A review by minakhimisra
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Read this book for its world-building and its portrayal of what isolation can do to the mind. 

The eponymous protagonist inhabits a vast, labyrinthine space he calls the House. With scientific diligence, Piranesi explores and documents the House's intricacies. It's statues and statues everywhere. And there's a menacing but predictable sea. Then, there is also "the Other", the only living person Piranesi has ever met. The Other believes there's more to the House than meets the eye, and so they work together to unveil its secrets.

What grabs your attention is Clarke's meticulous attention to detail. The House itself becomes a character, with its endless halls and grandiose chambers. Piranesi's eyes see its eerie beauty and grandeur. Its statues whisper secrets and its tides shape its very existence. 

The characterization is as captivating. Piranesi, despite his solitude, possesses a profound sense of curiosity and resilience. You discover deeper layers of his character - childlike innocence and unwavering devotion. The Other serves as an intriguing foil. He introduces scepticism and doubt into Piranesi's well-charted, predictable world. There's tension in their interactions, questioning whether companionship is better than solitude. The complex dynamic propels the narrative forward.

At its core, "Piranesi" delves into the idea that solitude can both liberate and confine. There's also the nature of discovery - the extent of human knowledge and the limits of perception. The House becomes a metaphor for the depths of the human mind. Its mysteries reflect the vastness of our own unexplored potential.

Like Carlos Ruiz Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind" or Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere"? You might find yourself immersed in a similar atmosphere of mystery and introspection. But the narrative style and the enigmatic atmosphere set "Piranesi" apart.