The Well-Read Woman Book Club discussion

Our Contemporary/Popular Pick for April 2020 is From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke.

What has motivated you to want to read this novel? Do you have any expectations or assumptions before you've opened it? Have you heard anyone else talking about it? Will you buy the book, or are you borrowing your copy from the library?

I had not heard of this one, but it sounds heartbreaking (the good kind)! I've just put a digital copy on hold from the library.

This looks so good! Will definitely try to get my own copy of it ☺️

I've only read the prologue to this, but I think it's going to be good. How are you guys doing with getting copies of the contemporary books because of COVID-19?

The Overdrive app isn't putting a limit to the number of books you're able to borrow right now, but the wait lists are longer than normal. I know that the Scribd app is giving away 30 days of free books as a quarantine gift for new members if you're having a hard time getting copies of anything!

What do you guys think so far? Have you started reading? In the beginning, I was confusing Saro with Rocco, whoops! I'll admit that I've already teared up a bit.

I am loving it. The second chapter was tough to read. I am loving the food references. Also taking his ashes back to Sicily was very emotional reading. It gets into the grief right away..no warm up. Hope you all are staying safe out there. Times are scary right now.

I'm afraid that both of our April books are hard reads during this quarantine, I am dying to book a flight to Sicily after finishing this! I returned the book early so that others who have it on a digital hold could begin, but now I want to tackle some of the recipes inside.

Savoring, From Scratch... I laugh, I cry, I cook, I sing, I miss.... Let me know if you need a translator Caroline. I may hop on that plane to Sicily with you after the coronavirus is andato. Cui cerca, trova; cui secuta, vinci. ( Who seeks, finds; who perseveres, wins )

I’m about a quarter of the way through the book, but I’m having a hard time getting into it. Does the pace pick up here soon?

I love all the Italian in it though. I’ve been teaching myself Italian for the past couple of years, but I have slacked off with my studies lately...however, the book has inspired me to dig back in to learning! I will definitely need an Italian vacation after this!

Elba wrote: "Savoring, From Scratch... I laugh, I cry, I cook, I sing, I miss.... Let me know if you need a translator Caroline. I may hop on that plane to Sicily with you after the coronavirus is andato. Cui c..."

I'm in! I went Italian themed without the recipes for our COVID-19 take-out nights, supporting local! I indulgently watched Eat, Pray, Love after this also - I needed more Italy!

Here are some other points I'd like to hit, for anyone who has thoughts, please pick a few and share what you have an opinion on! If you do not have any particular ideas, that's ok too, tell us what you thought!


Discuss how the book’s structure shapes your understanding of Tembi’s story. How do the flashbacks inform her emotional journey as a widow? Why do you think she chose to write her memoir in this way?

Tembi acknowledges that her decision to travel to Sicily so soon after Saro’s death goes against conventional wisdom. Why do you think she decides to go? If you were in her shoes, would you have done the same?
Tembi uses food and cooking throughout the book as symbolism for grief, healing, and resilience, from “cooking is about surrender,” (p. 69) to “life was separating my curd from my whey,” (p. 222). What was your favorite passage using this motif?

Did Tembi’s description of parenting through grief surprise you in any way?

In her quest to find belonging within Saro’s family and in Aliminusa, Tembi must navigate barriers of language, race, and class. Discuss the moments where she feels most like an outsider and the ways in which she is able to find mutual understanding and respect despite seemingly insurmountable differences.

Reread the passage that begins with Locke’s realization on page 239: “I had had three marriages to Saro: the one we had experienced as newly-in-love married people; the one we had spent in the trenches of surviving cancer; and the one I had with him now, as his widow.” What do you make of this statement and her reflections on the passage of time that follow?

How does Tembi’s definition of “home” evolve throughout the course of the memoir?

In what ways does Tembi start her life “from scratch,” and in what ways is she building off a preexisting foundation?

What were your general thoughts when you finished the book?

Caroline wrote: "Here are some other points I'd like to hit, for anyone who has thoughts, please pick a few and share what you have an opinion on! If you do not have any particular ideas, that's ok too, tell us wha..."

Because I had this on audible I had it stop while driving at chapter two. I found the grief so well described that I found I couldn't drive while listening, cause it literally made me cry. Fun to meet people right after right?

I thought the realisation she had as you mentioned about her having three marriages to Saro was heartbreaking. She knew her marriage as a widow would be the longest, and that is just crushing. I could feel her grief when she said that. A lot of the time I could sense how heavy her grief was, and then there would be some light shining through, or she would remember some good stories or uplifting things they had through their years together and you could feel it strengthening her.

I thought their love sounded so incredibly strong, and I found her Texas dad to be hilarious when he first met his son-in-law in full Texas gear down to his cowboy boots.

I had it on audible so I haven't been able to save a lot of the quotes and sentences and that really upsets me. I though there was a lot of wise things to take from this book if you experience this kind of grief.

About parenting all of a sudden alone, and being responsible for a person with no one to rely on has to be really tough. I don't know if I could have done better, but I also don't feel like that played to much of a part in this book? She did try to get her more included in the kids that lived around them in LA and the same when they where in Sicily. I think the only one you heard by name was Rosalina? I thought the way her daughter said that they all came to morn with Tembi and not with her though was such a typical point of view for a child that we don't see. Adult people seeing from their point of view they have done their part by coming to see her and say hello, then going to spend time with Tembi. But how she responded to that was beautiful. That she invited all her daughters friends to have their own "celebration" of Saros life, and give her a chance to morn in her own way, and with her own group of people. I also think she did her absolute best trying to figure out how to help her daughter morn. Talking to psychologist about it and the photo she took of her husband to have proof she got to say goodbye as well. I have never experienced that crippling grief of loosing a family member that close to me, so I can't even begin to imagine how I'd loose it if it was me.

I felt at the end of the book she felt included in her Sicilyan home and that she was considered part of her in-laws family.

my general thought when I finished the book was I really want to book a plane ticket to Sicily when the corona virus ends, and to cook some really wholesome pasta. Man, a lot of the time through this book my mouth was watering. you could smell, and taste and feel it all as she was describing it. Amazing :-)

Helene wrote: "Caroline wrote: "Here are some other points I'd like to hit, for anyone who has thoughts, please pick a few and share what you have an opinion on! If you do not have any particular ideas, that's ok..."

Thanks for coming back to this! :)
I really enjoyed the cultural divide and the differences in the town and the way of living in general, I'm glad that all three women seemed to find a beautiful rhythm in the end amongst themselves.

I so badly also want to go to Sicily! Has anyone tried any recipes from the book, how have they turned out? I want to borrow this again just for the recipes in the back.

ALSO: Have you all seen that Netflix is making a limited series adaptation of this? I saw it on Tembi Locke's Twitter. I bet I'll really be itching to get there after seeing it!.......from my couch........in quarantine!

I also want to travel to Sicily so bad. And I want to try the recipes too. I love all kinds of pasta dishes, and this is the time to try out our cooking skills seen as we are all stuck at home 😂

I saw that they’re doing that on Netflix too and I can’t wait! Definitely want to see that one. Did you see a date for when it comes out? I’m assuming if they haven’t started filming it will be a while still in this corona time, but hope they make it quick.