Napalm in the Heart was one of those novels that I found myself completely at a loss to where we were at the story, but it was enjoyable none the less.
Told in a non-linear format, we follow a person as he goes through some serious changes in his life while also being challenged by the way society views them.
One of the most poignant moments for me was when they realised that they weren’t sad because they were feeling that way, but because society told them they had to feel that way. It’s a pretty relevant feeling throughout history where people will be made aware of how they’re ‘different’, and then made to feel awful about it. Then, they’ll turn to you and tell you that you feel awful so therefore you must be in the wrong by being different.
I liked the addition of images as well as the counting down that was visual on the page!

A nameless young man lives with his mother on the edge of a forest, both of them clinging onto a life that's been torn apart by a war and its fallout. The narrator's one source of joy is Boris, a photographer and his lover who sends him letters from the city. As his and his mother's way of life are threatened by men with shaved heads, he and Boris plan a way to escape.

'Napalm in the Heart' is a complicated story. If you want a scientific look at a post-apocalyptic world, this is not the book for you. The prose is poetic and complicated, describing emotions and experiences more than what is literally happening. I love this style of writing, but it does get to be a little complicated, especially with the writing being translated. When writing is more poetic and loose, more things can get lost in translation, which I think is an issue with this story. Despite its short length, I had trouble reading and understanding what was happening, which is why it took me longer than anticipated to finish it (though this might've also been due to how bleak the book was... again, not something I mind, but also not something I can read without frequent breaks).

While it wasn't the easiest book to read and I still feel a bit confused about what happened, I can't stop thinking about it, which is always a good thing. I think I'd like to listen to an audio book version the next time I read it, since that might help me to understand it better.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It's not the easiest read, which was a positive for the first half. Guasch's poetic style immersed me in the story. The narrator is trying to navigate language and identity in a broken world he doesn't understand. I liked trying to decipher the fragments of information through his eyes.

Around the halfway point, the roundabout language started to wear on me. I felt like the characters slowed and stagnated, which, while fitting for the desolate setting, made it difficult to stay engaged.

I'm ultimately glad I checked this book out. Napalm in the Heart is unique and requires a lot of interpretation on the reader's end. For this reason, I think it would be more fun as a buddy or group read.

Thank you to FSG Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read this, wow.

This might be the most incredible book ive read in a long time. This book is fantastic.
A story absolutely brutal, but beautiful, book about love and loss.
The langauge is stunning, and pure poetry.
Its truely the kind of book, you can only say thank you at the end of.
So thank you, so much!