Piranesi
By Susanna Clarke
- Release Date: 2020-09-15
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
New York Times Bestseller
Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
World Fantasy Awards Finalist
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 and surreal beauty, haunted by the tides and the clouds.
Reviews
Tedious
3By Whim1954Complex world building but the names and dates are migraine inducing. I just tried to figure out what the heck was going on. On the plus side…bizarre bold concepts at work here.Magical
5By EmllapThe author does such a great job conjuring up the surreal images of Piranesi’s life. Definitely would recommend.Incredibly creative and imaginative
3By trdurantBut also very slow. I read this every night to put me to sleep. Beautifully written thoughPiranesi
5By renelecAt times heartbreaking but beautiful… we all need a labyrinth to escape this crazy world…Very creative
5By Jackie fitzsThis was a nice surprise to read something well written and so creative.Phenomenal
5By archisonicLike with J. Strange, Clarke REALLY loves to start slow and tableset the first third of a book, and then shift gears and turn it on (and then on some more), thru the breathtaking final acts. Such an interesting and brilliant writer.epitome of literary fiction
5By chris lennythis book was beautifully written. everything the protagonist felt, i felt it, too. i love this bookOne of the great novels
5By Presleyoreed3This book simply put is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. I am not often a reader of fiction, and even if I am reading fiction, intends to not be in the fantasy genre, but there is not a single person to whom I would not recommend this book, not only is it primarily one of the most interesting concepts I’ve ever had the pleasure to encounter, but it is so beautifully written and so well constructed that once you get to a certain point, it is basically impossible to stop reading until you finish the whole book. Do yourself a favor and read this book and I promise you will not regret it.I didn’t expect to like this as much as I did
5By easybrieziI typically don’t go for the slower burn books where there isn’t a lot of high stakes action but this book and it’s concept was so captivating! The world building and the mystery behind it were out of this world. Was whimsical in such a hauntingly dark way it was like nothing I’d ever read before. Leaves you satisfied but still asking questions. Probably one of the best books I have ever read and I could not recommend it highly enough!Good read.
4By Camyoung1495I found myself wanting to draw my own map of the labyrinth in the first part, wanting to shake Piranesi throughout, and looking for my own worlds in liminal spaces by the end.