For a moment I had an inkling of what it might be like if instead of two people in the World there were thousands.
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Genre: Adult Fantasy
About: Piranesi lives in the House which is full of endless Halls. The lower levels are where the Tide comes and goes. The upper levels are where the Clouds sit. In the middle level there is Himself and the Other, the only two living men in the World. But things are about to change. Piranesi must trust in the House to protect him, for it's Beauty is immeasurable and its Kindness infinite.
The Good
This is truly an unique and beautiful read. Piranesi is a likeable character with a very unique voice. It reads like a series of dream sequences, the setting is utterly bizarre and perfect for the type of story that this is. I loved the unravelling of the mystery - who is Piranesi, who is the Other and what exactly is the House? There is plenty of intrigue that, while it isn't a tense thriller type of read, is nonetheless haunting and gripping.
I also thought the other characters we meet - the dialogue between them and Piranesi, as well as how they are brought into the story, was really well done. It's a short read but it felt eventful and full of interesting characters.
The Bad
It's broken up into seven parts and I would say the first part is very difficult to adjust to. You get thrown into this very abstract world and, although it became endearing, having all these words capitalised did read strange at first. You really have to read a bit into part two before you know if this is a book you'll enjoy or not.
The Somewhat Iffy
I didn't get a full picture of what the Other's true purpose was. His interviews with Piranesi and his interactions in the House just didn't get enough explanation for me. I also thought his actions at the end were a bit of a stretch. It felt more like what had to happen rather than being the most plausible.
Overall
What a fascinating read! Refreshingly different with a great voice and mystical setting. Despite only being 200 or so pages, it's the kind of story that I think will stick with me for a long while.
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