Divorced, heartbroken and living in a lonely New York apartment with a tiny kitchen, Rachel Goldman realizes she doesn't even know how to cook the ...
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Jan 25, 2012
Angie
rated it: 
I started this book because I liked the premise of moving through the pain of divorce by learning to cook. There is a saucy man with an accent to spice it up as well. I enjoyed all the trials and tribulations the main character went through. I have to say, at the end I was disappointed. Spoiler--Why would you go back to your husband, back to comfort when you had come so far and stood on your own? I really felt like all her personal growth was wasted by the time the end came. Still there we
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Jul 12, 2011
34-year-old Rachel Goldman has decided to take a year off to "find herself" in the wake of her divorce. She starts a blog, in which she chronicles her adventures in the kitchen (she's learning to cook since she can't afford to eat out anymore) and struggles navigating life on her own.
I saw Life from Scratch in my review queue last time I loaded up my Nook, but I didn't remember requesting it. I'm glad that I had it because it's exactly the kind of book I need right now. More...
I saw Life from Scratch in my review queue last time I loaded up my Nook, but I didn't remember requesting it. I'm glad that I had it because it's exactly the kind of book I need right now. More...
Jun 08, 2011
Sheila
rated it: 
Rachel Goldman left her husband because of a cockroach, and learned to cook herself a brand new Life from Scratch in Melissa Ford’s novel. Not only does Rachel learn to cook; she also starts a blog, accidentally ends up with hundreds of followers, meets a gorgeous guy, and generally finds the kinds of successes a reader might only dream of, while remaining the kind of mixed up wannabe readers can perfectly relate to. As to the cockroach, you’ll have to read the book to find out the details, but
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May 08, 2011
LP
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 26, 2010
Lynn
rated it: 
Life From Scratch
Melissa Ford
5 Stars
What’s a women to do when she is recently divorced and does not know the first thing about cooking ? After all real women don’t “scramble eggs”. So you start a blog- “Life From Scratch..blogging about life one scrambled egg at a time. Go to the library and gather as many cookbooks as you can, go home to mother and get all you cookware that you received as a wedding gift that has been stored in her basement and make it a point to l More...
Melissa Ford
5 Stars
What’s a women to do when she is recently divorced and does not know the first thing about cooking ? After all real women don’t “scramble eggs”. So you start a blog- “Life From Scratch..blogging about life one scrambled egg at a time. Go to the library and gather as many cookbooks as you can, go home to mother and get all you cookware that you received as a wedding gift that has been stored in her basement and make it a point to l More...
Feb 21, 2011
Susan
rated it: 
Life from Scratch is about cooking, blogging, and failed relationships. The "failed relationships" component takes center stage. The cooking part isn't so much about love of cooking or food--this is not a foodie book--as it is about an attempt to get over total ineptitude in the kitchen (and perhaps in life). The food is not a character in its own right as it is in some foodie books.
Melissa Ford is probably used to comparisons to "Julie and Julia" by this time, s More...
Melissa Ford is probably used to comparisons to "Julie and Julia" by this time, s More...
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Nov 26, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
This was a coming of age story; however, the main character doesn't come of age until she's 35. Rachel Goldman doesn't know what she wants. She's divorced her husband, left her job and has decided to learn how to cook. But this novel isn't really about any of those things--it's really about Rachel learning to be Rachel. Outside of the expectations of her uber-successful parents, Rachel has to figure out who she is and what she truly wants out of life.
Melissa Ford handles this br More...
Melissa Ford handles this br More...
Feb 23, 2011
L
rated it:
I loved this book. Whether you are going through a divorce, contemplating a divorce or even happily married I believe you could take something meaningful from this book. If you are happily married you might find yourself seeing all the things that you doing right and recognizing that you aren't in a good place by chance, it took work on both parts to get there. If you are contemplating a divorce you could see that there are two sides to every story, and to think it through, and do what needs do
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Jul 07, 2011
Marc
rated it:
Life From Scratch was very different from most of the chick-lit I read. For one thing, the main character's over 30. The second thing, she's divorced. Since I'm neither, I had a tough time relating to the main character.
