alicehandle reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The labyrinth that turns you plural
4 stars
This book is about the COVID-19 pandemic
335 pages
English language
Published Dec. 29, 2022 by Thorndike Press.
Piranesi
4 stars
(395 reviews)
From the New York Times bestselling author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, an intoxicating, hypnotic new novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality.
Piranesi's house is no ordinary building; its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.
There is one other person in the house--a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one …
From the New York Times bestselling author of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, an intoxicating, hypnotic new novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality.
Piranesi's house is no ordinary building; its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.
There is one other person in the house--a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.
For readers of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane and fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Piranesi introduces an astonishing new world, an infinite labyrinth full of startling images of surreal beauty, haunted by the tides and the clouds.
This description comes from the publisher.
matthewmincher reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Short & Different
4 stars
This was a quick read. I didn't really know what to expect as I only have a mild familiarity with the author (I've tried Strange & Norrel but not finished it).
Ended up quite enjoying this, it's got a compelling combination of unease and fantasy that I loved. I don't really know what I took from it - I think you'd need to read it at the right time and mood otherwise this might be a bit of a miss.
I really enjoyed the point of view character having to piece themselves back together, and the melancholy sadness of people who don't quite fit being able to perceive something more.
I'd recommend it if you've read one too many tomes recently and want a palate cleansing escape.
Apparently there's going to be a movie adaptation which I'll be interested to see.
BuffaloTom reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Speciaal
3 stars
Ik heb in het begin een beetje moeten doorzetten om niet op te geven. Een uniek verhaal, een beetje speciaal.
Zivan reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi appealed to me on so many levels.
5 stars
Piranesi appealed to me on so many levels.
He is a fish out of water, but he has adapted. The way he adapted, studying his environment with an innocent yet scientific eye, was the most appealing aspect for me. The descriptions of the statues; the meaning the myth and art embedded in them was a wonderful cherry on the cake.
The way Susana Clarke stuck the landing was also perfect.
What a wonderful experience.
Chmod777 reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
A quick and worthwhile trip
4 stars
I read Piranesi over the course of a few days. In reality, I probably could have read it in 1 or 2 days tops but life catches up to you.
I don't want to post any spoilers or give any details about the book in this review. I went into Piranesi blind - meaning I had not read anything about the book up until I picked it up. I think what I liked most about this book is that despite its page count, most of the characters felt fleshed out. I felt some aspects of the story felt a bit rushed, but all things considered, it was still a fun read.
Oscii@bookrastinating.com reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Sometimes, you never really find out the answers
4 stars
This was a lovely, interesting, engaging book. It was rammed with Narnia references that you simply wouldn't have noticed if you happened not to be familiar with Narnia, but which were huge fun if you were. Piranesi himself was likeable, and I rooted for him from the start, even as he started to understand that he hadn't always been a person he could like.
But so many world-building questions were left completely unanswered!
Alabastard reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
None
5 stars
Una verdadera joya. Una lectura más introspectiva y reflexiva que enfocada en la trama, si bien esta última tiene una estructura atrayente y marcada por el misterio. Es una de esas historias que abre puertas a un montón de interpretaciones y parece dejar mensajes sobre muchos asuntos, entre ellos, la relación que existe entre nuestra identidad individual y nuestros recuerdos, la manera misma que tenemos de percibir el mundo y su belleza y cómo nos relacionamos con aquello, la relación entre la paz de la contemplación o el silencio y la carga de la soledad o el aislamiento, paralelos con problemas de salud mental, espiritualidad, los ideales de perfección y eternidad, etc. A ratos filósofico, a ratos enigmático, este libro hace pensar tanto como hace maravillarse con el relato de su protagonista, con quien vamos descubriendo poco a poco la singular realidad del mundo (o los mundos) en que habita. …
Una verdadera joya. Una lectura más introspectiva y reflexiva que enfocada en la trama, si bien esta última tiene una estructura atrayente y marcada por el misterio. Es una de esas historias que abre puertas a un montón de interpretaciones y parece dejar mensajes sobre muchos asuntos, entre ellos, la relación que existe entre nuestra identidad individual y nuestros recuerdos, la manera misma que tenemos de percibir el mundo y su belleza y cómo nos relacionamos con aquello, la relación entre la paz de la contemplación o el silencio y la carga de la soledad o el aislamiento, paralelos con problemas de salud mental, espiritualidad, los ideales de perfección y eternidad, etc. A ratos filósofico, a ratos enigmático, este libro hace pensar tanto como hace maravillarse con el relato de su protagonista, con quien vamos descubriendo poco a poco la singular realidad del mundo (o los mundos) en que habita. Desde su perspectiva partimos explorando lo que parece ser un infinito y gentil santuario, pero que también podría entenderse como una prisión, o un nuevo mundo, o una ilusión.
