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an intriguing character driven tale
In her tiny New York apartment, she writes in her blog that June Cleaver, Martha Stewart and Mrs. C, etc. can cook while she can't. Divorced from lawyer Adam the "stranger" she still loves, Rachel Goldman decides to learn how to cook in her small kitchen. Boiling and microwaving pre-fixed items do not count as Rachel plans to fry an egg without breaking the yoke.
As she writes in her blog about her failures that would have Cleaver hammering her with baking pins and her tiny successes, her blog becomes popular not as Best Kitchen or Best Food Blog but as Best Diarist. Still she focuses on one meatloaf casserole cooked evenly throughout instead of burnt to a crisp on the outside and so raw as to be dangerous to eat on the inside. She continues to teach herself with hopes that one day mom will allow her to cook the Seder and that Adam will learn what he lost especially since a man has shown interest in her.
Life From Scratch is an intriguing character driven tale of a woman needing to find something to affirm her self-worth; her choice is cooking as she starts from a zero base and uses her blog as a means to release her frustrations (and add humor to the recipe). Readers will enjoy the insightful yet jocular story line with its underlying message that Polonius advices his son Laertes (Hamlet) To thine own self be true"; especially telling loved ones your hopes and aspirations, but even more so your fears. Rachel learning to cook is a metaphor for readers to live even if it means beginning over Life from Scratch.
Harriet Klausner1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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It's a really good read.
It's a really good read.
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Anonymous
Posted January 26, 2012
I can't wait for the follow up!
Melissa Ford is a talented author, weaving a fun, interesting story with so many different elements. Highly recommend!
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The_Book_Diva
Posted July 22, 2011
Lemons to Lemonade
When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, unless you're Rachel Goldman then you might make lemon custard or use the lemon to roast a chicken. Rachel Goldman is the main character in Life From Scratch by Melissa Ford. Rachel has just gone through a divorce and must decide what she wants to do with her life.
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Rachel is a 34-four-year old woman that was married for 12 years and has been divorced for less than a year. She has taken a year off from her job as a graphic artist working for the New York Public Library. She didn't hate her job but she just isn't quite sure what she wants to do, so she decides to learn how to cook and document it on a blog. Rachel thinks of her blog as a food or cooking blog but after she's nominated for and wins a Bloscar (an award for various blogs in assorted genres), she realizes that her blog is basically an online diary and the best therapy available. Her other "therapist" and confidante is her best friend Arianna.
Post-divorce Rachel discovers that she enjoys being an aunt since she never had children. She also learns that she has been a lousy friend by ignoring what has been happening (or not happening) in Arianna's life. It was somewhat amusing to see Rachel fall in lust with Gael, the Spaniard with the gorgeous smile. At first glance they seem to be made for one another with their similar interests, but Gael isn't the man Rachel thinks he is or exactly what she wants. What she discovers she wants is her ex-husband...pre-law practice. Ultimately Rachel discovers that life goes on after a divorce, it may take awhile to grieve over the relationship but that's fine. Rachel seems to epitomize the average woman that has gone through a non-acrimonious divorce. You may not be able to go back and change the past but you can start from scratch using the lessons learned from past experiences and mistakes. Life From Scratch is a sometimes humorous but realistic look at life after divorce. A quick and good read for anyone...married or single! -
Recipe for success!
I really enjoyed this book. I'm not a great cook and complicated recipes turn me off...Melissa Ford manages to make learing to cook seem easy...it's the relationship issues that are complicated...just like real life. It's not just learning how to live as a divorcee, she even learns a little about being a good friend. Definitely recommend to all the GF's in my life!!
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This is free for the kindle, wish it was here!
I see so many books being offered for free for the kindle, but they rarely make it to B&N for the nook and it is discouraging.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Anonymous
Posted September 4, 2011
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Posted July 28, 2012
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Posted August 21, 2011
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