Piranesi ( Certified Reading)

At first glance, ‘Piranesi’ appears to be Clarke’s interpretation of the ‘Minotaur and the Labyrinth’ -- the Classical tale of a mythical minotaur who dwelled at the center of an infinite maze-like structure -- but this simplistic description only goes so far as the synopsis on the dust jacket. Because ‘Piranesi’ is so much more than just another creative retelling. From the very first page, it becomes clear that our titular character is a scholar: a man of reason, a meticulous chronicler, and the grateful inhabitant of an expansive, labyrinthine building he simply refers to as “the House”, with a capital H. Piranesi, we learn, is suffering from memory loss. Piranesi has what might be called plot amnesia—he doesn’t remember who he is or any of the important events that brought him to his present self. In plot amnesia stories, the main character starts off in the same position as the reader: neither knows their past, their purpose, or their world. They set off together on the adventure to learn who they are and what they’ve been. Piranesi is in the House, as you are in the book, and he wanders through it to learn his own identity just as you do. Clarke deftly weaves together highbrow and lowbrow so Piranesi as the reader is both symbol and story. Twice a week, for 1 hour only, he has an appointment with the man known as the Other. The Other is always dressed smartly, while Piranesi is dressed in the rags that remain of the clothes he must have worn when he arrived at the House. Piranesi dresses his hair with seashells and seaweed. Piranesi does not know where the Other comes from or goes outside these two weekly appointments, but believes, at least in the beginning, the Other to also live in the House. And so ... this simple life carries on ... until there are messages left for Piranesi from an intruder and signs of an intruder's presence. The Other warns the young man that the new presence is a mortal danger to him. This novel was surely a delight. It had strong elements which were woven together by Clarke’s prose to come up with a lush tapestry. The worldbuilding was fascinating. The suspense was gripping. The conclusion was subpar but it was nevertheless an insightful read. It may be mind-boggling at points but Piranesi is a riveting tale that also ironically captures our recent plight.

At first, the book was confusing and I had no idea what the heck was going on but then as it moved on I was engaged. The narrator, Piranesi, is a mystery and so following his journals seems like a riddle in itself. The world is described beautifully and to imagine it while reading is a delight and with a companion like Piranesi explaining along the way the experience becomes more wonderful. You can’t get caught up with the whys and hows of this world and its mysteries as it would take away the joy of enjoying the moment. As the story unfolds and we get answers there is a sudden pull towards reality and we are brought back to it. However, the ending brings us back to the wonderful place leaving us in awe. Clarke is an amazing storyteller, drawing you in and out whenever she wants to. And the thoughtfulness is prominent in the radiant writing.

I started this and completed it in one sitting. It starts off a bit too descriptive. But as I got familiar with the journaling style, it picked up the pace. The lead character is very well written. He is smart, resourceful, curious and a hard worker. He calls himself a scientist and enjoys observing, recording and analysing everything around him. He is also optimistic to a fault, but I found that charming. I'm ignoring other locations and characters in the book because I believe one should learn about them in the way the author envisioned. The book is short and is entirely made up of journal entries, which makes it a swift read. I enjoyed the ending quite a bit as it connects everything and answers all questions in a way that works in this universe.

Beautiful cover and intricately crafted standalone.

This was such an amazing read; only about 250 pages, it's a concise and quiet book. Starting out I genuinely thought it was going to be a complicated book after I read the blurb but I was so wrong. The writing is so easy and simple that I finished it in 3 days. You can probably finish it faster than me but I'd suggest to take your time with it, I'd certainly want to read it again for the first time if I could.

