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  • From Scratch

  • A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home
  • Written by: Tembi Locke
  • Narrated by: Tembi Locke
  • Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (142 ratings)

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From Scratch

Written by: Tembi Locke
Narrated by: Tembi Locke
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Publisher's Summary

One of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2019!

A 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.

It was love at first sight when Tembi met professional chef Saro on a street in Florence. There was just one problem: Saro’s traditional Sicilian family did not approve of him marrying a Black American woman, an actress no less. However, the couple, heartbroken but undeterred, forges on. They build a happy life in Los Angeles, with fulfilling careers, deep friendships, and the love of their lives: a baby girl they adopt at birth. Eventually, they reconcile with Saro’s family just as he faces a formidable cancer that will consume all their dreams.

From Scratch chronicles three summers Tembi spends in Sicily with her daughter, Zoela, as she begins to piece together a life without her husband in his tiny hometown hamlet of farmers. Where once Tembi was estranged from Saro’s family and his origins, now she finds solace and nourishment - literally and spiritually - at her mother-in-law’s table. In the Sicilian countryside, she discovers the healing gifts of simple fresh food, the embrace of a close-knit community, and timeless traditions and wisdom that light a path forward. All along the way, she reflects on her and Saro’s incredible romance - an indelible love story.

In Sicily, it is said that every story begins with a marriage or a death - in Tembi Locke’s case, it is both. Her story is about loss, but it’s really about love found. Her story is about travel, but it’s really about finding a home. It is about food, but it’s really about chasing flavor as an act of remembrance. From Scratch is for anyone who has dared to reach for big love, fought for what mattered most, and needed a powerful reminder that life is...delicious.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Tembi Locke (P)2019 Simon & Schuster
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What listeners say about From Scratch

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Just beautiful

A story that grabs your heart and holds it all the way through. A touching, story so beautifully written you can nearly taste each meal. Loved it

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Must read :)

It was a beautiful romance with passionate family drama. It's a bit difficult to follow because the timeline is all mixed up. Overall, beautiful story that is greatly narrated. It's organisational flaws, add to it's rawness. Enjoy!

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Loved this charming story

What a beautiful story on Love, loss, connections and the history and cultures of lands and people unknown to me. I will listen to this again.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A love story

A beautiful story of finding love, loss and navigating life. "From Scratch" is a story you can't keep to yourself.

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Beautiful story

The story is a mix of heartbreak and love. The way Tembi writes is so beautiful. I loved every minute of it.

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Even better than the hard copy.

I loved this book--but the audio version was even better. Tembi's Italian made me feel like taking Italian lessons and booking a trip to Italy. The words sounded so much better than they did in my head! The story is sweet and sad, but also funny and thoughtful. Highly recommended.

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A Vibrant Dive into Love, Family, & Food

A poignant story of love in its many iterations, and life after loss. A beautifully written, deeply intimate - and relatable - dive into structures of self, family, one’s place in the world, and the power & strength of real, good food. Tembi, thank you for sharing this glimpse of your life with the world.

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Absolutely beautiful! Enjoyed immensely!!

Beautifully written and read by the author.
This story lingered with me for days. Highly recommend!

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Engaging

I feel this book may not be for the wider audience but for those that it does touch, it touches deeply. Having the author read about her own life was compelling and emotional. Italy has always been on my bucket list and this author has made that even more pressing with her combinations of vusual depictions and culture. A very inspiring read that is much more than just a love story. It is also a story of family and life, just life, even through death.

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Spellbinding

Loved every page of this book, from beginning to end. Sorry to read the last sentence and realize this has come to an end!

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