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A review by moshikami
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
3.0
Been meaning to jot down some thoughts about this since finishing it. The main takeaway was that I was glad I chose to listen to it over an audiobook, especially in the first half. I'm not sure if I'd have made it through that via reading alone... It was tedious. It served well as background noise to the jigsaw puzzle I was working on, and I truly do not feel I missed anything of importance despite not being 100% focused on the vestibules and statues. Maybe the statues' various subject matter represented or referenced something deeper, but even if I had devoted all of my attention to their descriptions, I don't think they would have meant anything to me.
I did enjoy the setting of the labyrinth, the descriptions were interesting and mysterious, though I don't think the book would've suffered if about half the time was devoted to their introduction. At about the half-way mark, the story picked up as more details were revealed, and kept me listening throughout the day--like, "I've already come so far, might as well finish it".
I wasn't completely satisfied by the handwaving at the end, I wanted to know more about *why* and the characters themselves. Piranesi (the character) was not particularly likeable or memorable. Also, why was it important to mention... That just kind of rubbed me the wrong way, when we don't go into much more of the characters.
Overall, I don't dislike this book, but I wasn't blown away by it. Upon finishing, I had more criticisms floating around in my mind than positive feelings, and then I promptly stopped thinking about it a day later.
I did enjoy the setting of the labyrinth, the descriptions were interesting and mysterious, though I don't think the book would've suffered if about half the time was devoted to their introduction. At about the half-way mark, the story picked up as more details were revealed, and kept me listening throughout the day--like, "I've already come so far, might as well finish it".
I wasn't completely satisfied by the handwaving at the end, I wanted to know more about *why* and the characters themselves. Piranesi (the character) was not particularly likeable or memorable. Also, why was it important to mention
Spoiler
that the main villain was gay and picked up men?Overall, I don't dislike this book, but I wasn't blown away by it. Upon finishing, I had more criticisms floating around in my mind than positive feelings, and then I promptly stopped thinking about it a day later.