As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto
edited by Joan Reardon
Mariner Books, 432 pages. Nonfiction.

Julia Child is famous for her cooking, her size, and her voice. But one lesser known thing about Julia Child is that she was a prolific letter writer. One of her favorite correspondents was her dear friend Avis DeVoto. Some may have heard about Avis from her brief mention in the movie Julie and Julia, but as is often the case, the movie doesn't do her justice at all. Avis DeVoto was a writer and a chef in her own right. She was an inspirational and a driving force behind both of Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The letters between these two friends over the space of a lifetime are revealing of their humor, their intelligence, and their spunk.

I loved reading these letters. Julia has always been like a giant good fairy in my life. She blossomed at age 40, found the love of her life and her true calling. She learned what she really believed, even though it wasn't what her family raised her to believe. She loved her country passionately but also loved the world outside of it. These letters are full of life, and love, and FOOD.