Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke

Paperback, 245 pages

Published Sept. 2, 2021 by Bloomsbury Publishing.

ISBN:: 978-1-5266-2243-3

View on OpenLibrary

(292 reviews)

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2021

17 editions

Eduardo Santiago reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Haunting, gentle, and somehow, serendipitously, just the perfect followon to [b:Anathem|7914507|Anathem|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328123532l/7914507.SY75.jpg|6163095] and to two books on schizophrenia—but it would take way too long to explain why.

Some writers have incredible imaginations; some, compassion; some, talent; Clarke has them all and more. She drew me in from the opening quotes, even before the opening pages, and kept me hooked. The way she invents a baffling weird world, shoves you into it, uncomprehending, but also gives you just enough to navigate along and make gradual sense of it. The ambiguities that keep you wondering, then revisiting your understanding of the story. The charm and wonder with which she infuses it all.

There were times when the narrative gimmick (first-person journal) felt contrived, enough so to jostle me out of the story: “hmmm, I need some exposition here.” And her villains—as in her other books—are just eversoslightly more sociopathic than …

Jonathan Arnold reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A book that is very hard to describe and even harder to forget. Clocking in at only about 250 pages (quite the turnaround from her last book, [b:Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell|14201|Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1357027589l/14201.SY75.jpg|3921305], which has over 1,000), it tells the story of Piranesi, a man wandering / exploring in a huge labyrinth. He carefully journals his travels, tides and statues. Oh the statues! And twice a week, he meets with The Other, the only other being he knows, to see what the plans are. But gradually his situation become clearer to him and he begins to wonder about his place of "entrapment".

Wow. Just wow. It took a bit for me to get into the book, but much like the main character, I quickly became surrounded by the labyrinth itself and his meticulous descriptions. I am sure the character must be named after Giovanni Battista Piranesi, an 18th century architect and artist, famous for his (fictitious and atmospheric "prisons"). And how the story ever so slowly unfolds itself and gradually worms its way into "reality" is truly amazing.

And yup, tears were even shed by the end. I became completely engrossed in the book and it clearly became a "can't put this down". She weaves a true magical realism through every believable page and you really inhabit both the world and Piranesi himself. A real master work of psychological writing. Wow.

joeyh reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

A perfect beach read.

Seems to share many tropes with old school interactive fiction. I wonder if that was intentional?

cel reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

really enjoyed it!! very interesting concept and execution. strongly recommend

epilys reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Like a vivid dream

5 stars

So well written it came as a shock. The best literary surprise of the last few years.

chrisamaphone reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

All of my goodreads friends said this book was amazing, and they were right. What a delight. I'm on a bit of a binge with fiction about mysterious, infinite, paranormal architectural spaces (House of Leaves and Subcutanean were the last two books I read) and this was a really nice palate cleanser for not treating that idea as inherently horrifying.

I wasn't expecting the ending to be as happy or resolved as it was, but I find myself glad that it was.

John McChesney-Young reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

Mesmerizing, with a twist near the end which Clarke turns into a beautiful and elegant braid.

ManyRoads reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

1 star

Imagine "Waiting for Godot", "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead", inane script, and you have this novel. My eyes hurt...

zumbador reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

"The Beauty of the House is Immeasurable, its Kindness Infinite".
My brother gave me this beautiful copy of Piranesi for my birthday. I only just read it. It's one of the most remarkable books I've ever read. It's deeply influenced by the Narnia books, especially The Magicians Nephew, and the etchings of the artists Piranesi. Both of those things have been very important to me, especially when I was a student.
This is a gentle, serious, kind story. Full of dreamlike, surreal, vivid moments. Just beautiful. Thank you Andries for this gift. ❤️

yams reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Wow, this book is incredible.

Kathrin Passig reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Ich wusste vorher nichts über den Inhalt und das war gut so, darum verrate ich hier auch nichts. In der ersten Hälfte war ich besorgt, dass sich alles als eine Metapher herausstellen könnte oder eine alltägliche Angelegenheit durch die Augen eines besonders ahnungslosen unzuverlässigen Erzählers betrachtet, aber das ist es alles nicht.

Warnhinweis: Enthält Spuren von dubioser Verwendung von Homosexualität und Fatshaming.

Enno reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

This book was amazing. I never managed to get into Jonathan Strange, but this book gripped me from the first pages and still hasn't let go. It's impossible to describe what it's about without spoiling it, but it's safe to say that it's a real puzzle box of a book. The puzzle is not just ours to figure out, it turns out our protagonist has memory problems that means he's almost as clueless as the reader. A masterpiece, and I hope it wish the author wins every award it's bound to be nominated for.

Adam reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Wow!

5 stars

What a beautiful book. The story is so well woven, the use of journals inspiring, the setting awe inspiring...

AnneOminous reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I really think this book would've made an amazing short story. As a novel, it took no time to read and still felt overly long and drawn out for about the first half of the book, some of which I ended up skimming. Others may really enjoy the flowery descriptions of statues and tides, but I found it boring and tedious.

Mickey reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

5/5

Absolutely beautiful book full of fantasy and mystery. I loved the vast corridors of statues and hallways, the atmospheric descriptions and just the overall tone of the book. There was just something so magical about this story.
The protagonist is very lovable and his curiosity and attachment to his home is really well written. I also enjoy the mystery about the halls that made me want to keep turning the pages (I finished it in 2 days!). I wish there was another book that gives further explanations on how it came to be and explored deeper into the corridors, but thats just the long-fantasy-series-lover inside me talking.
Overall it was magical and I thoroughly loved it.