Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

60 reviews

majowa's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Child death

wolfthorn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book had been heavily recommended by two of my friends and both said they couldn't really tell me anything about the book as it would give too much away. I was very intrigued and excited to start reading it. My first thought was how short this book is which surprised me. And kind of relieved me as my previous book was almost 900 pages and a struggle.

The opening pages left me incredibly confused as there's no real information with regards to the setting or the characters. I really hoped that all would be explained before too long, however it took far too long for things to start to be explained. I was well over halfway through before I felt that there was any indication about what was going on. The information was then really slowly eked out and I found that to be quite annoying.

I did wonder if the main character was in a different universe and possibly there against his will so it wasn't a surprise when that was finally disclosed.

Several things didn't make sense. The main character doesn't recognise several locations as being real places yet he never questions Italy which seems to indicate that he knows that exists. I didn't understand why he doesn't seem to have tried to leave the house/labyrinth or even go outside.

I was amused by the references to the Family Circle biscuit tin (I think every British family must have one of those somewhere!), and Doctor Who. On the whole, I didn't enjoy the book and I found it very dull. I got so fed up of reading all the Twenty-Third Western Hall and the Sixteenth Vestibule bits.

Considering how short it was, I think even so there was a lot of guff at the start that could have been removed without affecting the plot. This is the second book of Susanna Clarke's that I've read and didn't enjoy. It's a shame because she has interesting ideas but I think I just don't get on with her writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Child death and Gun violence

megmav's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Fatphobia, Child death, Confinement, Toxic friendship, and Kidnapping

Minor: Violence and Murder

muzzfuzz's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child death

li_reading's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Dementia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Excrement and Gaslighting

Minor: Abandonment, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Violence, Vomit, and Gun violence

soaphest's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-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

5.0

this book made me feel like i should edit all my other 5 star reviews to remove half a star from each one because holy shit

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Death and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death, Excrement, and Murder

mariekejee's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

 What a fantastic read. I could nitpick the parts I didn't like, but they're far and few between and I really don't want to. I enjoyed the book immensely, and would suggest not reading too much about the story if you're in any way interested in reading it: just pick the book up, you won't regret it!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Kidnapping

Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Torture

calyxworld's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

There is something enthralling and poignant in the shift between Piranesi's charm, enthusiasm, and naïvety, and the vicious and destructive forces of academia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Abandonment, Dementia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Child death

nyoom's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Drug abuse, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

kindremarx's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Excrement, and Vomit