A review by kimbobo
Before I Burn by Gaute Heivoll

4.0

I found this book strangely enjoyable, but I can't entirely explain why and I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone else. Yes, the writing is very fine - it's almost exquisite - and the narrative thread about the arsonist is interesting and has compelling characters -- but the other narrative thread, the one about himself, was extraneous and it felt like a commercial break every time he turned back to himself. Probably I enjoyed this book for the same reason that I'm holding off on calling the writing and characters simple; there is a depth here that just avoids being put to words.