: "Cookbook author Sarah Pinneo delves into the delicious world of fiction with her hilarious first novel, being published by Plume in February 2012.

Perfect for foodie and all-natural mamas, Julia's Child examines motherhood’s choices: organic vs. local, paper vs. plastic, staying at home vs. risking it all."

The first-person narrative was well-told, and the characters and story were likable. It was a fast-paced read that kept me turning page after page. That is something a busy mom — or book reviewer — will appreciate. (I may not have children, but my kittens can be quite demanding.)

One of my favorite parts about this book was Julia's work with organic foods. With worries about finances and convenience plaguing the average person's mind, the thought of switching to an organic diet can be difficult. The novel handled this issue in a positive way, which did not seem preachy.

Even through challenging moments in Julia's life, the novel sustained its sense of humor, making it enjoyable.

Even though I do not have first-hand experience as a woman balancing a husband, young children and a profession, I still found myself relating well with Julia. Besides, as mentioned, she was just so likable and funny it was hard not to.

The secondary characters also spoke well. I especially love how well Pinneo depicted Julia's children. They were adorable, but still managed to make you pity Julia and want to award her a medal for valor.

In Julia's Child, the author's method for displaying recipes was particularly clever. Pinneo made them part of the story in a natural way. While some books with recipes overdo it, this one sprinkled them through gracefully without overwhelming the story's integrity.

Plus, I had a chance to bake — and blog about — one of her recipes, and it was fantastic. Read about it here.

With strong storytelling, an interesting plot and fabulous restaurants, this book was a good read I would recommend to others.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

About the author:
Author Sarah Pinneo, like her character Julia, understands the work vs. stay at home decision. Sarah was a Wall Street dealmaker for ten years before making the transition from breadwinner to bread baker. Now a food journalist and co-author of The Ski House Cookbook, Sarah blogs on her home page at sarahpinneo.com, and at Blurb is a Verb on SheWrites.com. She lives with her family in Ludlow Vermont, and Hanover, New Hampshire.

Receive Change the Word's latest updates in your Inbox. Subscribe by entering your information under "Follow by email" in the sidebar. Follow me on Twitter @lmchap or "Like" Change the Word on Facebook.