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A review by karenluvstoread
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
5.0
This book is fantastic! As I read, I kept thinking how it was such a weird story written so well that I just wanted to keep reading. There’s this odd house, with the ocean and tides on the first level, men and animals on the second level, and the third level was the clouds and sky. Piranesi navigates this house on his own but also for assignments from the Other to find things out for him. As you continue reading, a mystery unfolds and little by little, you start piecing together what’s going on. Wow – it is just so well done! The ending was so emotional and it brought tears to my eyes.
I loved Piranesi’s character – his love of and connection to nature and the world around him, his positivity. And at times later in the book, I felt such a sadness for him which I can't explain further without giving spoilers. 😉
I don’t know for sure what Clarke might have been trying to do with this novel beyond writing a great fantasy (and it is a fantastic fantasy story!); but something I took from the book was how it felt like it was very much about the loss of oneself and trying to find oneself again - and all the grief and reckoning and beauty that can come in that journey all wrapped together. There seems to be a thread of longing to leave the chaos and negativity of the world to be in the beauty and harmoniousness found in the House.
I loved this one and I plan to read it again! The audiobook was also fantastic. Susanna Clarke is quickly becoming a favorite author!
From the book:
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.” (p. 5)
“The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of Itself. It is not the means to an end.” (p. 60-61)
“One sentence puzzles me: The world was constantly speaking to Ancient Man. I do not understand why this sentence is in the past tense. The World still speaks to me every day.” (p. 154)
I loved Piranesi’s character – his love of and connection to nature and the world around him, his positivity. And at times later in the book, I felt such a sadness for him which I can't explain further without giving spoilers. 😉
I don’t know for sure what Clarke might have been trying to do with this novel beyond writing a great fantasy (and it is a fantastic fantasy story!); but something I took from the book was how it felt like it was very much about the loss of oneself and trying to find oneself again - and all the grief and reckoning and beauty that can come in that journey all wrapped together. There seems to be a thread of longing to leave the chaos and negativity of the world to be in the beauty and harmoniousness found in the House.
I loved this one and I plan to read it again! The audiobook was also fantastic. Susanna Clarke is quickly becoming a favorite author!
From the book:
“The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.” (p. 5)
“The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of Itself. It is not the means to an end.” (p. 60-61)
“One sentence puzzles me: The world was constantly speaking to Ancient Man. I do not understand why this sentence is in the past tense. The World still speaks to me every day.” (p. 154)