it's all in the breathing

#86 A-Z reading challenge - authors & #87 A-Z reading challenge - titles
Updike, John "Villages"
A man remembers his life as it applies to sex and the computer industry in its early days.
What did I think?
Hhm. Didn't like the main character all the much. Actually, any of the characters. Thought some of the exposition was clumsy. I think I'm the wrong generation for this type of book. (Although I remember enjoying one of his other books (can't remember the title) so perhaps it's just this one.)

Voight, Cynthia "When she hollers"
About Tish who has had enough of being abused at home and has taken a knife to school to protect herself. How she copes during the day and what happens when she finally (justifiably) freaks out.
What did I think?
Harrowing portrait of when an abused girl snaps and can't take it any more. Written very much from her point of view so you can very much expereince her heart pounding and confusion over what her confession (if) will do to her and her family. Well respected teen-aimes author. Have to confess it did seem a bit like a book focusing on 'issues' that was all the rage in the late 90s. Worth persisting. Some loose ends for me - what happened with the teacher? What happened to her friend?

#35 Cook through the Edmonds cookbook
Tres proud. Did my first variation today. Granted it came from some fancy kitchenware shop via LoM but it has made me wonder - what if I made it with CUSTARD POWDER rather than COCOA? No pics - it came out of the ovens, our friends turned up, we ate it. (Pictures of crumbs ain't that much fun to look at (although hellishly fun to make.))