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A review by literarychronicles
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Piranesi was the first book I added to my already massive tbr after joining Bookstagram. The description fascinated me, and the reviews were promising.
Few days ago, I purchased myself an audible subscription. While searching for good audiobooks, Piranesi was among the best recommended. Hence Piranesi became my first ever @audible listen.
The audio book was able to hold my attention from the first sentence. The narrator Chiwetel Ejiofor was amazing.
What impressed me from the beginning was how unique the story was. It reads like a dream. The story is so engrossing, I couldn’t wait to finish it. Piranesi lives in a world he calls the house, which is comprised of infinite rooms, endless corridors, and thousands of statues. Within this labyrinth of halls, an ocean is imprisoned. The bottom levels are flooded by the ocean while the top is covered by clouds. There are no entrances or exits. The house is the world, and the world is the house. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?
Piranesi has a pure soul. He calls himself the beloved child of the house. His innocence makes him naïve and the reader hopes that he will lose that innocence before it’s too late.
In the surface, it sounds quite magical. The house is another world which anyone can travel to, if they can connect with the innocence they had before modern rationality took that away. However, it is also about imagination. Piranesi is trapped in a world full of statues and structures, but he is sustained by the beauty of the house and the loneliness. It felt like dwelling inside the rich imagination of one’s own mind and being content. It also felt like being trapped inside the mind without knowing a way out.
It is a story about loneliness and solitude. It is about being curious, yet content with what you have. It is about acceptance and gratitude.
All in all, it is a unique and an enjoyable read. The world building is impressive, the characters are engaging, and the storytelling is excellent. It is a wonderful book and is recommended to all.
This is easily my favourite book of 2022.
Few days ago, I purchased myself an audible subscription. While searching for good audiobooks, Piranesi was among the best recommended. Hence Piranesi became my first ever @audible listen.
The audio book was able to hold my attention from the first sentence. The narrator Chiwetel Ejiofor was amazing.
What impressed me from the beginning was how unique the story was. It reads like a dream. The story is so engrossing, I couldn’t wait to finish it. Piranesi lives in a world he calls the house, which is comprised of infinite rooms, endless corridors, and thousands of statues. Within this labyrinth of halls, an ocean is imprisoned. The bottom levels are flooded by the ocean while the top is covered by clouds. There are no entrances or exits. The house is the world, and the world is the house. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?
Piranesi has a pure soul. He calls himself the beloved child of the house. His innocence makes him naïve and the reader hopes that he will lose that innocence before it’s too late.
In the surface, it sounds quite magical. The house is another world which anyone can travel to, if they can connect with the innocence they had before modern rationality took that away. However, it is also about imagination. Piranesi is trapped in a world full of statues and structures, but he is sustained by the beauty of the house and the loneliness. It felt like dwelling inside the rich imagination of one’s own mind and being content. It also felt like being trapped inside the mind without knowing a way out.
It is a story about loneliness and solitude. It is about being curious, yet content with what you have. It is about acceptance and gratitude.
All in all, it is a unique and an enjoyable read. The world building is impressive, the characters are engaging, and the storytelling is excellent. It is a wonderful book and is recommended to all.
This is easily my favourite book of 2022.