My Reaction to Piranesi is Pretty Weird (Apparently?) 

If you disagree with my reaction then at least be proud of me for doing a review in under 5 minutes

I felt the same way about this book. LITERALLY THE EXACT SAME.

I had the SAME exact reaction to this book. Like.... What did I miss!? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I just finished reading this, and came online to try to understand the massive praise for this book. This is exactly how I feel. It's fine! Glad to see this comment section is kind of a support group for us. There's dozens of us!! Dozens!!

I finished this book and turned to my husband and said "What the f*** did I just read?" 😂That said, I did think that Piranesi was lovable. For me it was in the way he cared for the dead and the way he interacted with certain sculptures or animals in the world. And that room with the moon framed in the door and the statue of everyone looking at the moon is lodged in my brain and I think about it a lot. Other than that, I'm with you I think the overall plot was forgettable.

Even though you didn't feel "enough", I felt enough for both of us! I gotta respect the views even though this book has my heart & soul.

Lol sounds like the hype really affected your reading experience. That sucks but it happens. I loved this book but I knew next to nothing about it and went in with zero expectations. I hate feeling like this about books myself. It's so frustrating. I actually think the worst thing a book can be (for me) is just "fine". lol I'd rather hate it than to feel luke-warm about it. Sorry you had that experience with this one but hopefully your next read will get the juices flowing again. Thanks for the honest review!

I need an hour long version of this

Haha, I left watching reviews for when I finally read the book and I feel you. I loved it, but not for any of the reasons you say others rave about. I felt a lot like you, that I see the things but so far I heard people rave about the world and the magic in it, and I was like okay, magic? Isn't that religion you're talking about? And the mystery as a reader was so obvious for me early on I didn't see it at all. What I loved was the writing and how you go in confused and Piranesi seems pretty sure about his world and as the book progresses you gain more confidence in what's going on as he loses it. I also love how it looks at identity and how it is not fixed and experiences change it so you can be a completely different person to who you were before. I also heard someone call this a character study on how it is to be drawn (and escape) a cult, which I can agree with as well. But I am surprised at the prizes thrown at it. Also thought it strange how many people's review was comparing this to Jonathan Strang and Mr Norrel Thanks for being so honest:)

I just finished reading this based on everyone's raving recommendations. I did not know anything going into it. I agree with you 1000%. I found your review because I was searching for a review that could explain what I had just read. I so badly wanted to get what everyone else was getting from it. I didn't. I am contemplating rereading it at some point. Maybe it will get better the second time around.

I won't say I disliked the book, but I kept wanting warmth and an exit from the setting. I pictured a bank building with classical architecture and apparently seafood. Old knowledge or magic or whatever that humanity has lost being distilled into massive marble rooms populated by massive statues lapped by tides. I can't imagine anyone coming to love that; it sounds oppressive. I would've had massive libraries with books in forgotten languages, mossy old growth forrests, jungles, sand dunes, structures that evoked other civilizations other than Greece or Rome, like The Forbidden City, Amritsar or Angkor Wat. I think it would've added to the mystery. Also, why are there birds and aquatic life, but no other creatures like mammals or reptiles?

I'm six months late to watch this butttttt "This is the book review version of room temperature water" LOL, I literally choked on my drink when you said that

I absolutely loved it! I heard about it from a recommendation video, If you loved book of the new sun, read these books. It definitely falls under the category of magical realism which is not everyone’s cup of tea. Do you like stuff by Gabriel Garcia Marquez? Or Borges?

Well, I feel personally attacked. You have personally attacked me, Rick. And it hurts.

On the flip side, I can totally see why you would feel lukewarm about the book. I didn’t really latch onto Piranesi as much as other people-like you said, he was a vehicle for the story-but I still enjoyed Susanna Clarke’s writing style (I had never read anything by her before). Implied spoilers below… The ending, the whole thing in hindsight, reminded me of the movie Get Out in a maybe not so weird way.

I think I really fell in love with the writing style and narrative voice first and foremost. I thought Piranesi was so charming and I did grow to love his world in the way that he did. I interpreted this book as a bit of a critique of creationism/religion as a whole (whether that is what Clarke intended, I have no clue) but I found it very interesting to read in that regard. You make some excellent points, thought. I did think the plot was a bit lacking and the twist in the end wasn’t very satisfying, but I loved Piranesi and I loved his world enough that the lackluster ending didn’t bother me as much as it could have.

