archer3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Piranesi is a masterpiece. The story unfolds in a way that keeps you reading, wanting to know more. The way it is written, through the POV of the journal entries, really puts you in the shoes of Piranesi and allows you to feel the emotions he is feeling and experience his discoveries in an authentic way. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing at the end. I will never stop recommending this book.
Spoiler
The way the author explored the changes people go through during life and framed it as different individuals all rolled into one person was magnificent. The final journal entries being from the POV of someone who was neither Matthew nor Piranesi, yet somehow still both of them, really made it easy to sympathize with what the character went through. I enjoyed the author's exploration of a person's evolving sense of self and how their life changes around that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Murder, Death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
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
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
coryyalva's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
EDIT: changing my review to 5 stars because it has been a week since I read it and I can't stop thinking about it. It is forever ingrained in my mind in the best way.
this book was absolutely breathtaking. getting to follow Piranesi around The House as he explored and theorized of its nature was truly an honor, and to watch the plot unfold into something I had never even expected was exhilarating.
thank you thank you Susanna Clark for writing this beautiful, twisted masterpiece!
this book was absolutely breathtaking. getting to follow Piranesi around The House as he explored and theorized of its nature was truly an honor, and to watch the plot unfold into something I had never even expected was exhilarating.
thank you thank you Susanna Clark for writing this beautiful, twisted masterpiece!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Emotional abuse
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
genesis05's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
averi's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
jovial_glider's review
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
miller8d's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved that this book felt like a refreshing escape from the normal structure and narrative that many fiction books follow. Also, I pictured The Other as Brett Goldstein.
Spoiler
I was surprised by most of the book, and deeply appreciated that the magic of this universe was both fantastical and simple, both logical and inexplicable. I found myself confused about the storyline/losing focus frequently throughout the book, which normally would bother me, but it felt like I was experiencing the same thing as the narrator LOL, which I enjoyed. I found the narrator’s genuinely kind soul very touching and deeply enjoyed the process of discovering what had happened. I didn’t realize it was a mystery novel until halfway through which is awesome. The well-established isolated world meant that, with the appearance of each new person or information, it was genuinely shocking. Very interesting and refreshing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Gun violence, Dementia, Confinement, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Death, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Vomit and Violence
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Trafficking, and Blood
Although this book covers many dark topics,Spoiler
beyond the main topics of confinement and kidnapping and gaslighting,Spoiler
there is a gun and attempted shooting, but nobody actually gets shot, and there are no graphic details about it, etc.eauderat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Toxic friendship