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aliyachaudhry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Excrement, and Murder
atlas_shruggs's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? Yes
3.5
3.5
This book was very mystical and mysterious and made me feel a lil bit dumb a lot bit, but it was a very quick and fun read once I got into it.
Without saying too much, it follows a young man called Piranesi living in a sort of Greek labyrinth full of statues. I can't really describe the plot without spoiling the entire book, so I recommend just going in blind.
I thought the story was very good and well thought out once it got going, the conclusion was satisfying and the characters were fun to follow. I do think it was a bit slow but it's slowness was not necessarily a bad thing, just a bit hard to get into.
I did also really like the mystery, I wasn't really expecting it so it was a fun surprise. The writing was also beautifully done, and made me very excited to read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. Unfortunately I can't really give it more than a 3.5 as it didn't really hit me as hard as I wanted it to.
This book was very mystical and mysterious and made me feel a lil bit dumb a lot bit, but it was a very quick and fun read once I got into it.
Without saying too much, it follows a young man called Piranesi living in a sort of Greek labyrinth full of statues. I can't really describe the plot without spoiling the entire book, so I recommend just going in blind.
I thought the story was very good and well thought out once it got going, the conclusion was satisfying and the characters were fun to follow. I do think it was a bit slow but it's slowness was not necessarily a bad thing, just a bit hard to get into.
I did also really like the mystery, I wasn't really expecting it so it was a fun surprise. The writing was also beautifully done, and made me very excited to read Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell. Unfortunately I can't really give it more than a 3.5 as it didn't really hit me as hard as I wanted it to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Excrement
average's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Poor Piranesi 💔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Fatphobia, Sexual violence, Excrement, and Trafficking
Homophobia warning is for what reads to me as the predatory gay stereotype.mcmorgan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
maeverose's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
This is one of those books that I like more in hindsight after having read it. It has such cool themes and concepts, but while reading it I was a bit bored at times.
My favorite part of the book is actually the beginning when things are still confusing and strange and you’re kinda just going along for the ride. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was going on. I loved the world building of the House. Such a cool setting. The aesthetics of this book as well as Piranesi as a character are probably it’s strongest features imo. The actual mystery reveal fell flat for me.I liked that it was actually fantasy and not that he was in a coma or something like I thought it might end up being, but idk it just wasn’t as cool as the rest of the book to me. There were also some homophobic insinuations about a specific character that I didn’t like. His being gay was always mentioned in tandem with crimes he committed. And at the end it almost seemed to imply that Piranesi had DID and a new alter had split off, but DID can only be caused by childhood trauma not trauma as an adult, so that kinda irked me. But it never gives him a diagnosis so it could totally just be that he’s ‘generally traumatized’ and that was how the author chose to interpret it, idk.
My favorite part of the book is actually the beginning when things are still confusing and strange and you’re kinda just going along for the ride. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was going on. I loved the world building of the House. Such a cool setting. The aesthetics of this book as well as Piranesi as a character are probably it’s strongest features imo. The actual mystery reveal fell flat for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Excrement
Drowning, Questioning reality,wrestleacademic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Excrement
sabrinaleaf's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
The first 5 pages were a sludge to get through but after that I was hooked. The mc was such a pleasant character. I loved hearing his thoughts, which is surprising because I usually prefer 3rd person Povs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Suicide, Excrement, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
tragedies's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Clarke's labyrinthine House feels like Plato's cave. Instead of shadows, there are statues. And instead of prisoners, there is Piranesi. He resides in these halls, alone with only marble sculptures and birds to keep him company. Except for the occasional visit from The Other, he remains alone... until he is not.
The story follows Piranesi's quest for truth and explores the eventual pitfalls that come with uncovering it. Though the pace was slow at first and the narrative rather tedious, I still found it incredibly compelling. I just couldn't help but flip the page. It was captivating enough to pique my curiosity yet disturbing enough to make me suspicious, even queasy. The entire time, the writing felt like there was something beneath the surface, a feeling that someone or something was watching. It's strange and intriguing but also enthralling and oddly profound. Rather than a fantasy adventure, it's more of an existential journey, one that used otherworldly elements to raise questions and prove a point.
In the end, everything was tied together beautifully. It was touching and poetic, leaving me with an aching melancholy that I don't quite know how to deal with.
The story follows Piranesi's quest for truth and explores the eventual pitfalls that come with uncovering it. Though the pace was slow at first and the narrative rather tedious, I still found it incredibly compelling. I just couldn't help but flip the page. It was captivating enough to pique my curiosity yet disturbing enough to make me suspicious, even queasy. The entire time, the writing felt like there was something beneath the surface, a feeling that someone or something was watching. It's strange and intriguing but also enthralling and oddly profound. Rather than a fantasy adventure, it's more of an existential journey, one that used otherworldly elements to raise questions and prove a point.
In the end, everything was tied together beautifully. It was touching and poetic, leaving me with an aching melancholy that I don't quite know how to deal with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Minor: Excrement and Vomit
chrisljm's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Despite the short length of the book, it is a slow start full of world building. However once you get past that it is so incredibly captivating, and I come to realize how amazing the world building is. Although Piranesi isn’t the only character, he is pretty much the only character you see majority of the time, but even so he’s engaging and the storytelling is fantastic, immersive, and so unique. I loved how soft the fantasy elements were and the way the novel was structured. Basically everything that I found slightly confusing at first were all things that I came to appreciate and really enjoy.
I think Susanna Clarke deserved the awards she got for this book, and I understand why I heard so much praise for it, but I can also see how this book wouldn’t be for every type of reader. Luckily, I enjoyed it immensely and I found that this is the type of story that lingers and leaves a lot to think on afterwards. One of them being that personally, I would love to see The House because to Me it sounded beautiful despite its solitude. I also think it would be interesting to see how other readers viewed The House, in a personality test type of way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Blood