Piranesi

I highly recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible about the plot, so I'll only talk about the vibes here which were absolutely immaculate! It pulled me in with its mesmerizing setting, which slowly unfolds its mysteries to the reader. It has this dream-like, slightly melancholic feeling which, in combination with the journal-like structure, feels very intimate. If you love strange, but beautiful books, that leave some questions unanswered and defy strict categorisation I highly recommend this one!

Piranesi is an absolute success of atmospheric storytelling and surreal imagination that will completely transport you to another world. The story follows a man who lives peacefully in a vast, infinite labyrinth known simply as the House—a place filled with crashing ocean tides, indoor clouds, and magnificent marble statues—until strange new evidence begins to unravel everything he knows about his isolated existence. What makes this novel so extraordinary is its profound, meditative exploration of solitude, innocence, and the fragility of human memory. The world-building is really unique; the House itself feels like a living, breathing character that is simultaneously beautiful, tranquil, and subtly menacing. Instead of relying on fast-paced action, Clarke crafts a slow, mesmerizing puzzle that gently unfolds, pulling the reader into a deeply dreamlike state. The prose is elegant, immersive, and tinged with a creeping sense of psychological suspense as the underlying mystery reveals itself. It is a haunting, philosophical, and deeply magical reading experience. You will either love it or won‘t be bothered with it at all.

Piranesi is a book that feels like magic. Thrown right into a mysterious labyrinth, we follow the daily struggles of our amnesiac protagonist who lives alone in this maze of statues, birds and dead. The writing style is immaculate – A dream made into words, strung together and beautifully woven. When I first read it, I loved it. The more I reminisce, the more it lingers in my heart.

Es fällt wirklich schwer zu erklären, worum es in diesem Buch eigentlich geht. Besonders am Anfang ist die Welt - oder eher das Haus - in dem Piranesi lebt sehr verwirrend. Das Haus besteht aus vielen Räumen, wird teils mit Wasser überflutet und beherbergt neben Piranesi nur Statuen, Vögel und die Toten. Von Zeit zu Zeit kommt ihn 'der Andere' besuchen. Durch Piranesi erfahren wir mehr über diese fantastische Welt, ihre Hintergründe, ihre Schönheit und Güte. Susanna Clarke hat einen unglaublich schönen Schreibstil und bietet mit dieser Geschichte eine ganz besondere, andere Perspektive auf unsere Welt.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books. Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke didn’t only have me in awe because of its unique- and strangeness, it was also beautiful and interesting to read. This book feels like a puzzle—not just for the character, but for the reader too. I found such comfort in the world, in the house and in Piranesi as a character. Piranesi inspired me. His kindness and view of the world/his world is beautiful and left me thinking. This was a strange book, which is exactly why I loved it.