I think I was exactly between you and the book community on this. I absolutely loved it but I'd just came off reading Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle which used a very similar plot device (but did it a lot better in many ways). I also didn't bond with Piranesi as strongly as others so yeah, exactly in between. Loved it but just didn't LOVE it, you know?

About Piranesi himself - part of the reason why people (like me) love and got attached to him is possibly because we felt protective - you, as a reader, know and understand more than him and see the danger and harm that the Other puts him into and just want to scream at him to not be so trusting :)) but not in a way that you do at stupid people in horror movies

I haven’t read this one yet but I get it when you say you’d rather hate it than meh it. Nothing worse (well there is but…) than finishing a hyped book and wondering what you’re going to have for dinner rather than sitting in awe.

I liked the book. I thought it was well paced and the dynamic between Piranesi and The Other was interesting, plus I love the aspects of magic and occultism. I wouldn’t call it a classic or anything like that but it was worth the read for me.

I just finished Piranesi tonight and searched for your review on this one, I wasn’t disappointed, thanks for the laughs! 😆 1. Thanks for a short review 2. Meh…it was “almost” many things, so true. 3. I also just felt sort of “detached” from the story and characters, while still “getting”what others seemed to love about this book, but not getting there myself. 🤔 Enjoy your reviews, immensely. 🙂

Yes I agree with everything you said, except for me on top of that I was mad because I had only heard good things before reading it and I was mad that what happens is actually horrible but all I’ve heard is that it’s beautiful and amazing.. and how can something like that be called that? And I agree, no one can even explain why they like it so much

This is my favorite book of all time ❤

i am not a big reader and usually get bored with books but this one had my hooked for the simple reason to find out the missing peices. I loved it, but for the people who didnt im really keen to hear your recommendations for books that are like this that perhaps do it better? Please let me know as i would love to check them out!

Maybe I liked it so well because it was out-of-my-comfort-zone but held my interest and it was a very well done audio?

I was curious about what you'd think of this one! FWIW, while I'm pretty sure I liked it more than you did, I also absolutely see where you're coming from. Hope you're doing okay (and that your SM break is helping).

okay I feel way more validated now in DNFing it lol also the idea of conflating "I want to know what's happening" with "this is really interesting" is a great point. Never thought about it like that before!

This review is exactly how I feel!!!!

You are not alone. The core of my own 3-star review was: "What to say about this elegant jumble of jibber-jabber?" It was short, I'll give it that. The book, I mean, not your review.

It occurred to me the book may be intended as a piece of meta-fiction. The reader is presented with the narrator's journal entries, and eventually those make reference to other journal entries, so you have nested journal pages. Aside from rendering the texts and the narrator less reliable, it suggests a writer influenced by his own writings. If the water suggests the ebb and flow of ideas and inspiration, you also have the albatross, a literary metaphor for a burden or impediment. I wouldn't press for this or any interpretation; this story has lots of loose ends, but they are not the kind that you are supposed to tie together. I think the author wants you to enjoy the loose-ended-ness of it.

i see what you mean, i quite liked the book but some people seem to absolutely love it and i'm not sure i fully get it. A good four star read for me but didn't feel as memorable as i expected

That's so frustrating! This is a huge reason why I gave up using goodreads or star based systems to judge whether or not I will like or do actually like books. If there is a ton of hype it totally clouds my judgement so I think "well everyone else loved it, so I will too". Then when I don't it becomes a "what's wrong with me" spiral that I don't need lolol That being said, now I really want ot read this one lol I think this will go down as my favorite review ever.

You are too nice, Rick. This is when I am glad I don't have a channel, because I hated this book :)

I felt exactly the same way.

Thank god someone felt the same as I did! I just didn’t care about anything going on in this book🤦🏾‍♀️

Agree with this. Everything is just underwhelming. And when you’re just skimming most of the book (I can’t be bothered imagining exaclty where vestibule/hall Piranesi is currently), it’s a sign of a bad writing device.

I feel like you just slapped my Mexican burrito with a maple leaf or something. Life is strange. Don’t quite know what what is what anymore.

I enjoyed the first part because it was new and fresh. Although some parts were laborious (sixth day of the seventh month in the year the albatross…) it showed promise due to its uniqueness. But about midway it changed and seemed rushed to wrap it all up in a tiny box with a bow. I am with you. I was looking up reviews thinking something is wrong me lol.

I haven't read this one, but your reaction to it is exactly how I felt about The Goldfinch haha. It was fine, but I did not get the hype.

Thank you for this! I felt the same. EMPTY.

