Summary
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is a mysterious and enchanting novel about a man living in a vast, labyrinthine house filled with statues and the sea. Known as Piranesi, he spends his days exploring the halls, recording his observations in journals, and interacting with the only other person he knows, the enigmatic “Other.” As Piranesi uncovers more about his world and his own identity, he begins to question the nature of reality and his place within it.
My Thoughts
Like Piranesi lost in the labyrinth, I feel completely lost in this book. It was really popular when it first came out, and it’s been sitting on my TBR for a while. When I saw it as the book club pick for Thomas R. Howell’s book club, I decided it was finally time to read it. I went in knowing very little, aside from the glowing, but vague, reviews, probably meant to avoid spoilers. But honestly, I don’t think there’s much to spoil.
By the time I reached 25%, it was clear this wasn’t a typical fantasy novel. It leans more toward magical realism, with a hint of crime thriller. I have to give it credit for originality, I’ve never read anything quite like it. The author is definitely creative with it’s art and crafting. But would I recommend it? Would I rave about it? Probably not. This book seems to be written for a specific audience, which makes me wonder why it’s so widely loved.
If you’ve read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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