It wasn't until the book started to focus on how Rachel wasn't over her ex that I started to get into it. I could relate to that, maybe a little too much, but I'll never admit it. It's a shame that it took far too long for it to get to that point before it hooked me.
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It wasn't until the book started to focus on how Rachel wasn't over her ex that I started to get into it. I could relate to that, maybe a little too much, but I'll never admit it. It's a shame that it took far too long for it to get to that point before it hooked me.
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Apr 14, 2011
Emma
rated it:
This book was fabulous, I actually couldn't put it down, I was so eager to see how the story turned out. There was something quite captivating about the way that it was written, partly as blogs, partly as a novel filled with all the in-between times of the blogs.
This is definitely down as one of my top reads for this year and one of my favourites overall. I liked the way that it gave advice and I think even I took something from it about not taking things for granted and finding yo More...
This is definitely down as one of my top reads for this year and one of my favourites overall. I liked the way that it gave advice and I think even I took something from it about not taking things for granted and finding yo More...
Mar 22, 2011
Merry
rated it:
I'm really quite cross that I liked this; I'm feeling all sucky uppy because of it. The reason? Well the author Melissa Ford, is the owner of the Stirrup Queens Blog which is possibly the absolute default (along with Glow, can you have two defaults?) places on the internet for infertility/loss/associated pregnancy crap. It's also home of the Stirrup Queen's Completely Anal List of Blogs That Proves That She Really Missed Her Calling as a Personal Organizer. And you know, I did know about that si
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Nov 23, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
Rachel has been divorced for less than a year. Since she and her now-ex-husband, Adam, signed the papers, she’s been very lost. So she starts a blog and decides to learn to cook.
It’s Julie & Julia, right?
No. Because you know how (especially in the book), Julie Powell is kind of annoying? Rachel isn’t. At all. She’s smart and funny and she’ll probably remind you of your best friend (or, in some cases, the best friend you wish you had).
I think what I lov More...
It’s Julie & Julia, right?
No. Because you know how (especially in the book), Julie Powell is kind of annoying? Rachel isn’t. At all. She’s smart and funny and she’ll probably remind you of your best friend (or, in some cases, the best friend you wish you had).
I think what I lov More...
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Jun 15, 2011
CB
rated it:
A beautifully written novel about life, loss and growing up. Anyone who has gone through a life-altering event that knocks your well-ordered life off its axis willbe able to relate, laugh and cry with Rachel. I haven't been divorced, but I have had my preconceived notions of how my life would pan out shot to smithereens from underneath me, and so I loved Rachel's journey to self-discovery and a better understanding of who she is and what she wants.
The writing was wonderful, sparkli More...
The writing was wonderful, sparkli More...
Aug 29, 2011
Mary
rated it:
I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could. A bit self-absorbed, this main character chronicles her transition from wife to divorce', a transition I've made, but not without the luxury of a year off, having the time to teach myself how to cook, & luckily become an award-winning "blogger." I didn't even know that much about the world of "Bloggers" so that much I learned & I'm intrigued!! I am amazed people will pay or take the time to read people's "stream of consciousness"
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Jun 29, 2011
Karin
rated it:
I bought this Kindle book while it was on sale in the Sunshine Deals, I wanted to support lower pricing by buying a few books and this one seemed like a good one.
I'm so glad it was on sale, otherwise I might not have come accross this one. It was a bunch of laughs, a load of giggles and even a cry. The writing is very funny and engaging, I could identify with a lot of what was going on and there's a bunch of really good quotes here. For my own situation it was sometimes frightingly fa More...
I'm so glad it was on sale, otherwise I might not have come accross this one. It was a bunch of laughs, a load of giggles and even a cry. The writing is very funny and engaging, I could identify with a lot of what was going on and there's a bunch of really good quotes here. For my own situation it was sometimes frightingly fa More...
