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A review by monetp
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
3.0
This is an ARC book review for NetGalley.
3.5 stars
"Piranesi. It is what he calls me. Which is strange because as far as I remember it is not my name." ~ [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580945805l/50202953._SX50_.jpg|73586702]
I loved [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] and [b:The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories|15161|The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435241299l/15161._SX50_.jpg|3088909] so I was excited to get my hands on this ARC edition of [a:Susanna Clarke|8842|Susanna Clarke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1453496946p2/8842.jpg]'s latest book! "Piranesi" is nothing like what I expected, but Clarke's novels never are. I have never read anything else like it. "Piranesi" is a mind-bending, speculative fantasy story about a man desperately searching for the truth of his identity. I hung on to each page, searching hungrily for answers. The suspense was incredible; I felt absorbed into the story from page one!
Piranesi is an excellent narrator. I was rooting for him from page one. He's so respectful of his home and his compassion for all living things is beautiful. Piranesi is one of those rare main characters that possess flaws, but these flaws are forgotten with the extreme empathy the reader experiences for him. As far as critiques go, the main reason this book isn't four stars or higher is because of the novel's length. It's a quick read, but there is so much worldbuilding going on that I desperately wanted another hundred pages to entertain me. The alternate reality is so detailed that sometimes I became confused - so more explanation would've been helpful. Also, maybe I missed something, but is there a satyr in the novel or is that just an unrelated cover choice?
Overall I enjoyed my awe-inspiring adventure into Piranesi's world. I noticed a huge change in Clarke's writing style - while she usually wraps her stories in an air of mystery, her endings traditionally bring a sense of clarity to the plot. However, instead of writing a lengthy novel like she usually does, Clarke went for a short novel that left much speculation for the reader. The fantasy/magic explanation is vague. The novel's alternate reality is presented in an "it is what it is, just go with it" style. The House never explains itself; it just exists. Every reader will interpret this alternate reality differently.
3.5 stars
"Piranesi. It is what he calls me. Which is strange because as far as I remember it is not my name." ~ [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580945805l/50202953._SX50_.jpg|73586702]
I loved [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] and [b:The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories|15161|The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435241299l/15161._SX50_.jpg|3088909] so I was excited to get my hands on this ARC edition of [a:Susanna Clarke|8842|Susanna Clarke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1453496946p2/8842.jpg]'s latest book! "Piranesi" is nothing like what I expected, but Clarke's novels never are. I have never read anything else like it. "Piranesi" is a mind-bending, speculative fantasy story about a man desperately searching for the truth of his identity. I hung on to each page, searching hungrily for answers. The suspense was incredible; I felt absorbed into the story from page one!
Piranesi is an excellent narrator. I was rooting for him from page one. He's so respectful of his home and his compassion for all living things is beautiful. Piranesi is one of those rare main characters that possess flaws, but these flaws are forgotten with the extreme empathy the reader experiences for him. As far as critiques go, the main reason this book isn't four stars or higher is because of the novel's length. It's a quick read, but there is so much worldbuilding going on that I desperately wanted another hundred pages to entertain me. The alternate reality is so detailed that sometimes I became confused - so more explanation would've been helpful. Also, maybe I missed something, but is there a satyr in the novel or is that just an unrelated cover choice?
Overall I enjoyed my awe-inspiring adventure into Piranesi's world. I noticed a huge change in Clarke's writing style - while she usually wraps her stories in an air of mystery, her endings traditionally bring a sense of clarity to the plot. However, instead of writing a lengthy novel like she usually does, Clarke went for a short novel that left much speculation for the reader. The fantasy/magic explanation is vague. The novel's alternate reality is presented in an "it is what it is, just go with it" style. The House never explains itself; it just exists. Every reader will interpret this alternate reality differently.