pages: 352  published: 2015

Leonora wakes up in a hospital bed, with a police officer guarding her door. Little by little she jogs her memory to piece back together the last 24 hours and figure out whether she is a murderer.

The story is told as a dual timeline - the present, where Leonora is in her hospital bed, and the recent past, where Leonora heads up to the hen weekend of a friend she has had no contact with since high school. I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, so I give it a good rating, but it's definitely not one of the best mystery/suspense reads. It's more of an easy, holiday read. Not really scary as the title and cover suggests. 

pages: 227  published: 1953

A dystopia set in the late 21st century. Firemen no longer put out fires but instead are in charge of starting them, and burning things to "keep the peace".

Interesting read but at times quite confusing as little is explained of this "new" society that the reader has to try to work out on his own. Didn't get attached to the main character, didn't feel I had enough information to really understand the society in which the book is based.

pages: 321  published: 2006

Enzo is a dog; an old, dying dog. He is also the narrator of this beautiful book. Enzo is a special dog, who has learned much of the human condition from his master Denny. So much so that he is ready to die and be reincarnated as human. That's what he's learned happens to dogs when they die, if they are ready to "transition".

I devoured this book. Could not put it down. Amazingly well written, beautiful and touching. Did shed a couple of tears!

Major recommendation from me.

pages: 386  published: 2012

A re-take on an old fairy tale: an ageing couple who can't have any children build a snowman one winter. The snowman turns into a child, putting the light back into their lives. But no matter the different endings of the fairy tale, the story always turns to tragedy.

The story was captivating but too long. It took me a long time to get to the end, and I skipped over quite a few descriptive passages of snowy landscapes.