Diana R Chambers

Enthralling!

So Julia Child is one of my fav people. Ever since I saw the film of her cooking omelettes for 100 plus people on a couple of spirit stoves at the Smithsonian Institute in D.C. I’ve been intrigued.
Intrigued by her ‘can do’ attitude, her indomitable spirit, her zest for life.
That has been fuelled further by various movies and TV series that have added to her legend over the years.
Of her previous life with the Office of Espionage Services there has been little show more mention.
That’s part of what makes this novel so interesting. Julia’s forays into the far east as head of the Registry of OSS brings to life the people she meets and trusts.
There’s Julia’s observations of the situation as the Japanese edge closer to unoccupied countries —through Sri Lanka, northern provinces of China, Burma, eventually down into Malaya.
The people she meets, including nationalists leader Chiang Kai-Shek and Madam Chiang Kai-Shek, communist party adherents—all fighting the common enemy, Japan.
And of course her beginning and subsequent relationship with Paul Child who was a mapmaker, and so much more.
Julia didn’t trust Paul when she first met him but that would slowly develop and become the loving, enhancing lifelong partnership they had.
Paul encouraged Julia “to relax and simply be. She did!
A fascinating couple, both with amazing stories, individually and together, that continued long after the war!
Above all it’s Julia’s attitude towards the local people she works with and meets, her ability to thrive in situations and places most of us would run screaming from, that informs and endears. The flight from India over the ‘bump’ of the Himalaya’s into China was evisceratingly scary.
A brilliant fictional look at Julia based on factual information of the times. What could’ve, might’ve, should’ve, and possibly did occur. Amazingly in-depth research from Chambers!
Bravo!

A Sourcebooks ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. show less

This was a great book! The writing was really well done, the descriptions of India, Ceylon, and China made me feel like I was there (and fueled my lifelong wish to go to Sri Lanka), the intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat, and the author did a great job of transporting Julia Child's personality that came through so clearly in "My Life In France" into her fictional Julia. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book, and now I'm desperate to know if Julia Child really was a spy and not show more just the head file clerk in all these high intensity locales! show less

I have to admit that I paid very little attention to Julia Child while I was growing up. She was just a woman with a funny voice who had a cooking program on television-- and I hated cooking. (I still do.) If not for the fact that I'm a fan of Meryl Streep's movies, I never would've watched Julie & Julia, and I never would've become fascinated by the woman with the funny voice-- and that fascination led me to Diana R. Chambers' The Secret War of Julia Child.

Julia Child had an unconventional show more mother who wanted more for her daughter. This made Julia keenly ambitious and determined to make her mark in the world. She knew she had to make a difference. I enjoyed the often poetic descriptions of the Asian landscape and how Julia sampled every bit of native cuisine that she could-- a harbinger of things to come-- but the book came up short in other areas.

One thing readers should keep in mind as they read this book is that it's not based on fact. As the author says, "I offer my story as one that exists only in the realm of possibility, a personal interpretation inspired by admiration and respect," and it is this that was the book's downfall. Julia as a spy, as a code breaker, and adept at plugging leaks? Yes, I can see that, but Chambers went on to add too much to Julia's fictional resume, almost making her an addition to the Marvel Universe of superheroes. This woman did make an impact on the world, so I don't think it was really necessary to "gild the lily."

The landscape, the food, the long, involved road to finding love with Paul Child... I enjoyed all these things, but Julia was no superhero.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) show less

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark publishers for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I’ve read a lot about Julia Child the famous chef, the writer, and the television personality recognized for bringing French cuisine to America. I was even fortunate enough to meet her in her later years. We all knew the rumors about her work during World War II, and how she always denied that she was a spy.

So I was eager to read about Julia’s experience during show more those “secret” war years, and even though it’s fiction, the story seemed so realistic I was on the edge of my seat, reading just one more page, just one more chapter.

While she was in Asia during the 1940s, the book intensely describes Julia’s experiences: the danger, the uncertainty of who to trust, the treachery. We also hear the sounds, feel the climate, taste the food. I was surprised at Julia’s insecurity. She was sensitive about being taller than most women, with large feet and a sometimes-uncontrollable voice. She was often full of self-doubt, yet also fearless, clever, and strong-willed.

In addition to learning about this period when Julia is struggling to find her own path, and which ends up providing a foundation of strength and perseverance that serves her for the rest of her life, this is where she meets and falls in love with Paul Child. The book spends a fair amount of time on their developing relationship, which isn’t straightforward. It also shows Julia’s insecurity about the relationship, which is juxtaposed with her bravery, dedication and commitment to the United States’ newly formed Office of Strategic Services.

One helpful item readers are sure to appreciate is a reference page of WWII acronyms and abbreviations that were mentioned throughout the novel.

Author Diana R. Chambers explains that the book is “an homage to Julia McWilliams Child, her great spirit and achievements. I must emphasize that it is a work of fiction, a product of creative imagination, based on ten years of deep and wide-ranging research, as well as a lifetime of Asia study and travel. From this treasure trove I extracted many thought-provoking hints, allusions, and suggestions – like thousands of puzzle pieces – that came to shape my depiction of this formative, yet little know period of Julia’s life during which she performed her WWII duty in the clandestine services.”

While there is an enjoyment of food in the novel, this is predominantly an imagining of Julia’s war experiences in Asia. I had to remind myself as I was reading that not everything actually happened to her. For instance the survival section after Julia's boat explodes was both traumatic and unbelievable. It reminded me of Disney’s movie “The Jungle Cruise,” without the humor. The novel is a story of danger, death, and adventure as the author seeks “to find [Julia’s] truth, to portray her struggles, achievements and strength of character in navigating an unknown, often dangerous landscape.” show less