From Scratch by Tembi Locke portrays a heartfelt narrative of love, loss, and healing, resonating deeply with readers through its rich emotional landscape and vivid descriptions of Sicilian culture. While praised for its authenticity and evocative storytelling, some find its pacing uneven. Overall, it's a compelling memoir that intertwines romance and grief with culinary delight.

Readers who savor heartfelt memoirs about love and loss will enjoy From Scratch by Tembi Locke. This book will appeal to fans of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It captures the journey of personal healing and the cross-cultural experiences that deepen human connections.

From Scratch by Tembi Locke is a memoir that chronicles the author’s relationship with her husband, Saro, and her journey through grief and healing after his death. The narrative shifts between timelines, detailing Tembi and Saro’s love story, marriage, Saro’s battle with cancer, and Tembi’s emotional recovery in his Sicilian hometown of Aliminusa. This book involves themes of terminal illness and loss.

Emotional / Romantic / Inspirational / Bittersweet / Heartwarming

- From Scratch is a memoir by Tembi Locke that explores themes of love, grief, and healing, drawing from her personal experiences.
- Tembi Locke's story in From Scratch was adapted into a Netflix limited series, co-produced and co-written by her sister, Attica Locke.
- The memoir not only delves into Tembi Locke's life but also celebrates Sicilian culture and cuisine, which play a significant role throughout the narrative.

**Tembi Locke**  
An African American actress and the memoir's first-person narrator, who shares her journey from studying art history in college to meeting and marrying Saro, a Sicilian chef, during a semester abroad in Italy.

**Saro Lupo**  
An accomplished Sicilian chef whose charm and persistence win over Tembi during her study-abroad experience in Florence, leading to a deep and transformative relationship despite cultural challenges.

**Croce and Giuseppe Lupo**  
Saro's traditional Sicilian parents who initially disapprove of his relationship with Tembi, driven by cultural and societal norms, but whose perspectives shift over time.

**Zoela**  
The adopted daughter of Tembi and Saro, who navigates her multicultural identity and familial bonds through meaningful experiences in both the United States and her father's native Sicily.

Tembi Locke

Adult

Autobiography / Memoir

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore From Scratch and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

From Scratch Summary and Study Guide

Background

From Scratch Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue

From Scratch Prologue Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “Before”

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

From Scratch Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “First Summer”

Part 2, Chapters 4-9

From Scratch Part 2, Chapters 4-9 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Second Summer”

Part 3, Chapters 10-15

From Scratch Part 3, Chapters 10-15 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Third Summer”

Part 4, Chapters 16-19

From Scratch Part 4, Chapters 16-19 Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

From Scratch Key Figures

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Themes

From Scratch Themes

Symbols & Motifs

From Scratch Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

From Scratch Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

From Scratch Essay Topics

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read From Scratch?

Reading Age

Book Details