download from scratch true story tembi locke

And Locke herself, despite sharing stories of her love, family and grief, keeps a safe distance.ĭespite its flaws, “From Scratch,” which ends, as this sort of book does, with a collection of recipes, is a gorgeous read.One of AudioFile ’s Best Audiobooks of 2019!Ī poignant and transporting cross-cultural love story set against the lush backdrop of the Sicilian countryside, where one woman discovers the healing powers of food, family, and unexpected grace in her darkest hour. Saro is handsome, supportive, understanding and great in the bedroom as well as the kitchen. Zoela as a typical kid is whiny and impatient at times, but she’s also smart, kind and wise beyond her years. Her characters, too, are presented in broad strokes and feel two-dimensional.

And while readers understand that they were each other’s great love, we’re not sure how or why that became true. For example, the book glosses over Saro’s cancer diagnosis, lengthy treatments and Locke’s 10 years as his caregiver. Even her description of the classic Los Angeles fog feels fresh: “A haze always hung over the city, separating the lives we led from the open sky.”īecause of her obvious writing skills, readers get lost in her prose, which leads to some confusion and unanswered questions. When she compares cheese-making to grief, describing how both need “time, labor and attention,” she offers a new perspective on an age-old emotion. She offers a peek into her deeply satisfying relationship with her daughter, her husband and their family. Locke allows her readers to revel in the sensory experiences of Sicily. The writing in “From Scratch” is sublime. They spend summers in Sicily where Zoela thrives and Locke gets to know her late husband’s family. Readers observe Locke attempting to work through her paralyzing grief while caring for a young daughter, Zoela, and providing them with a stable home in Los Angeles.

Then Saro is diagnosed with a rare cancer and dies early in the narrative. Their interracial, intercultural relationship is shocking enough that his parents boycott the wedding. She meets Saro, a Sicilian chef, when she’s 20. First, Locke is a black American actress forging a career in Hollywood.

Download from scratch true story tembi locke