Mar 01, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I got this book as a free download on Amazon so I felt obliged to read it. It was actually my first e read...I like having it on my phone where ever I went. Might have to get an ereader. we will see.
As for the book itself...I enjoyed the journey of the main character. I was reading along and enjoying it then we came upon a "scene" and it was a little bit more then I expected then there were a few foul words that came out of nowhere. But beyond that I enjoyed the book. It made me w More...
As for the book itself...I enjoyed the journey of the main character. I was reading along and enjoying it then we came upon a "scene" and it was a little bit more then I expected then there were a few foul words that came out of nowhere. But beyond that I enjoyed the book. It made me w More...
Dec 29, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I purchased this for a whopping 99 cents on Amazon after hearing good things about it from my friend Rachael. I'd been eyeing it for a couple months, and had been vaguely disappointed it wasn't available in hard copy format, as I knew it would be something I would enjoy. And sure enough - I devoured this story in a mere two evenings, and yes, I do wish I could purchase a hard copy to put on my bookshelves. I'm old school like that;) Although it wasn't the most original of plot ideas to someon
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Jan 23, 2011
Sheree
rated it:
4.5 stars
Life From Scratch blogging about life ... one scrambled egg at a time was such an entertaining read, it's a coming of age story, even if that happens to be at the ripe old age of 34, it's about finding your voice and learning to use it.
... starting the blog was like the first breath of air after breaking the water's surface while swimming. The words came out fast and furious; I had finally found my voice again, that old friend who had disappeared over the years More...
Life From Scratch blogging about life ... one scrambled egg at a time was such an entertaining read, it's a coming of age story, even if that happens to be at the ripe old age of 34, it's about finding your voice and learning to use it.
... starting the blog was like the first breath of air after breaking the water's surface while swimming. The words came out fast and furious; I had finally found my voice again, that old friend who had disappeared over the years More...
Apr 28, 2011
Diane
rated it:
Rachel Goldman is recently divorced. Her life turned out completely different from what she had envisioned after her life with her lawyer husband fell apart. She teaches herself to cook and begins to really enjoy it and her new blog. She writes about the recipes, her life and her feelings about being divorced and dipping her toes into the dating game again. Her blog is a hit and as a result, Rachel finds her self-confidence.
The story is about a woman on the journey to finding hersel More...
The story is about a woman on the journey to finding hersel More...
Feb 23, 2011
Susan
rated it:
I was about 1/3 of the way through this book when I realized it was fiction. Somehow, I got confused and thought the author had written a book about her own experience with blogging and divorce. Once I got that figured out, that helped me see just how awesome the writing was since it felt so real and true. You have to love Rachel, and you have to hope for the very best for her. It was a pleasure to share in her self discovery, not to mention the secondary characters, which were also amazingly cr
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Jun 01, 2011
Cerealflakes
rated it:
This is not the type of book I normally read, but I decided to give it a chance because it was being offered for free on the Kindle. This was a novel written in the form of a memoir by a recently divorced woman writing a blog about learning how to cook. The main character was so self-absorbed and awful that the book was hard to read. Her whole cooking blog was her wining about how miserable she was. I am not clear why anyone would want to read such a thing. Aside from unlikeable characters
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Jul 22, 2011
Vivian
rated it:
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.
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 fo More...
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 fo More...
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Apr 03, 2011
Alison
rated it:
I got this book as a freebie for my kindle. I started it about a month ago I guess and only got 10% in. I dont normally read books about depressed/newly divorced women because, let's face it, they're generally fall into one of 3 categories and are painfully predictable:
1) depressed, lonely, hapless and make me want to slit my wrists
2) trying (miserably) to make a new life after divorce
3) trying (again miserably) to become the person that they were before the divorce (generall More...
