Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

42 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.

severelyhopefulcloud's review

emotional reflective slow-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Kidnapping

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

carbs666's review

emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

3.75

This is a very strange and beautiful little book that I liked quite a bit! I found the first quarter a bit difficult to get into but once the intrigue starts to unfold it becomes difficult to put down. 

I really liked how Clarke leverages the limitations of first person perspective and takes the concept of the unreliable narrator to an extreme here; I don't think the book would work without these choices. I also liked that the book sort of felt like it could be an appendix or a companion to another book, which helped keep the fantasy elements fairly grounded in a world that feels real. 

My main issue with the book is that the ending came on suddenly and feels unresolved. For some reason it didn't feel right to me that Piranesi is returned to "the real world" and I felt a general unease about his future. Also all of the characters, even the one narrating, are still very much a mystery to me and many of their choices don't make sense. Those issues aside, it's a good book and well worth the read! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Kidnapping

Minor: Gun violence and Death

isabyrne's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

This book is probably for someone, just not for me. It was too surreal and there were many content warnings that made me feel uncomfortable (and aren’t talked about a lot because they are spoilers). I also really didn’t like the narrator or his voice

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

sketchydelusion's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Kidnapping

Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

thebookfetishist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

What the fuck was that? Do it again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, Death, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Slavery

natgzmun's review

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

englishrobin210's review

fast-paced

2.75

Interesting little book (esp the beginning!), but once the mystery starting unraveling I lost a bit of interest in the second half. Very atmospheric and loved Piranesi as a main character. The House was fascinating and I wish would could have spent more time with the labyrinth and the statues. Something that irked me was

when Arne-Sayles was revealed to be a predatory gay man. Frankly, an unnecessary detail for the story and put a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the book.

If you liked this concept but prefer more thoughtful portrayals of queer characters and more time spent on worldbuilding, I recommend The Starless Sea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Trafficking, Murder, and Slavery

Minor: Sexual assault, Excrement, and Pedophilia