Scan barcode
A review by maeverose
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
This is one of those books that I like more in hindsight after having read it. It has such cool themes and concepts, but while reading it I was a bit bored at times.
My favorite part of the book is actually the beginning when things are still confusing and strange and you’re kinda just going along for the ride. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was going on. I loved the world building of the House. Such a cool setting. The aesthetics of this book as well as Piranesi as a character are probably it’s strongest features imo. The actual mystery reveal fell flat for me.I liked that it was actually fantasy and not that he was in a coma or something like I thought it might end up being, but idk it just wasn’t as cool as the rest of the book to me. There were also some homophobic insinuations about a specific character that I didn’t like. His being gay was always mentioned in tandem with crimes he committed. And at the end it almost seemed to imply that Piranesi had DID and a new alter had split off, but DID can only be caused by childhood trauma not trauma as an adult, so that kinda irked me. But it never gives him a diagnosis so it could totally just be that he’s ‘generally traumatized’ and that was how the author chose to interpret it, idk.
My favorite part of the book is actually the beginning when things are still confusing and strange and you’re kinda just going along for the ride. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was going on. I loved the world building of the House. Such a cool setting. The aesthetics of this book as well as Piranesi as a character are probably it’s strongest features imo. The actual mystery reveal fell flat for me.
Graphic: Confinement and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
Minor: Homophobia and Excrement
Drowning, Questioning reality, amnesia due to trauma . I probably forgot some stuff because it’s been a while since I read this