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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Really lovely!!! This is how a liminal space or like an odyssey type of book should go
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reading Piranesi reminded me of an experience with painting I saw as a kid. I had wandered away from my school group at an art museum, and found myself in a long hallway that was empty but for a large pure-white canvas hanging at the opposite end. I walked slowly toward it, wondering all the while why anyone would hang a blank canvas in an art gallery. It wasn’t until I was directly in front of it that I saw it: the most intricate patterns of various shades of white spanning the entire canvas.
Had I entered the hallway from the other side, had someone been walking with me talking loudly, had I even seen a similar painting before, I wouldn’t have enjoyed this effect. The same feels true with Piranesi.
I came across this title as it was mentioned in a few YouTube videos of lists of people’s favorite books they’d read last year, but they all said the same thing: the less you know ahead of time, the better. So I took a chance without learning more.
The trouble is, I’ve read books in this genre before, so the final reveal wasn’t as impactful as it could have been.
I think a lot of people will struggle with this writing style. It’s meant for someone who is well-read but stumbles across it on the bottom of a shelf at a bookstore on a rainy afternoon. I don’t think this is actually a 5-star read for everyone as implied online.
Without revealing much I can best describe Piranesi as a more abstract cousin of Flowers for Algernon.
Our tour guide at the art museum that day told us there are two types of art: one that shouts “LOOK AT ME!”, and one that whispers, “come closer.” Piranesi invites you to come closer.
Had I entered the hallway from the other side, had someone been walking with me talking loudly, had I even seen a similar painting before, I wouldn’t have enjoyed this effect. The same feels true with Piranesi.
I came across this title as it was mentioned in a few YouTube videos of lists of people’s favorite books they’d read last year, but they all said the same thing: the less you know ahead of time, the better. So I took a chance without learning more.
The trouble is, I’ve read books in this genre before, so the final reveal wasn’t as impactful as it could have been.
I think a lot of people will struggle with this writing style. It’s meant for someone who is well-read but stumbles across it on the bottom of a shelf at a bookstore on a rainy afternoon. I don’t think this is actually a 5-star read for everyone as implied online.
Without revealing much I can best describe Piranesi as a more abstract cousin of Flowers for Algernon.
Our tour guide at the art museum that day told us there are two types of art: one that shouts “LOOK AT ME!”, and one that whispers, “come closer.” Piranesi invites you to come closer.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
SUCH A GREAT BOOK!!!! It was a bit slow for me in the beginning but there really will be a point in the book where you cannot put the book down. I wish i didnt think too hard about the book when i was reading it. I feel like the confusing is such a big part of the book and being confused while not forcing yourself to understand what's going on is what makes the book so fun.
didn't expect to like this as much as i did. oddly felt like playing through an indie game, piecing together the truth from scraps. adored the narration and the mutability of identity. devastating and beautiful.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The first half of the book focuses on world-building and conveying the grandeur of the House and its infinite halls and statues, and when I first began reading this book, this felt a little slow-burn for me. Once I started the second half of the book, I was hooked and finished it in a day. Overall, this was a fantastic novel and it made me sit and think. It is the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, and prose.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated