Reviews

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

erin_kelly's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective

4.25

This book makes me wish I had an English degree. On its face as a fantasy/magical realism novel it’s very good. But there’s certainly another level of interpretation and allegory that I don’t know that I’m fully equipped to dissect. The audiobook is great, highly recommend reading it in that format. 

valerietemple's review against another edition

3.0

It's taken me a while to process this book enough to write a review. I had to ask a friend how to rate a book that you know is a good book, but also a not good book. In the end I settled on three stars. I feel like this was written in the middle of quarantine as the author's way to cope with not being able to go anywhere.
I don't think I'd recommend this book to anyone unless they were specifically looking for a magical realism book.

emburs's review against another edition

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

5.0

elmiella's review against another edition

dark funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing 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

konpappis's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

agfree's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

diany's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

mikaelaw's review against another edition

4.0

The mood of the story flows in immediately, and the symmetry of the tale itself was magic. I loved the voice of the main character, his gentle and curious way of moving through the World, as well as his general optimism and care for all that he encounters. So many sweet and tender moments where the power of the World is viscerally experienced through the main character. The story felt a little Crime and Punishment-esq in the tone and the play with madness, and I felt disoriented at the world and unsure of the parameters therein. The book delighted me in these brilliant and simple details, and I found the whole experience transporting. 4 stars.

oguruzzo's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

Не так дивно і загадково, як я боявся, але й сподівався. Схоже на найбільш прозорі та розлінійовані історії Ніла Ґеймана — де цікавість метафізикою і культурою спаяна з бездоганно структурованою гостросюжетною інтригою.
З одного боку, це добре, бо читається захопливо, а з іншої — ця однозначна сюжетна тяга ніби трошки відбирає ваги і простору, щоб розвернутися, в Будинку, який, очевидно, має бути головною стравою книжки. Іншими словами, шкода, коли книжка, присвячена будівлі такого масштабу, сама видається напрочуд малорозмірною. Хоча, звісно ж, краще гарна історія відносно скромних амбіцій, ніж плутаюча всі береги графоманія, то ж тужіння тут-таки припиняю.

kyolblas's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective slow-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

4.5