TLDR - 7/10. Piranesi is an atmospheric tale that defies conventional categorization. Similar in some ways to my last read The Sense of an Ending, this novel also explores themes like the fragility of truth, the impermanence of memory, and how identity is shaped by experience and environment. While the dense world-building may feel slow at first, it ultimately draws you into its surreal and intricate setting. Plot - Piranesi lives in The House—a vast, otherworldly labyrinth of endless halls, statues, and tides. The only other inhabitant is The Other, whom Piranesi considers a friend. As the story unfolds, the mysteries of The House deepen, Piranesi’s bond with The Other evolves, and his presence in The House itself turns out to be no coincidence. Clarke’s prose is spare yet hauntingly atmospheric. Though the pacing takes some getting used to, the journal-style narrative pulls readers into Piranesi’s mind, making his thoughts and observations feel deeply personal. Should you read it? Pick up Piranesi if you’re looking for a richly imaginative fantasy novel that blends philosophical musings with intricate world-building. But if you’re frustrated by ambiguity or the feeling of half-remembered dreams, this one might not be for you.

The book started off really slow. I didn't know where it was going. Skimmed through the first few pages. About 70 pages in, is when the actual story begins to emerge. While the setting is intriguing, the story itself is nothing new. It reminded me a LOT of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and a little bit of some true crime article I had read in the New Yorker. A lot of things in the story seemed forced, too many convenient things happen, danger doesn't seem real enough, and motivations don't feel strong enough. It's an okay read. Nothing to gush about.

I devoured this book over the weekend. Like everything else Susanna Clarke has written, this captivated me. The story, at its surface, is bizarre and intriguing. The eponymous protagonist is likeable and relatable. But, like the drowned rooms in the world he inhabits, there is so much more beneath the surface. It's possible to read and enjoy this book for the gorgeous writing, the strange and beautiful story, the charming narrator, and the mystery. At its heart, however, this is a tale of trauma - how the mind adjusts to survive unbearable suffering, loss, and grief; protecting us so that we are not caught and drowned in their tides.

Absolutely LOVED this book. Never read anything quite like it. Fantasy and reality and sadness and betrayal and belonging and mystery, all wrapped up in the most amazingly constructed narrative. I have read Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell. This is very different, but still engaged me with awe. Every page was a new adventure in thinking and feeling. I would love to read more by this author.

Está cargado de fantasía sobria, misterio, muy entretenido, pero ojo, está contado por medio de entradas del diario del protagonista. Lo recomiendo mucho.

I feel like I always start my book reviews with "this wasn't what I expected" but it's important for you to know that the majority of books I read are ones that have been recommended to me by friends (a very small circle of readers who I trust to know my personal tastes) or books I've randomly picked up in a shop, read the blurb, and brought home with me. It's also worth noting that for whatever reason a book has made its way to my tbr pile, it usually will sit there for quite some time before I actually sit and read it, simply because I have so many waiting for my attention. Despite this, I'm going to say that while this book wasn't what I was expecting, I'm not sure if I even knew what that was when I first started reading. I genuinely had no idea what the book was about really, I don't even remember buying it (it might have been a gift?) but it was next on the pile, and so, I read it. And I loved it. It's an absolutely magical book, full to the brim with stunning visuals, a unique and beautiful backdrop, and a main character who gets himself lodged straight between your ribs and takes up residence there. It was so cleverly written, where we as readers weren't told very much at all until quite deep into the book, but still feeling so immersed in the world as we followed Piranesi around his peculiar home. The setting is lovely, the house is full of peril and beauty in equal measure, and you can feel the main character's love and admiration all the way through the story. While the story itself takes a dark turn, it's not jarring at all, the narrative leads us from the bright ocean and Piranesi's innocent demeanor, through to themes of manipulation, deceit, betrayal, and eventually faces us with self-belief , what we know to be reality, and our own perceptions of identity. All in all it's a very clever book, and one that hit me emotionally from the first page to the last. If you enjoy speculative fiction with mystery, but written with tenderness for the human condition, I would really recommend this book.

“Piranesi” is one of the more original and unexpected book I’ve read of late. You start a journey in a reality which recalls Plato’s world of ideas in the shoes of a naïf and innocent protagonist who is far away from the modern age characters we are used to. Thanks to the “journal” narration, you get entangled in his peculiar psychology, seeing the world from his perspective and sympathizing with him when all his certainties start to collapse. Highly recommended reading.