A review by unoriginalinspiration
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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

4.5

“Perhaps that is what it is like being with other people. Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not. Perhaps that is what Raphael means.”

Strange, Erratic, Weirdly interesting and constructed like a fever dream, Piranesi takes you on a journey of a world riddled with symbolic imagery in the midst of a plot which takes a while to reveal itself, but is well worth the wait. This, extremely fast read, will leave you thinking about your place in the world, and the connections you form with the people around you. The concept of sanity and intelligence being a fickle thing terrifies me, and the book portrays it in a beautifully tragic light.
Overall, this was a book I thoroughly enjoyed, and would highly recommend to someone looking for a quick and quirky read.
 
Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, Confinement, Gaslighting, Death, Mental Illness, Gun violence, Attempted murder, Cults, Drowning, Emotional abuse, Skeletons. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings