You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
shelf_life_with_jay 's review for:
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Piranesi is one of those quietly mesmerizing books that lingers in your mind long after you've finished it. Susanna Clarke crafts a strange, surreal world that feels both vast and claustrophobic. A house that seems endless, with tides that rise through marble halls and statues that stand in silent witness. As I read, I couldn't help but envision this setting as a reinterpretation of Daedalus' labyrinth - the same mythic prison Icarus tried to escape. That parallel added an intriguing layer for me: the maze as both sanctuary and snare.
Pirasnesi, the narrator, is endearing and oddly innocent, and following his gradual realization of the truth was both compelling and heartbreaking. The novel doesn't aim to be a life-changing read, but it is a solid, beautifully written meditation on solitude, knowledge, and the fragility of reality.
I wouldn't call it a favorite of all time, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to readers who like their fiction a bit mysterious, a bit mythical, and rich with atmosphere.
Pirasnesi, the narrator, is endearing and oddly innocent, and following his gradual realization of the truth was both compelling and heartbreaking. The novel doesn't aim to be a life-changing read, but it is a solid, beautifully written meditation on solitude, knowledge, and the fragility of reality.
I wouldn't call it a favorite of all time, but I enjoyed it and would recommend it to readers who like their fiction a bit mysterious, a bit mythical, and rich with atmosphere.