Life From Scratch

I knew this was a foodie memoir. I saw it, highly rated, all over the blogosphere and wanted to read it so much that I put it on my wish list. Happily, I got it for my birthday, and I've just now finished it.

Don't read the next paragraph if you don't want spoilers.

I knew this was a foodie memoir, but I don't think I knew it was a sad foodie memoir. I will tell you: it is a sad foodie memoir. Sasha Martin had a tough life. She is given away by her mother, and, later, her foster parents effectively shut her out of their lives. Her brother commits suicide. It's a sad early life for Martin. But then she finds a wonderful husband, and together they have a daughter and they put together a great life. It's through food that Martin remakes her existence.

I loved reading all the recipes early on that Martin makes with her family that so disappoints her. Martin over and over forgives those family members and reminds herself of all the food-rich experiences she has had with them. Later, after she marries and has a child, she embarks on a round-the-world-with-food adventure on her blog, and that's absolutely delightful.