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violerwolf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Susanna Clarke asks the bold question: what if “The Backrooms” wasn’t a boring horror gimmick?
Intriguing mysteries, deep symbolism and philosophical reflection, and a riveting but small cast of characters make this book impossible to put down. I can’t wait to reread it.
Intriguing mysteries, deep symbolism and philosophical reflection, and a riveting but small cast of characters make this book impossible to put down. I can’t wait to reread it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, and Vomit
Somewhat spoilers, kept as vague as possible:sunn_bleach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s a good problem to have when my biggest criticism is “I wish it were longer”. And I deeply, deeply do - not only to explore the House that is God, but to simply have more time with Piranesi before the plot hits hard, the resolution of which never truly lived up to the conceit. Borgesian is an easy analogy; I found “Piranesi” more abjectly beautiful and celebratory in capital-m Mystery, with the caveat that the epistolary form doesn’t work as well when the action and dialogue pick up in the second half. Sad, contemplative, yet affirming. The last sentence is a gutpunch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement and Gun violence
Minor: Child death and Cursing
00phantom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warning Note:
If you struggle with existential, reality anxiety. Likely not a good book for you. Triggering for me.
Contains a depiction of something similar to DID or OSDD so also be wary of that.
Writing was amazing. The themes were cool. But just hit too close to home for me in some ways.
If you struggle with existential, reality anxiety. Likely not a good book for you. Triggering for me.
Contains a depiction of something similar to DID or OSDD so also be wary of that.
Writing was amazing. The themes were cool. But just hit too close to home for me in some ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Excrement and Vomit
Minor: Child death
vhispas's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Changed from 4.5 to 5 stars on 25/06/2024
I cannot stop thinking about this book!
I cannot stop thinking about this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Child death and Death
ebp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Slavery, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
becca_w_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
_david_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The main character's curiosity and kindness were so endearing, making me feel connected throughout the journey. The book reveals just enough of the main story to keep you on edge, and the extensive world-building is simply captivating. It's like piecing together a puzzle, and even months later, I still think about it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Vomit, and Kidnapping
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship
mobymaize's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What a truly joyful, kind, and beautiful read. Piranesi reminds me of my dreams of endless homes, endless reflections of life & the love of the world & its inhabitants that I hold so dear.
Holy fuck this book rocks.
Holy fuck this book rocks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia
applesodaperson's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Wow wow wow. This book is seriously a masterpiece in writing. It is written so beautifully and evokes such unique imagery. It takes place in a setting that I have never seen before, but I could still visualize it perfectly. And the writing style seems complicated at first, but quickly becomes super easy to read but also super complex. I also love books where I get little bits of info about the mystery, and get to try and piece it together as I go. For real everyone should read this book.
Read from the Provo library.
Read from the Provo library.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death
myiscoh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Could not put it down for the entire book, intriguing world-building throughout with a really interesting mystery plot. Would drag for the first 60~ pages if you’re not as interested in the world-building but stick with it!!
The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of itself. It is not the means to an end.
The beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
I dont think anything could have prepared me for this. Already mentioned how amazing the world-building of the House is, especially for me the hall Piranesi (for lack of a better name for him) travels to for the Other with the huge door revealing the moon and the hundreds of statues reaching out towards it from the dark - all very evocative.
Another thing i loved was the ending, specifically how the almost split personalities of Piranesi and Matthew Rose Sorensen end up as just two aspects in a new personality that Piranesi (again, for lack or a better way to refer to him) takes on when returning to the old world. I feel like it would not have suited either side of his character to keep Piranesi dominant in the mind or to have Matthew come back in full, so i love that it was kept “split” (though not really as both are now part of a new whole)
I wish i was in a place where i could analyse the more philosophical parts of this book, but for now the two excerpts i quoted at the start really hit me. I have so many thoughts but i cant find worlds that really convey them in the way i mean without sounding like i'm rambling. But especially the relationship between those two passages that i immediately think of is this: we are all reflections of the House (our world) and it, like everyone, should be treated with the same endless love, empathy, care, and respect that Piranesi shows the statues and the dead and the House as a whole.
Other notes: wish i could have known Raphael for longer, she seemed like such a nice person. The journals used as a device to exposit about the events from the old world was really interesting. Unfortunately(? maybe not unfortunate, not sure) i did see most of the reveals coming from way off, though they were still enjoyable and the twist that Piranesi was actually trapped by the Other (like how James Ritter was trapped by Arne-Sayles) was not what i was expecting, even if i never really did trust the Other at all.
The beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
I dont think anything could have prepared me for this. Already mentioned how amazing the world-building of the House is, especially for me the hall Piranesi (for lack of a better name for him) travels to for the Other with the huge door revealing the moon and the hundreds of statues reaching out towards it from the dark - all very evocative.
Another thing i loved was the ending, specifically how the almost split personalities of Piranesi and Matthew Rose Sorensen end up as just two aspects in a new personality that Piranesi (again, for lack or a better way to refer to him) takes on when returning to the old world. I feel like it would not have suited either side of his character to keep Piranesi dominant in the mind or to have Matthew come back in full, so i love that it was kept “split” (though not really as both are now part of a new whole)
I wish i was in a place where i could analyse the more philosophical parts of this book, but for now the two excerpts i quoted at the start really hit me. I have so many thoughts but i cant find worlds that really convey them in the way i mean without sounding like i'm rambling. But especially the relationship between those two passages that i immediately think of is this: we are all reflections of the House (our world) and it, like everyone, should be treated with the same endless love, empathy, care, and respect that Piranesi shows the statues and the dead and the House as a whole.
Other notes: wish i could have known Raphael for longer, she seemed like such a nice person. The journals used as a device to exposit about the events from the old world was really interesting. Unfortunately(? maybe not unfortunate, not sure) i did see most of the reveals coming from way off, though they were still enjoyable and the twist that Piranesi was actually trapped by the Other (like how James Ritter was trapped by Arne-Sayles) was not what i was expecting, even if i never really did trust the Other at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Gun violence, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death, Death, Slavery, Suicide, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Murder