Reviews

How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball

plants_pages_poultry's review against another edition

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4.0

Ball’s voice is unlike any author I can name and for that alone I encourage you to read this book.

Lucia is a cynical teenager and burgeoning arsonist. She is living with her elderly aunt after a series of unfortunate events. Lucia meets up with an arson club and things escalate quickly.

trish14's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

2.0

I just didn't really get into the story or the prose of this very much... Not much to say about it because I think it was all a bit too spare to the point where it didn't feel very emotional to me.

camcam165's review against another edition

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3.0

3,5/5 estrellas

Primera reseña del año! Después de no subir casi nada, acá les traigo una nueva review.

El mundo es absurdo. Es voraz. Es codicioso e infiel. Es salvaje este lugar donde habitamos, ¿no es cierto? Pues entonces tendremos que encontrarle un sentido a todo.


Sinceramente este libro no es ni el peor ni el mejor que he leído.
La trama sigue a Lucia Stranton la cual, desde una postura bastante anárquica y misántropa, nos narra su día a día, como la hospitalización de su madre o la muerte de su padre (quería que ahondara mas en esos dos temas pero no hubo caso, punto menos). La narrativa de Lucia me recuerda mucho a la de Holden Caulfield de [b:The Catcher in the Rye|5107|The Catcher in the Rye|J.D. Salinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398034300l/5107._SY75_.jpg|3036731]. Creo que la autora logra formar un personaje adolescente (por lo menos un adolescente que ha pasado por eso), sin caer en clichés.
La historia en si no es nada atrapante, por lo menos para mi, lo atrapante es en realidad los pensamientos y filosofía de la protagonista, su visión de la humanidad; como el estatus social lo doma todo; como todo puede reducirse a cenizas si así se desea.

Nos engañamos creyendo que la vida es larga, pero el fuego nos lo recuerda: es el parpadeo de una llama.


Da la visión sincera, desde un adolescente, del mundo adulto, la injusticia y la clara jerarquía que lo domina.
Realmente lo recomiendo si se busca un libro rápido de leer o con un nuevo punto de vista.

shelbynik's review

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

kyrst's review

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

julikil's review against another edition

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2.0

me pareció un embole. siento que quiso ser un libro pretencioso pero falló en el intento. la protagonista también, típica insoportable que se hace la pretenciosa y simplemente es una pelotuda. encima me hizo acordar a alguien de la vida real cuyo nombre y personalidad es la misma (creerse superior al resto). solamente me gustó el formato en el que está escrito, lo único que rescato.

bustpau's review

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4.75

the whole time i was reading it i thought: what a great book. it was easy to read, short chapters, i liked the MC, she was really smart and less annoying than the regular teenagers. the ending left me wanting a little more. over all it really was great.

dfmaiwat's review against another edition

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2.0

I found this pretty boring but I’ll be damned if that cover isn’t fantastic.

maxhimelhoch's review

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adventurous dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

sheeesh, i flirted with putting this down after the first 50ish pages, but so glad i didn't. the back half FLIES and found myself really moved/touched by the final third. A difficult story to witness, but written with awareness and clarity. 

emkotch's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25