From the Bookshelf of The Perks Of Being A Book Addict…

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke

Start date: January 1, 2022

Finish date: January 31, 2022

Discussion: Group Books of the Month (BotM)

Why we're reading this: Chosen by members as our BotM in January 2022
[close] Chosen by members as our BotM in January 2022

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Showing 2 of 17 topics — 685 comments total

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What Members Thought

Jul 07, 2020 Esther rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: samples, zz-2020, search

I received this audio-book from Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

From the first sample I read of this book I was transported to a mysterious world of magic and wonder.

Piranesi’s world is limited to endless series of statue filled halls, that seem vaguely familiar but bewildering in their purpose. This world is enchanting but also mysterious. Piranesi is alone except for occasional encounters with The Other, although there is evidence of the presence of others before him.
Piranesi him ...more

26 likes · Like · see review

Apr 28, 2021 Rachel rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I sloooooogggeeed through the first 24% of this book, then held my nose for the next 15, and then it got more interesting, only to be a pretty basic story with fantasy added in. Meh.

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 23, 2020 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Unique, fascinating little fantasy, so well described you can see it in your mind

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 13, 2025 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Different - weird and wonderful

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 18, 2022 Karen D rated it liked it

I'm not really sure how to rate this one. I for sure didn't love it as much as others have, but I didn't hate it, and enjoyed some parts of it, once I got over my confusion.
*
There's absolutely no way to provide a meaningful synopsis so I'm not even going to try. It's really confusing at first, but things start to make sense pretty quickly, and also the book itself goes quickly.
*I've seen references in reviews to an amazing twist, and I think my biggest issue with this is that I was expecting s ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 Cathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

At first I was confused and I wasn’t sure how I would like the book. Piranesi lives in a labyrinth of halls with statues and ocean water. The Other is the only other person living there. 16 is another person who is looking for them. 16 is possibly dangerous. Piranesi discovers clues to his own past and current situation. I don’t want to tell anymore of the story now or it will spoil the story for you. I really enjoyed the book as the story unfolds.

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Oct 11, 2022 Gwen rated it really liked it

Shelves: rfl-book-group

What an interesting book! I loved the main character Piranesi and was genuinely concerned about what would become of him. Although this is listed as a fantasy book, I found it to be more of a mystery with fantasy elements and an unreliable narrator. Beautifully written! I'm not sure I will look at a statue the same way again. ...more

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