Book Review: Julia’s Child {Giveaway!}

A longtime reader and lover of fiction, I’ve actually read way more in the way of nonfiction in the last few years it seems. Between marriage and parenting, cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, food choices and other lifestyle topics, I’ve been immersed in the world of learning more and more.

I’ve enjoyed most of the books I’ve read recently, but I’ve missed reading just for fun.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that the topics we write about at Simple Organic just don’t usually lend themselves to the fiction genre… usually.

But sometimes… they do! Read on to discover a fun, relevant novel that I recently devoured.

When fellow blogger and cookbook author Sarah Pinneo contacted me about reviewing her new book, Julia’s Child, I jumped at the chance to read a novel whose cover reads, “Take one organic food venture. Add two kids. Season with mayhem.”

Julia’s Child is an entertaining book, entwined with many of the values that I myself hold dear. While I don’t personally relate to the working mom/entrepreneurial aspect of the main character Julia Bailey, I can certainly see myself as one of the women “who’s wondered if buying that six-dollar box of organic crackers makes her a hero or a sucker.”

The choices we make for ourselves and our families are complicated, and Julia’s Child applies humor to the complications of wanting to feed our children healthy, real food in a world dominated by Happy Meals.

The book didn’t exactly end how I expected, but it did confirm the fact that we each have to weigh out the choices in our life, and decide what priorities we’re going to focus on for the time being.

Now, I’m sure I’m not the only one who likes to read the back of the box about the natural food companies whose snacks I sometimes bring home. I love it when I see that the companies started small in a garage somewhere or are using recipes passed down from generations before.

If you’re like me, then you’ll be interested in knowing that when Sarah emailed me, she told me about how in her research for the novel, she actually interviewed real-life mom(and dad)-preneurs who sell organic food products. You can read about some of these companies and how they got their start over on Sarah’s blog.

And as a bonus, the novel is peppered with recipes throughout that I can’t wait to try for my own kiddos (and myself!).

About Sarah and Julia’s Child

Cookbook author Sarah Pinneo delves into the delicious world of fiction with her hilarious first novel, JULIA’S CHILD, being published by Plume in February 2012. Sarah is a food journalist, and is also the co-author of The Ski House Cookbook.

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.

Giveaway

Today, one lucky Simple Organic reader is going to win a copy of Julia’s Child.

How to enter:

1. {Mandatory} Leave a comment telling us your favorite food as a child (or your child’s favorite food).

2. {Bonus} Follow Sarah on Twitter or Facebook and leave a comment telling us.

Open to US Residents only, the giveaway will end on Friday, March 2 at midnight PST.

I heartily recommend this fun book, so if you don’t win, be sure to request it at your library, or pick up a copy for yourself as a little literary treat.

Affiliate links included in this post.