Julie & Julia

Friday night--OPENING NIGHT, even--two girlfriends and I went to see "Julie & Julia." I loved it! I thought Meryl Streep was incredibly funny and engaging as Julia Child, and I came away from the movie in love with Julia Child.

And feeling guilty, as I have never been able to get through the book Julie & Julia.

I have tried. I even loved the concept so much that one year for Christmas I gave Andy the J&J book, Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a couple balsamic vinegars, some herb salts, several types of dried mushrooms--sort of "French cooking in a box." Andy has read the book, and my mother-in-law even sent me a copy of the book because it seemed right up my alley. And the idea of it was. Only......

I find the author whiny and annoying.

I have even scrounged out the book and am trying again....but she's still whiny and annoying. Who cries over chicken? Liver maybe--and that's only if I actually have to eat it. But chicken? Get a grip.

When I first heard of the J&J book, I loved the idea so much that I actually went through my cookbooks looking for one I could make myself go all the way through. It seemed such a fun way to force myself to make things I wouldn't normally make, but so far I've been stymied. I realize to say that I am never, ever, EVER going to cook squid or mussels or liver of any sort is rather counter to the entire point....and I don't care. I'm still never cooking squid or mussels or liver of any sort. I really dislike eggs, but I'm a bit more tolerant there. I made a soufflé once just to see what it was like, and I think it turned out like it was supposed to, but it was just too "eggy" for me and I threw it out (which is what generally happens every time I make something with eggs). Still, it was an accomplishment and I wanted to try it, but I never found myself at the point of tears or throwing shoes or swearing at my spouse.

I think it's "chick lit." I don't seem to like it. I thought Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was just a thin version of Prince of Tides-a much better book. I thought Bridget Jones's Diary an annoying mishmash of chick lit and trying to rewrite Pride and Prejudice but without any of it's wit or charm. I couldn't make it through even 100 pages of Twilight, even though most of my friends simply love the book. I dropped out of my first book club because of their devotion to Oprah's book list. I'm not saying these are bad books--it's just that I can't stand them. So here's the question, am I the only female who doesn't like "chick lit?" And if there ARE other females who don't like "chick lit," shouldn't we get a category too, and what would the name be? "Babe books?"

[Of course, as I am currently completely fascinated by food history books, I don't suppose I get a reading group of my own. How many people are truly fascinated by the history of high fructose corn syrup?]