Naomi Weisman is a Canadian, Australian and mother of three, who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
Last winter, on a cold, blustery night, I was searching for something to watch. Netflix likes to recommend things to me, and first on the list was From Scratch; A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home starring Zoe Saldana. I didn’t know anything about it, but saw that it only had 8 episodes. I find it daunting if something has multiple seasons, but 8 episodes are fun to tuck into, and aren’t too big a time commitment.
At first, it seemed like it was going to be a Hallmark fluff piece, which can sometimes be just what the doctor ordered, but often I find that to be quite tedious. I decided to persevere and by the end of the second episode I was hooked.
This is a love story about Amy (Zoe Saldana) and Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea), who meet by chance in Florence, Italy. Amy is an African-American art student from Texas who is doing a semester abroad, and speaks a rudimentary Italian; Lino is a Sicilian chef trying to make a name for himself in the restaurant industry, who speaks the language of love through his food.
Although their relationship has a rocky beginning, they prove to be made for one another. This series highlights a life with love, family, finding a home, and loss.
I don’t know about you guys, but I love to google while watching. I google the actors, the directors, and the writers. While in this pursuit, I noticed that one of the show’s creators was the author of a memoir by the same name as the series. It turns out that the series is a fictional account of a true story! This revelation allowed me to see the show through new eyes, making the experience even better. I adore true stories!
Tembi Locke, the author and co-creator of the series, is a Hollywood actress, writer, and producer. She has many television and movie credits to her name, such as NCIS and Dumb and Dumber. I must admit that I do not recognize her and have never heard of her, but her writing is exceptional.
I just finished reading From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home. This memoir centers around Tembi’s (Amy in the series) life with her husband Saro (Lino in the series), their reconciliation with his Sicilian family that was originally unaccepting of Tembi , the adoption of their daughter, and an illness that causes significant upheaval in their lives. It has poetic imagery, profound feeling, family connection, and recipes!
I highly recommend both the series and the book. The show is a good adaptation of the memoir in a very Hollywoodesque style. The names are changed, and it has fewer details but is well-acted.
As usual, the book fleshes out what the show does not. There are thoughts and feelings within it that gave me a broader understanding of the people, places, and situations. Locke has a very poetic way of expressing her emotions. Her memories are conveyed in a way that makes you feel like you are in the relationship, and in her life.
I would love to know what y’all think in the comments.
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