Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

89 reviews

miller8d's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

4.0

I loved that this book felt like a refreshing escape from the normal structure and narrative that many fiction books follow.

I was surprised by most of the book, and deeply appreciated that the magic of this universe was both fantastical and simple, both logical and inexplicable. I found myself confused about the storyline/losing focus frequently throughout the book, which normally would bother me, but it felt like I was experiencing the same thing as the narrator LOL, which I enjoyed. I found the narrator’s genuinely kind soul very touching and deeply enjoyed the process of discovering what had happened. I didn’t realize it was a mystery novel until halfway through which is awesome. The well-established isolated world meant that, with the appearance of each new person or information, it was genuinely shocking. Very interesting and refreshing read.

Also, I pictured The Other as Brett Goldstein.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Dementia, Confinement, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Vomit and Violence

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, and Blood

Although this book covers many dark topics,

beyond the main topics of confinement and kidnapping and gaslighting,

there are very few graphic descriptions of physical violence or torture. Like for example,

there is a gun and attempted shooting, but nobody actually gets shot, and there are no graphic details about it, etc.

aidareads's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Vomit

maelstrom712'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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

Minor: Grief and Violence

dead bodies and skeletal remains are described moderately in a respectful manner

anoveldestination's review

mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

There was something about this book that kept me reading. The sense of mystery is sustained well throughout this novel, even once information begins to be revealed. I won't reveal much about the story because I think it's better to go into the book blind. 

However, I think the mystery could've been maintained while still revealing some information earlier on. Upon the revelations toward the end of the book, the first half of the book felt pointless. I think too long was spent establishing the character and the setting at the expense of the pacing of the plot. I think the pacing would've benefited from revealing slightly more information about the mystery in the first half of the book. Currently, it feels like there's a lot of info dump in the last half of the book, and the focus on the plot towards the end shifts the focus away from the character development the author is trying to show. In summary, I think the plot and characters could've been balanced better throughout the book. 

I also don't think the mystery of the novel is dependent on this information being withheld. The mystery comes from the strong writing style and voice. Consequently, I don't see the rationale behind withholding so much information until the last 50 pages. I was also disappointed with the ending. Piranesi is a complex character, but the plot he found himself in felt simple, and the simplistic ending and explanation seemed to diminish his development. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Minor: Violence

faye_jonesy's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense 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

4.75

This book is a little wild. The magical realism and religious undertones make for a wonderful combination. Honestly, I feel like if I go into too much detail I might spoil something, as there is a part of me still unsure about what I read- in the best way possible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Cursing

Minor: Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, and Vomit

fraxisle's review against another edition

dark inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Grief, Confinement, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Death, Gun violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Sexual assault, Child death, Abandonment, Fatphobia, and Violence

kimtazo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Kidnapping and Gun violence

Minor: Suicide and Violence

mim_flowers's review

hopeful mysterious reflective medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Minor: Violence, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Vomit, Gun violence, and Toxic friendship

daniellekat's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

A perfect blend for readers who love character books and readers who love plot books. 
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I couldn’t put down. The beginning was confusing and slow, but the writing was worth pushing through. I’m glad I didn’t know much about this going in because I think that really helped me enjoy it and reflect on it. I wasn’t sure about the ending as soon as I had finished, but going back to read it again made me bump up my original rating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Mental illness and Gun violence

Minor: Murder, Violence, and Vomit

sacath's review

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective 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

This beautifully written novel follows Piranesi, our curiouslg innocent narrator and guide through the wonderful world of the House, and how he comes to understand the past, the present, and the future. The reader comes away with a new understanding of hope and sorrow, and how the two are oh-so-delicately intertwined. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Gun violence