Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

A magical, ephemeral mystery set in a house that contains an ocean.

File under: Magic and Mystery

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was one of the few people I know who read Susanna Clarke’s first novel, "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell," and didn't absolutely love it. I'm not actually sure why, I just found it slow, almost tedious, despite the objectively brilliant prose and compelling setting. I think I need to try it again sometime.

This short novel, "Piranesi", however, I thoroughly enjoyed.

I don't want to speculate too much about the Meaning or Theme behind "Piranesi" or give away any details. I think going in, as I did, with very little idea of what to expect is probably best. It's a short but dense book, a magical mystery that unfolds slowly; it's sort of like piecing together a puzzle, but there is so much symbolism, allusion and allegory in there, that you might feel like you're constructing the pieces yourself. At the same time, it works well as a straight-forward portal fantasy/mystery, guiding the reader just enough so that the pieces, ephemeral as they feel at times, fit together in a perfectly imperfect way.

When you've finished, look up Giovanni Battista Piranesi and his imaginary prison engravings. Very cool stuff.