Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Published by Bloomsbury, 2020
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I’m having a hard time organising my thoughts for this strange little novel. I found it utterly compelling to read, the setting that Clarke has created both rich and absorbing, but I didn’t find it as surprising or revelatory on a thematic level as most other readers seem to have done.
As many have opined, it’s probably best to head in knowing little about the plot (though, it’s also possible that being geared up for an inevitable twist set my hopes too high, and I would say the major details aren’t all too hard to determine). Suffice to say we follow Piranesi, who lives a near solitary existence in a mysterious flooded house, characterised by its endless labyrinthine halls, towering statues, and changing tides. He believes himself and one other with whom he has sporadic interactions to be the only living people to inhabit the world, but predictably, everything is not quite as it seems.
The book is written in the form of diary entries that detail Piranesi’s various endeavours to explore and understand this world. Fortunately, he is both interesting and likable as a protagonist, and Clarke’s prose makes it a pleasure to spend time inside Piranesi’s head as we piece together the narrative’s puzzle pieces alongside him.
Though never landing any kind of emotional punch for me, the book does ruminate on the likes of loneliness, trauma response, memory, and the nature of identity. I took it primarily as an exploration of the idea that we can make peace with our place in the world, and whether or not it is possible to find contentment in ignorance.
That said, the book isn’t as impenetrably cerebral as I feared it would be based on people’s deliberately ambiguous reviews (it is tough to discuss without spoilers). Yes, there are depths to be mined and many literary references to be picked apart if you so wish, but on a sentence-by-sentence level, Piranesi is also simply an enjoyable read. Carried by a singular setting that is brought to life vividly on the page, and a protagonist who is easy to root for, I’m glad I picked this up, even if just for the truly unique reading experience it presents.
Callum McLaughlin 
I wasn’t quite as bowled over by Piranesi as others seem to have been, either. I thought it was strongest in its first half, where the weirdness of Piranesi’s world-view was explored, then took a more predictable turn in its second half.
I felt the same way. I’m glad I picked it up, but it lacked a bit of impact in the delivery. I think perhaps I was expecting too much of a twist, when in fact the mystery plays out in a fairly conventional way.
Same! I was pretty clear on what was going to happen from quite early on.
Great review, Callum. I like your comment “whether or not it is possible to find contentment in ignorance” – very true. Sry, it didn’t live up to the hype for you, but sounds like you still found it a decent read.
Thank you! It was definitely a worthwhile read, even if it was hampered a little by the hype.
Great review! I’m glad you found this a solid read even if it didn’t quite live up to expectations. It is hard to balance the hype without revealing spoilers, but it seems an interesting addition to the WP at least, even if the story doesn’t quite impress on every level. I had a little better luck perhaps, but agree with your criticisms. Better luck with your next read, I hope!
Thank you! Yes, I’m happy to see it on the longlist; not least because the fantastical elements are more literal than I’d expected, and it’s refreshing to see some genre fiction represented!
Nicely done review.
Thank you!
I’ve heard quite a lot about this book. I won’t buy it, but I would like to have a look at it sometime. Thanks for the review.
It has certainly generated a lot of buzz, and I enjoyed giving it a shot.
I’m curious about this one because it sounds so unique. Books like this can be so hard to review without revealing too much while still being honest so well done!
Thank you! It really is a singular read, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot if you’re tempted. I’d love to know your thoughts on it!
Pingback: April Wrap Up | Callum McLaughlin