Comments on: Julie & Julia Week at Women’s Memoir Writing

By: Judith van Praag

Judith van Praag — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:52:33 +0000

Hi Kendra,
Good point. You’re absolutely right a writer may come back to a subject later (whether it is one or ten years) to write about the same subject with a different perspective. Kathryn Harrison comes to mind, who first wrote a novel, then a more honest (yes truthful) memoir about the incestuous relationship with her father, and after that she still wasn’t finished, for there remained enough to be said about her relationship with her mother.

It seems Julie Powell did that with “Cleaving”, she went back and wrote about what she had left out before. To be honest, I’m not sure whether I’d have missed what I called “the truth” if I hadn’t read the NYTimes review, we’ll never know. I just think the story of the younger woman would have been more compelling, more dramatic, had we seen in the movie what we can now find out in the second book …

Our discussion makes me remember that it’s not fair to judge a book by the movie made after it. There are more creators involved after all. Personally I would have liked the scenario writer to have created a link between Julie’s egg donations and ovarian problems, and Julia’s childlessness, but she didn’t. Her choice must have been to give Julia the heavier load, and perhaps that’s only just, if only because she’s the éminence grise.

By: Kendra Bonnett

Kendra Bonnett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:28:52 +0000

Thanks for the kind words Susan. It was fun putting this together. I had an excuse to watch a lot of YouTube footage of both Julie and Julia–a guilty pleasure.

I second what Matilda wrote. We thank you and all the women (and a few men) who have made 2009 such a fulfilling year for us. We passed the 500 comments mark today, a most fitting way to wrap up the year.

And we have many new projects and additions for 2010, as well as the continuation of old regulars and favorites. Author Conversations resumes in a couple of weeks.

A safe New Years Eve to everyone and a happy, healthy, successful New Year.

By: Matilda Butler

Matilda Butler — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:10:43 +0000

Hi Susan: Thanks for your lovely comment. One of our goals for 2010 is to create more of a sense of community among women interested in writing their memoirs. You have helped to get us started. We look forward to more of your comments in the coming year.

I especially like that you shared some of yourself. It is amazing how many people that Julia Child influenced. I had a good friend who watched every Julia Child show (the original series). I remember some of the marvelous dinners that my friend fixed. I no longer know where she lives, but I still remember those times with her.

Best wishes for 2010.
-Matilda

By: Susan Schoch

Susan Schoch — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:12:35 +0000

Thanks, ladies. Julia Child was a mentor when I began cooking for real, in my late teens. And Julie Powell did accomplish something that was powerful in her life. Nora Ephron, a very funny writer with an ear for the poignant, created a pretty good screenplay. So I’ve seen the DVD and have the books on my wish list. I’m glad you devoted the space/energy to them. Your idea to include the video links was great. It was satisfying to see and hear both Julia and Julie. Thanks again, for another fine author(s) column. And while I’m at it, let me say how much I enjoyed your Christmas blog post. What wonderful memories you shared.
Best wishes to you both,
Susan/s

By: Kendra Bonnett

Kendra Bonnett — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:49:18 +0000

Hi Judith,
Thanks for the comments. I too have read a little about Julie Powell and her new book “Cleaving.” Fortunately I saw the movie first. I also picked up on the baby issues. The first reference, when Julia and Paul are walking in the park and Julia follows the pram with her eyes is so subtle. It’s not until the middle of the book that Julia’s feeling are made overtly. Very well handled. And your metaphor is spot on. The book is her child and her audience/students her children. Excellent.

As to the memoir issues, I think it’s fair to say that Nora Ephron didn’t write a memoir. She took two memoirs and used them to create a screen play. The memoirs were her primary source material for a crafting a cute story.

I haven’t read Julie Powell’s book (although I’ve read quite a bit about it). I have read Julia’s “My Year in France.” I suspect that Julie’s is the truth; it’s certainly more graphic. Julia’s book, completed shortly before her death, is interesting and well worth reading, but I’m not sure it’s really a memoir as much as a look back at a lifetime. I’ll have to think about that.

I do think, however, that a person can write a memoir at any time in their life…provided they have something to say. A teen who has survived a terrible accident or disease as a child or great family tragedy or disfunction may have something to say to her audience/readers. And I see no reason it can’t be “true.” I also think that the same woman could address the same issues many years later and write a different memoir. Her perspective will be different. She’ll have more of life to draw upon. Is one better than the other? It’s hard to say. I guess I’ll take the easy way out on this one and simply say, it depends.

By: Judith van Praag

Judith van Praag — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:31:30 +0000

Dear Kendra and Matilda,
Couldn’t agree more with you, the movie Julie & Julia is a must see, we rented the DVD two weeks ago and I watched it three times in a row, while my husband and I stopped the movie every now and then the first time around to see certain moments twice. For instance when Julia throws a glance inside a passing pram and her husband tightens his embrace.
Nora Ephron’s adaption of the memoirs is brilliant. The telling moments showing Julia Child’s sorrow over her inability to have children perhaps lost to the masses, but a gift to bereft parents. Julia Child’s life work, her gift to home-cooks is a wonderful example of transcendence. Her book became her baby, her audiences the children whom she taught all she knew (there’s more to learning how to cook than turning out a good dish).

As it happened to be, I read a N.Y. Times review of “Cleaving: a story of marriage meat and obsession” Julie Powell’s latest book, an hour before watching the movie. Unfortunately, I should add. Apparently Ms. Powell’s held back information in her first memoir, material that would have given the story of the younger couple more meat so to speak. As it was, I kept on thinking about the big secret we were withheld while watching Julie & Julia. The result? I loved Julia Child’s story and want to read her memoir, but am not interested in reading Ms. Powell’s.

For a memoir writer it’s something to keep in mind, your story may be interesting or intriguing, withholding the truth from your authors (and yourself) makes for a less than satisfactory result. No matter how high the ratings, or how big the sales. You’ll know there’s something missing, and so will your readership/ audience, even if they’re not quite aware what it is.

But, let’s face it, the truth is hard to come by, and often it presents itself in bits and pieces and over time. So what is a writer to do, wait until it all comes together? That may take a lifetime. Well so be it.
Some are able to share what they know at any given time, while others wish to wait until they’ve found the grail.

All we can do is continue doing the write thing.
Happy New Year!
Best,
Judith