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A review by wolfthorn
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book had been heavily recommended by two of my friends and both said they couldn't really tell me anything about the book as it would give too much away. I was very intrigued and excited to start reading it. My first thought was how short this book is which surprised me. And kind of relieved me as my previous book was almost 900 pages and a struggle.
The opening pages left me incredibly confused as there's no real information with regards to the setting or the characters. I really hoped that all would be explained before too long, however it took far too long for things to start to be explained. I was well over halfway through before I felt that there was any indication about what was going on. The information was then really slowly eked out and I found that to be quite annoying. I did wonder if the main character was in a different universe and possibly there against his will so it wasn't a surprise when that was finally disclosed.
Several things didn't make sense. The main character doesn't recognise several locations as being real places yet he never questions Italy which seems to indicate that he knows that exists. I didn't understand why he doesn't seem to have tried to leave the house/labyrinth or even go outside.
I was amused by the references to the Family Circle biscuit tin (I think every British family must have one of those somewhere!), and Doctor Who. On the whole, I didn't enjoy the book and I found it very dull. I got so fed up of reading all the Twenty-Third Western Hall and the Sixteenth Vestibule bits. Considering how short it was, I think even so there was a lot of guff at the start that could have been removed without affecting the plot. This is the second book of Susanna Clarke's that I've read and didn't enjoy. It's a shame because she has interesting ideas but I think I just don't get on with her writing style.
The opening pages left me incredibly confused as there's no real information with regards to the setting or the characters. I really hoped that all would be explained before too long, however it took far too long for things to start to be explained. I was well over halfway through before I felt that there was any indication about what was going on. The information was then really slowly eked out and I found that to be quite annoying. I did wonder if the main character was in a different universe and possibly there against his will so it wasn't a surprise when that was finally disclosed.
Several things didn't make sense. The main character doesn't recognise several locations as being real places yet he never questions Italy which seems to indicate that he knows that exists. I didn't understand why he doesn't seem to have tried to leave the house/labyrinth or even go outside.
I was amused by the references to the Family Circle biscuit tin (I think every British family must have one of those somewhere!), and Doctor Who. On the whole, I didn't enjoy the book and I found it very dull. I got so fed up of reading all the Twenty-Third Western Hall and the Sixteenth Vestibule bits. Considering how short it was, I think even so there was a lot of guff at the start that could have been removed without affecting the plot. This is the second book of Susanna Clarke's that I've read and didn't enjoy. It's a shame because she has interesting ideas but I think I just don't get on with her writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Child death and Gun violence