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A review by mayajoelle
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
5.0
Reread, 2023: Listened on audiobook in one day, which was quite the adventure. The audio on Audible is quite good. I was struck this time by how truly creepy and disturbing Piranesi's house is and how utterly terrible the antagonists turn out to be. The crisis of identity was beautifully done. The journal entries and the slow discovery of more of them is tantalizing, awful, wonderful. Highly recommended.
Third time through, 2024: yeah, this is still very good. Creepy, awful, worthwhile. I thought a lot about Plato and Lewis as I was reading. I liked the ending particularly, and the discussions of identity, both by itself and in relation to the others around us.
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This book was hauntingly beautiful and immersive. I read it all too fast, because it's due at the library tomorrow, so I know I need to come back and reread in the near future. But I would have anyway; I think it's going to take a few reads for me to fully appreciate it.
It's probably best to go into this book without knowing much. The story unfolds brilliantly. I left with many questions, but despite the short length of the book I was satisfied. I don't think you need to know everything about the world and the backstory, or the characters and what happens to them next, to appreciate Piranesi's numinous strangeness. All you need to know is this:
Content: Violence and profanity; recommended for adult readers.
Third time through, 2024: yeah, this is still very good. Creepy, awful, worthwhile. I thought a lot about Plato and Lewis as I was reading. I liked the ending particularly, and the discussions of identity, both by itself and in relation to the others around us.
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A Full Moon stood in the centre of the Single Doorway, flooding the Hall with Light. The Statues on the Walls were all posed as if they had just turned to face the Doorway, their marble Eyes fixed on the Moon... Foremost among them was a Young Man, who stood bathed in the Moonlight, elation on his Face, a Banner in his Hand.
I almost forgot to breathe. For a moment I had an inkling of what it might be like if instead of two people in the World there were thousands.
This book was hauntingly beautiful and immersive. I read it all too fast, because it's due at the library tomorrow, so I know I need to come back and reread in the near future. But I would have anyway; I think it's going to take a few reads for me to fully appreciate it.
I was in a house with many rooms. The sea sweeps through the house. Sometimes it swept over me, but always I was saved.
It's probably best to go into this book without knowing much. The story unfolds brilliantly. I left with many questions, but despite the short length of the book I was satisfied. I don't think you need to know everything about the world and the backstory, or the characters and what happens to them next, to appreciate Piranesi's numinous strangeness. All you need to know is this:
The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
Content: Violence and profanity; recommended for adult readers.