Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

58 reviews

eni_iilorak's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dementia, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Mental illness, Death, and Gun violence

Minor: Murder and Cursing

aristarcodisamo's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping

Minor: Vomit, Addiction, Cursing, Excrement, and Mental illness

emmerylynn's review

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Loved the unraveling of the mystery through the unreliable narrator’s lens. I found the protagonist to be so precious. Not the most exciting read in the world, but it offered some beautiful prose. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing and Kidnapping

luchardin's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Piranesi is a really clever book. The setting is just vague enough to make you want to know more about it. The whole book is an exercise in dramatic irony, as the Piranesi discovers things that tell the reader infinitely more than they reveal to the character, and in the midst of the rather bleak story you are cheering him on as he uncovers the truth about his life.

Really neat stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cursing

desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

4.75

This was a pretty surprising read. I would say it starts with fantasy, then adds in some dark academia and towards the ends becomes a bit of a thriller. I did not expect that. It was also a quick read and well written. 

It gives you a lot to think about, which can be nice. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Mental illness, Death, Child death, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Gaslighting, and Confinement

caseythereader's review

adventurous 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Cursing, Gun violence, and Kidnapping

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

akardian's review

mysterious slow-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

3.75

This is a beautifully written book. A lot of space is spent describing the physical space, which you’re seeing through the innocent eyes of the main character. The book was very strange, not in a negative way but I certainly haven’t read another book like it. While it turns into a sort of mystery story, I think the prose would make the book enjoyable on a second read even if you know the plot. Vibe wise I would say it’s similar to the show The OA. 
I think you would not like this book if you desire world building, a fast pace, a plot focused book, or a diverse set of characters. I would also advise to look at the trigger warnings (while not major themes of the book, there’s talk of mental health breakdowns, violence, cult activity, abusive mentor/mentee relationships). 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Kidnapping, Cursing, Gaslighting, Murder, Violence, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Slavery

violerwolf's review

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Cursing, and Vomit

Somewhat spoilers, kept as vague as possible:

A character suffers from memory loss/amnesia.

sunn_bleach's review

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

Moderate: Confinement and Gun violence

Minor: Child death and Cursing

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Slavery

Minor: Child death, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing