Julia Child to hit #1, thanks to Julie & Julia
Nothing like a hot movie to goose book sales. Thanks to the response to the film adaptation of "Julie & Julia," Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I" is selling like never before and is headed to a top spot on The New York Times best seller list. In J&J, Julie Powell tries to turn her life around with an unlikely goal: cooking all 524 recipes in Child's famous cookbook within a year.
The movie version, which stars Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, has grossed about $60 million in three weeks and refocused attention on Child. According to the Times, her cookbook sold 22,000 copies in the most recent week tracked -- more copies than were sold in any full year since the book’s appearance. The book will make its debut at No. 1 on the Times best-seller list of Aug. 30 in the advice and how-to category.
(Child-mania has even seeped into the Baltimore dining group that my wife and I belong to. On Saturday, we'll be joining some friends to make an MAFC-inspired dinner of Crab Quenelles, roasted duckling with cherry and peach sauces, Tomates a la Provencale and Spinach Timbales. If I'm still alive next week after gorging on all that food, I'll give you a more complete report.)
Comments
We saw the movie Saturday and loved it. I'm not inspired to get the cookbook though because we lived in the gastronomic capital of France for 2 years and I know what they're food is like. We do want to read My Life in France, though.
Posted by: Kathy | August 24, 2009 12:49 PM
I understand the demand. I went to a Matinee. I came home from the theatre and googled for the "Braised Fillet of Salmon" recipe. I was going to prepare the fish that night in the same 'ol lemon/dill bake that I always do. My husband was pleasantly surprised. I too want to read "my life in France" and look forward to renting the DVD's. I contemplate purchasing the cookbook.
Posted by: Marisa Meier | August 24, 2009 3:20 PM