I have been reading James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series-just finished #4. Some of it is pretty violent. He also killed off a major character. I thought that was a no-no. It almost made me stop reading the series-I was not a happy camper.

Robin, do you get to pick out the anti-spam words?

I’ve been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which is making me think a lot. Mostly, it’s making me think that I absolutely have to try to make cheese. Kingsolver makes it sound so fun, and I seriously love cheese. I also want to make my own dried tomatoes, which–DUH– why have I never tried this before?

Highly recommend The Softwire: Betrayal on Orbis 2 by PJ Haarsma. It will be available soon! This is the sequel to his excellent first Sci-fi adventure The Softwire: Virus On Orbis 1.

I also enjoyed Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter.

And finally, Caleb’s Story by Patricia MacLachlan (one of the sequels to Sarah Plain & Tall).

This week I read Nancy Farmer’s The Land of Silver Apples, which was really something else. More than a bit shaky on the characterization at times, I thought, but it had everything a myth&legend-lover’s heart could desire. And then some. Mostly done really well too. And an unusual element which I loved was the way the Christians and magic-users generally got along quite peacefully (it’s set in 8th century Britain, so there’s a lot of intermingling). I didn’t love it as unequivocally as The Sea of Trolls, but will definitely read the third in the trilogy whenever it’s out.

I finished that in Bristol airport, and managed to pick up The Penderwicks there, which I’ve nearly finished now. It’s wonderful, and I’m very pleased to see there’s a sequel due out soon. That family is one I could spend a lot of time with, I think!