Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Book Review

My thoughts on Piranesi summed up in a few words: bizarre, thoughtful, fantastical and charming.

For my August Literati selection, I chose to read with the Joseph Campbell Foundation book club. Which club will I read with next month? Who knows! I typically decide which group to join when Literati announces the book selections for the next month (on the 15th).

This is a story unlike any other. The book follows the life of Piranesi, who lives in an other-worldly home made up of endless corridors. The grandiose abode is adorned with statues, staircases and bones of the deceased… oh, and the ocean flows through it. This home, which he shares with another human whom he calls “The Other,” is all Piranesi can remember. He spends his days wandering the vast corridors and documenting what he finds in his journals. However, when a new person finds their way into the mysterious home, the stranger threatens to upend everything Piranesi thought he knew about his life.

This book gave me major Circe (by Madeline Miller) vibes. Not only does it focus on one exceptional individual who lives largely in solitude, but the mythological setting and storytelling felt very similar.

While I ended up enjoying this one, I initially found myself very confused by the setting and structure of the story. For starters, it took me quite a while to determine if Piranesi was even human. Secondly, it took me a good 50 - 70 pages to understand the nature of his reality. Thirdly, the book is written as entries in Piranesi’s journal, which I think contributed to my confusion about the setting/plot. Nevertheless, as I kept reading, the answers to all my questions became clear. Furthermore, upon the introduction of “16,” the stranger who penetrates Piranesi’s fortress, the story became much more engaging and fast-paced.

I would definitely recommend this one to fantasy-lovers… especially those who enjoy a character-driven novel with an incredibly unique setting. Piranesi was a fun character to inhabit, as he is both sweet and mischievous, silly and sentimental.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Have you read this one? If so, what did you think??