1) depressed, lonely, hapless and make me want to slit my wrists
2) trying (miserably) to make a new life after divorce
3) trying (again miserably) to become the person that they were before the divorce (generall More...
Feb 19, 2011
Raina
rated it:
Not exactly a work of great literature, but easy and enjoyable to read. Thankfully, the narrator was neither pathetic nor pretentious which was something considering the premise of the book. At the end, I realized her likeability was by design, which is unfortunate. The author makes the obvious O Henry analogy which almost ruins it for me. But I enjoyed the book as one enjoys a snickers bar - not as something that has any redeeming qualities beyond its indulgent crunchy sweetness. I got thi
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Jan 17, 2011
karen
rated it:
Life from Scratch is blog-meets-novel, and does a good job balancing the two styles into a cohesive whole. Blogs by their nature are usually intensely personal and succinct. A novel, however, invites the reader to invest more time with the characters, and hopefully allows said character to grow.
My only reserve after reading Life from Scratch is that the growth experienced by Rachel seems incomplete. Learning to cook is a good metaphor for learning to take care of yourself, examini More...
My only reserve after reading Life from Scratch is that the growth experienced by Rachel seems incomplete. Learning to cook is a good metaphor for learning to take care of yourself, examini More...
Sep 02, 2011
Sylvia
rated it:
This is another title I found from NetGalley (my second e-book!), I requested it because the description piqued my interest. It's about a newly divorced woman, Rachel Goldman, who starts a blog (aptly titled Life from Scratch, tagline: blogging about life one scrambled egg at a time) about teaching herself to cook. Something she never bothered to learn when she was married. Rachel worked at the New York City Library as a graphic designer and has taken the year off to "find herself" if
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Jun 26, 2011
Kat -
rated it:
“Hell hath no fury like a woman once ignored, who is now receiving attention several years too late.“
One of the aspects of cooking I enjoy (besides the good part at the end where you get to eat the yummy food) is that it is productive and you get something out of it that you (or people with you) will enjoy. And if you mess up, you throw it away and start again. And if you really, really mess up, you throw it away again and then order Chinese food. Simple.
This must be why More...
One of the aspects of cooking I enjoy (besides the good part at the end where you get to eat the yummy food) is that it is productive and you get something out of it that you (or people with you) will enjoy. And if you mess up, you throw it away and start again. And if you really, really mess up, you throw it away again and then order Chinese food. Simple.
This must be why More...
Apr 21, 2011
Cathy
rated it:
Not bad. I guess it's "chick lit," not my preferred genre. It's breezy and fairly amusing, about a recent divorcee who starts dating and teaching herself to cook, becomes a wildly successful food blogger overnight, and eventually achieves Twoo Wuv. I felt it could have used much more cooking than it contained, given the premise, and it was obvious from the first chapter how things would wrap up.
My biggest gripe? The excerpts from Rachel's blog are obviously modeled in tone More...
My biggest gripe? The excerpts from Rachel's blog are obviously modeled in tone More...
Feb 07, 2011
Meg
rated it:
Rachel Goldman is recently divorced and still smarting from the demise of her 12-year marriage, which was a slow descent into silence. Now living on her own in a rented apartment in her native New York City, Rachel finds herself lonely, listless and frustrated. How could she emerge from the wreckage of being with Adam, a certified workaholic, without even the most basic of culinary skills? How can she stand eating meals out of Styrofoam take-out containers night after night?
In an effor More...
In an effor More...
Mar 10, 2011
Kim
rated it:
Rachel Goldman. 35. Divorced after 12 years. No kitchen skills. No real hobbies. The sabbatical from her job was a good decision. I think she needed the time to "find herself" as they all say. Cooking is a good thing to take up. It gives you a lifeskill and allows you to open your mind up to new things, er...recipes. It was a quick read and a good girly book to snuggle up on your couch with that a a quart of Blue Bell (or Haagen Daaz depending on where you are from!) just like you woul
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