I feel very similarly to this book as you! There are some aspects I liked but overall I found it to a let down

Oh thank God, I’m not the only one who felt pretty much the same way you did about Piranesi. Thought the concept had interesting elements to it but they were rather hinted at than explored properly (Self vs Other, origin of belief, creation of Self), and this made the execution feel..idk..lazy? Ending was cheap. Was pretty underwhelmed and baffled by the torrents of praise.

The hype behind this book made me very let down. I wasn’t expecting it to be what it was

I felt exactly the same 😝

I loved this book :)

Thank goodness, I'm not the only one! I've spent more time trying to figure out the hype then I did thinking about the story. I just don't get it. It was a "meh" for me, at best.

Ok so I/You picked I Capture the Castle for my Spin #2 (I am a lurker not a tuber) and I’m having the same vibes about Castle that you are about Piranesi. Meh. I don’t get why everyone told me I would like it. I’ll push through because I’m not a quitter but good grief.

I feel the same way only 15% into the story. I've tried to read it a few times, but always quit because though I want to know what is going on, the blandness of the main character and the way the story is structured makes it a chore for me to read. Also, I can't help but compare it to Heaven Sent, an excellent episode of Dr. Who. From what I have heard, there is a Dr. Who reference in the book, so maybe the similarities are intentional. Either way, I have the urge to quit the book and just rewatch that episode (or just read another book.)

I'm right there with you. Did not hate this book, did not get excited about it. It's just meh.

Lol I had the same reaction

Hey! You got a haircut 💇🏻‍♂️

I couldn't agree with you more. In fact, I very much disliked it and I really don't get why it has a 4.3* rating on Goodreads. I thought is was extremely underwhelming.

But will you remember it?

Yeah I agree. The whole book felt very slow and heavy to me, and the ending was very unsatisfying.

Ok this might not make much sense but the fact that you are so lukewarm about this makes me want to read it all the more.😂 Maybe I'm just happy to hear something other than the extreme hype.

I was really disappointed by it. I liked the atmosphere and setting, but the plot and the resolution (how was that a twist?) was a real let-down.

I liked some aspects of it but it was middle of the road for me. I gave it 3 stars. At least it was short 😁

I think I’m so unclear on what this is even about because most reviews speak to how details can’t be given without spoiling it 😅

Wait, what - ?

Phew. I am not the one person in the corner who just didn’t get the hype. I thought it was maybe full of metaphor etc that I was just not smart enough to understand. I wish I could enjoy it as much as others but I am just confused by all the praise surrounding it.

I'm only part way through, I find it boring, as boring as the titles: "Entry from the fifth day of the sixth month in the year the Albatross came to the South-Western halls." I was hoping to like it. I didn't like "Ninth House" either. And I didn't like "Project Hail Mary." Most people love all those books. I DNFed the last 2 and I'm close to giving up on Piranesi. The only reason I'm trying these type of books is because I just recently read and loved "Mistborn." I'm skeptical about the trilogy but "Mistborn the Final Empire" was good. It helps if I can relate to the characters. Yes, I'd be a Skaa.

Oh no 🥺🥺🥺

Yes, I was very disappointed by this book. It set up a mystery and a predicament and then just slogged forward for a while and stopped with an unconvincing climax tacked on at the end. The ambiance had none of the dread and oppression you'd expect from a book supposedly inspired by the underground prison images created by the artist Piranesi. And the bit about the narrator fussing over the bones of the unnamed previous victims/occupants of this weird world was so saccharine and precious. The world felt to me like a huge abandoned multi-story hospital with ostentatious statuary decorations. If the author want's to capture the magic that's been totally bled out of the modern world she needs to try something else.

This book seems to be considered by many as a fun fantasy, but I was very disappointed by the story and found it to be much more troubling than fun. Piranesi is not only impaired but morally watered-down, a man who apparently views very evil behavior almost as mere personality flaws. If you throw in enough weird stuff, people will think the story is deep, and they will look for hidden meanings and deep truths. But while there may be puzzles to be solved, puzzles are not the same thing as profundity.

Just finished the book and it's the equivalent for me of eating something unpleasant but not horrible and I just need simmering better tasting to take away the unpleasantness from my palette. Pushed through till the end because of the hype and left feeling befuddled

Nothing about this book has appealed to me in any way. Your review has cemented my already hard pass.

This book sounds gimmicky as hell and I have zero interest!

It's boring that's what it is.

unsubscribe unsubscribe!!