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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
One of the most formidable things I have ever read.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke is an incredibly unique book that is exceptionally well written. The main character is in a world he understands better than he knows himself. He has meticulous notes on the labyrinth and it's many statues. It's a world where names seem unimportant because there is only him and the other. It's an underdog story with an unreliable narrator. I loved it and I will likely recommend it to everyone.
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
relaxing
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
It's rare that a book completely surprises me. Piranesi did just that. The originality is off the charts, and the unique prose serves the book well. I think it's fun that this book is categorized as "fantasy": it diverges vastly from fantasy tropes, although I'm not sure under what genre I'd classify it. At its core, the character's voice is just amazing -- especially in contrast with how he *used* to write. It's really hard to say more without revealing too much.
For people who are saying this is a "vibes book" - I disagree. Many of the random, childlike-wonder, vibey elements of the first half circle back when you reach the conclusion. It *is* a literary book: most of the meaning comes from reading between the lines, and considering philosophically the implications and author's intentions. However, I would have liked this book even if it only contained the first half. The world, perspective and character is compelling on its own. And while the twists were at times predictable, this lent us to dramatic irony, wherein the reader comes to understand what is happening faster than Piranesi, which did not detract from Piranesi uncovering them.
Last comment just to say how much I love unreliable narrator.
For people who are saying this is a "vibes book" - I disagree. Many of the random, childlike-wonder, vibey elements of the first half circle back when you reach the conclusion. It *is* a literary book: most of the meaning comes from reading between the lines, and considering philosophically the implications and author's intentions. However, I would have liked this book even if it only contained the first half. The world, perspective and character is compelling on its own. And while the twists were at times predictable, this lent us to dramatic irony, wherein the reader comes to understand what is happening faster than Piranesi, which did not detract from Piranesi uncovering them.
Last comment just to say how much I love unreliable narrator.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It took me about 50 pages to get into the story but once I did it was incredible. The prose is beautiful and the storytelling is fantastically twisted.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No