Dave's book review for Piranesi

Well, you can count me amongst those who loved this book.

It manages to be both poetic and a fun, quick read. I really did not want this book to be over.

I loved the atmosphere and the mystery. I loved the use of notebooks, of course.

While a totally different book in many ways, I was reminded of The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan for two reasons: it features a big building as central to the story, and it creates an utterly absorbing little world very much apart from both our real world and also of the typical worlds created for typical fantasy and science fiction stories.

I was expecting to compare it to the stories of Borges, but other than the vague references to labyrinths, I felt this explored very different territory.

Lastly, it managed to ask Interesting Questions about identity and thoughts…​without stomping all over the story with them. Like the House, this book provides quiet places to ponder things.

I’m extremely taken with Susanna Clarke’s writing in this book and will definitely consider reading her others!