simplymeg's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting psychological profile of an arsonist. Liked the style, though it is hard to say whether the credit goes to the author or the translator.
adishimoni's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
emmkayt's review against another edition
2.0
Rather meta Norwegian novel. The narrator, a writer, bears the same name as the author and the story is of a series of arsons that took place in his hometown the year he was born. It didn't gel for me. The portions focusing on the narrator seemed solipsistic, and the pace of the story as a whole was like molasses. Although, reading the reviews, perhaps I'm just shallow. At any rate, it wasn't really my cup of tea.
tayreads__'s review against another edition
5.0
Every emotion of mine is in love with this book. This book has been one of my favorite reads.
mjanemartin's review against another edition
2.0
Something was lost in translation for me, I think. The story based on an actual bit of Norwegian history, has two threads, one being a series of fires in 1970's Norway and the other about a man who was born the year the first fire occurred (he is writing a book about it). There is no mystery. You know the arsonist early on. There isn't a psychological aspect to it as it never really tackles the "why" of it. I kept waiting for something to happen. Nope. It's a small book, but I was speed reading the last half. It's very factual and dry. "And then we did..." "And then this happened..." Snore.
asbelin's review against another edition
3.0
книга оказалась для меня проходной, но не отвращающей. довольно простая форма — параллельные истории двух мальчиков из одной деревни: один стал пироманом, другой — автором книги про пиромана.
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