Money to Burn was different compared to many of the other books we’ve read in this course. A lot of the earlier novels focused heavily on memory, reflection, and long internal thoughts, but this one moves through crime, police investigations, and action. It actually feels like a story unfolding rather than just a series of reflections. At times it almost reads like a true crime report rather than a traditional novel. The narrative shifts between different perspectives, police accounts, and conversations, which can be a little confusing at first, but it also makes the whole event feel much more real.
The relationship between Dorda and Brignone was an interesting one to me. Their connection feels deeper and more emotional than the typical partnership you might expect between criminals. While the group is falling apart under pressure, the loyalty between them remains strong. At the same time, Dorda’s mental instability makes everything more unpredictable. His paranoia and violent outbursts create a sense that things are inevitably heading toward disaster. It felt like the novel was constantly building tension not just through the police closing in, but through the characters slowly losing control of the situation.
One of the most memorable moments in the book is when the gang begins burning the stolen money while they are trapped in the apartment. That scene really stuck with me because it completely changes the meaning of the robbery. They risked everything to steal the money, yet in the end they destroy it themselves. It almost feels like an act of defiance, as if they would rather burn the money than let the authorities take it back. In that moment the story stops being just about crime and becomes something more symbolic about power, rebellion, and the absurdity of risking lives for wealth.
Reading this also reminded me of when Pablo Escobar was on the run, and burned about 2 million dollar simply to keep his daughter warm . While the situations are obviously very different, the image of money being treated as something disposable felt strangely similar. In both cases, something that normally represents power and wealth becomes meaningless in a moment of desperation.
Overall, Money to Burn felt messy and intense but also real. None of the characters really come across as clear heroes or villains. Instead, it feels like you’re watching a group of people slowly spiral deeper into a situation they can’t escape. By the end, it didn’t feel like the story was just about a robbery anymore, but more about desperation, loyalty, and how quickly things can fall apart once everything starts going south.
Discussion Question:
Do you think the gang burning the money was an act of rebellion against the system, or was it simply the final sign that everything had spiraled out of control?
6 replies on “Money and Madness ahh book”
“What stood out to me most was the strange mix of chaos and intimacy within the group of criminals.” I like this expression: chaos and intimacy. Perhaps it’s a disruptive formula for the system that divides us, a type of crime even more unforgivable than burning money, according to some. And that love can be found where the yoke of law and economics doesn’t prevail, bordering on death… I don’t know, it makes you think.
Hi! I thought the comparison to Pablo Escobar burning money to keep his daughter warm was super interesting. It shows how money can suddenly lose its value when it comes to extreme situations. I also liked how you pointed out that the novel focuses a lot on the characters’ psychology rather than just the crime itself.
Remember: Quotations and reference to specific scenes on particular pages would help to illustrate and fortify the points you are trying to make!
Hey, I think it was both as it was an act of rebellion as they refused to let the system recover the money, but it was also the final sign that everything spiraled out of control as burning the money showed that the robbery was not really about stealing but a sign that shows chaos and desperation.
Hello!
I think it could be a sign of rebelliousness for the gang so as to say, “we don’t want to fit into any of your expectations”- be it by the system or the people perceiving them on the news. From a readers POV, I feel like we could also definitely infer that the sign of burning money was things spiralling out of control. From the start things weren’t built on a story foundation and like a pressure cooker, it was only a matter of time when things went downhill.
I love the Pablo Escobar comparison, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner.