th206's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Confinement
tm400's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
this is a modern day classic & i’m not one to reread books but this one will HAVE to be revisited.
this was such a compelling, fantastical story of a man named piranesi who exists/is trapped inside of a labyrinth of a house, full of marble statues and sea waves. it’s hard to describe past that without giving away spoilers, but this was undeniably one of my favorite reads of the year so far!! i think this story was almost perfectly paced, i loved that it was from a limited (first person) point of view, and i liked the ending a lot too. i recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, psychology, and literary reads.
i’m giving this book a sturdy 4.75/5 stars. not quite 5 stars because there are some gaps in my personal understanding, which is why i’ll personally be reading it twice (and why i recommend others do the same!)
this was such a compelling, fantastical story of a man named piranesi who exists/is trapped inside of a labyrinth of a house, full of marble statues and sea waves. it’s hard to describe past that without giving away spoilers, but this was undeniably one of my favorite reads of the year so far!! i think this story was almost perfectly paced, i loved that it was from a limited (first person) point of view, and i liked the ending a lot too. i recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, psychology, and literary reads.
i’m giving this book a sturdy 4.75/5 stars. not quite 5 stars because there are some gaps in my personal understanding, which is why i’ll personally be reading it twice (and why i recommend others do the same!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Gun violence
paddy_chh's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was utterly taken in by the beautiful depictions of the “house”, a place where I would dream of seeing for myself (temporarily). Piranesi was a joy to read about, his childlike innocence and goodness permeated everything he wrote, although this naivety was his downfall. I was a little disappointed that the book did not include any exploration of the labyrinth where Piranesi could have discovered new areas, instead it was all set in places he already knew well. Overall the mystery was not too deep but thoroughly enjoyable. In a book with a narrator less likeable than Piranesi it may have been a tad lack lustre but having an insight into his mind kept the mystery going because i truly cared about him.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Confinement
kirkspockreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Kidnapping and Sexual assault
aas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Child death, Vomit, Confinement, Death, Blood, Murder, Violence, Grief, and Kidnapping
doodeedoda's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Minor: Murder and Death
currently_introverting's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Kidnapping
cepbreed's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautiful, atmospheric, confusing. Piranesi was a book I forgot about for a long time before rediscovering it in my downloads while searching for something to fill up my time on a long plane ride. The writing is beautiful, the descriptions are so atmospheric, but to me, especially in the beginning, it was confusing and therefore unattractive. Nevertheless months later I rediscovered it and finished it and I am so glad I did. Clarke tackles many concepts, but I am most invested in her concept of identity. I appreciate the meticulous effort put into crafting this story and world.
Spoiler
Matthew, Piranesi and then the man become of escaping the labyrinth are of the same body, it is their minds that differ. The three have common threads in interests and dislikes, but ultimately are far more different. To Clarke identity has to do with continuity I think. When Piranesi cannot remember writing in the first 21 journals he attributes those to Matthew. And when both identities don’t know what to make of the original world a new identity is formed all together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death
jovial_glider's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Excrement and Murder
malb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Confinement, and Death