Ablaze3594 reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Fascinahorror
4 stars
Piranesi is a stark contrast for me. Throughout the book, I swung like a pendulum between utter fascination and horror. I recommend it, but it left me hollow whereas Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, the author's first book I also recently read, was much more high-spirited (although similar themes appear).
oatmilk_alex reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Review of 'Piranesi' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
wow that was cool
Edit: I keep thinking about this book and the writing, so it’s now a 5 star instead of 4.5
wow that was cool
Edit: I keep thinking about this book and the writing, so it’s now a 5 star instead of 4.5
Edit: I keep thinking about this book and the writing, so it’s now a 5 star instead of 4.5
Dav reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
None
5 stars
This one was a recommendation - and a very welcome one. A mystery which is never really wholly explained - but it doesn’t need it. Piranesi is a wholly absorbing character; his world is intriguing and, just like him, we come to it with an understanding that is limited by the narrative. In the unfolding of this, a true gem of a story. Loved it.
zemoko reviewed Piranèse by Susanna Clarke
Aussi poétique que captivant
4 stars
Pas facile de vous faire le pitch sans trop en dire… c’est un roman très atypique et je vous voudrais pas vous en dévoiler trop. Je vais tâcher de me contenter de planter le décor puis de vous laisser, si vous le souhaitez, découvrir la suite par vous-même.
Piranèse, c’est le nom du héros de notre roman. Il vit de pêche et de débrouille, tel Robinson sur son île… sauf que Piranèse n’est pas sur une île mais dans un immense palais. Monumental. Et infini. Ou, en tout cas, Piranèse ne lui en connait pas de fin, et il ne semble rien connaître d’extérieur au Palais. Il sait juste que, de certains salles, on peut contempler le ciel et les étoiles. Malgré son immensité et sa complexité, Piranèse connait le Palais comme sa poche, à force de l’avoir silloné. Les salles sont immenses, peuplées de gigantesques sculptures, reliées par des …
Pas facile de vous faire le pitch sans trop en dire… c’est un roman très atypique et je vous voudrais pas vous en dévoiler trop. Je vais tâcher de me contenter de planter le décor puis de vous laisser, si vous le souhaitez, découvrir la suite par vous-même.
Piranèse, c’est le nom du héros de notre roman. Il vit de pêche et de débrouille, tel Robinson sur son île… sauf que Piranèse n’est pas sur une île mais dans un immense palais. Monumental. Et infini. Ou, en tout cas, Piranèse ne lui en connait pas de fin, et il ne semble rien connaître d’extérieur au Palais. Il sait juste que, de certains salles, on peut contempler le ciel et les étoiles. Malgré son immensité et sa complexité, Piranèse connait le Palais comme sa poche, à force de l’avoir silloné. Les salles sont immenses, peuplées de gigantesques sculptures, reliées par des couloirs et des escaliers monumentaux. Et puis… il y a l’océan aussi, et ses marées qui pourraient être dangereuses s’il ne les connaissait pas si bien. Piranèse n’est pas seul dans ce Palais. Il y a trouvé treize dépouilles, qu’il a nommé selon l’endroit et la façon dont il les a découvertes et dont il prend grand soin. Et puis, il y a « l’Autre ». Autant Piranèse est un naufragé, aux vêtements défraichis et raccommodés, autant l’autre est un explorateur, élégant et soigné. Piranèse ne le rencontre que deux jours par semaine, pour des entretiens de quelques heures tout au plus. Il essaie de l’aider dans ses travaux, des expériences qui semblent très importantes, en quête du « Grand savoir ».
Que cherche « l’Autre » ? Où est-t-il quand il n’est pas au Palais ? D’ailleurs, y a-t-il autre chose que la Palais dans ce Monde ? Et d’autres habitants ?
C’est très particulier (je le classerais volontiers dans les OLNI). Il n’y a que très peu d’action… et pourtant le suspens est là et c’est un page-turner. Piranèse est plus qu’un roman, c’est une découverte, un voyage onirique et poétique… mais c’est aussi une intrigue captivante et une histoire envoutante.
Maxim reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Gourgeous
5 stars
Borjes' surreal worlds described in the characteristic cozy style. Magnificent and intoxicating, Clarke does know how to write on magic.
Derek Caelin reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Mysterious and beautiful
5 stars
I loved the world in which this story is set. An infinite labyrinth of statues and sea, occupied by characters that I wanted deeply to know more about.
You follow the story through the journal of the point of view character. The best parts of the story are, to me, when the writer's and the reader's understanding of events diverge. It felt like a Hitchcock movie, where I, with full access to the main character's thoughts, started coming to different interpretations of information they've received - and what I knew compelled me to keep reading in hopes that the main character would catch up. I also appreciated the themes of the story: kindness, interaction with place, memory, ambition.
Merovius reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Beautiful
5 stars
A beautiful reflection on the human condition. And an absolute masterclass in world building. Unlike other fantasy novels, the world is not very deep, but the way it is revealed and layered through the eyes of the protagonist is unlike anything I've read before.
aura@books.theunseen.city reviewed Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Un intrigant labyrinthe
4 stars
Lu en cinq jours. Difficile exercice que de le résumer, et il n'est pas certain que cela serve à grand chose. Piranesi vit et explore La Maison Éternelle, peuplées de Statues gigantesques et d'Oiseaux. Le livre est captivant sur son début, où il en dit peu sur le pourquoi et montre cette Maison.
J'ai reçu cette lecture à un moment où j'avais besoin d'évasion, de plonger un peu en moi. La Maison Éternelle a constitué tout à la fois un échappatoire, un lieu de méditation et de refuge. Une réalité à expérimenter plutôt qu'une énigme à déchiffrer.
