Discussing Susanna Clarke's Piranesi With My Mom

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Hi, Mom! Wonderful discussion! I appreciate how you two related Piranesi to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Also, beautifully said about Piranesi’s reverence, which is one of the things that make him so lovable. Great insights, and perhaps I’m a bit sentimental, but I found the mother/daughter dynamic here very special and touching. My thanks to both of you for this enjoyable discussion of a book that is magically immersive.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Philip! I'm sentimental about this discussion as well. I think Piranesi was the perfect choice to reintroduce my mom to fantasy, and she clearly loved it! I already loved the book, but listening to her insights and thoughts made the experience even more special!

[@AndrewsWizardlyReads]

Oh, this is the best!!! Johanna your mom is awesome. I Love this discussion here. Can only stay through the non-spoiler section.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much, Andrew! I'll make sure to let her know. She'll be thrilled you said that!

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

Oh this is so precious!!! I am floored - Johanna, your mom did absolutely wonderfully talking about this book! ( I only listened to the non spoiler talk because I do have this one here to read)

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much, Lezlie! I really hope you love Piranesi!

[@readingreignbro5680]

Couldn't stay for all, but what a treasure to be able to discuss a book with your mom. My mother and I both read To Kill a Mockingbird earlier this year and it is an amazing thing to share with a parent.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! It was a very special experience. I always love hearing her thoughts and insights. I love that you read To Kill a Mockingbird with your mother. What a great choice!

[@Altruismisreal27]

Wonderful discussion! Both of you made many insightful points, which added to my understanding and appreciation of the story more. It is a memorable read.

[@Johanna_reads]

I'm so grateful to hear that! It was a special book for me, and it was wonderful to share the experience with my mom. Thank you so much!

[@jeremyfee]

Your mom is wonderful! I now see where you get your thoughtful nature from, as she is able to discuss the book elements really well. More of these videos would be great. I'm glad you both enjoyed Piranesi. It's such a special/unique book.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much, Jeremy! That's such a great compliment! It was such a treat to have her as a guest. I agree that Piranesi is a special and unique book. It was the perfect book to reintroduce her to fantasy!

[@verosnotebook]

This was great! Loved listening to you and your mother 😊 I read and loved Piranesi too (the audio by Chiwetel Ejiofor was amazing). I always remember how while reading it, one word turned my whole perception, before we actually find out what is going on. That was the name of a London area. Also, I always wondered about the effect The House was having on him, especially his memory, and how much that shaped his decisions and feelings. A sort of loss of self, or rather identity, leaving just your inner core

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! Great questions! The book ends and there's still so much to wonder about. 😊

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

I loved listening to this discussion and hearing your mom's thoughts! I loved Piranesi; I still am thinking about it, so I think that's a great sign.

[@Johanna_reads]

I'm so glad you enjoyed listening to the discussion and that you're still thinking about the book! I'm still thinking about it as well! Thank you, Evie! 🧡

[@TheBookCure]

Oh, Johanna, this is such a lovely video. Loved your mom linking Piranesi to Lewis and I so enjoyed listening to what she loved about the prose. Will definitely come back for the spoiler content once I’ve read the book ☺️

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much, Sarah! It was so fun to have her as a guest. She has a great background with literature, and she may have a different view of fantasy after reading Piranesi. She has read a little bit of King before, and I might talk her into reading The Gunslinger. 😁 Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Piranesi!

[@sohansahoo4203]

It was good to see your mom and hear her thoughts about this book.I can see where your thoughtful nature came from.You clearly inherited it from her.

[@Johanna_reads]

Aw, thank you so much! My mother was an English teacher, by the way! I love hearing her thoughts on books, and it was so special reading Piranesi with her.

[@HeyYallListenUp]

I only watched the non-spoiler section, but I enjoyed it. It's cool that you could do a buddy read with your mom. My reading tastes were too different from my mother's. I'm sure I'll read it at some point. I'll have to take your point about not knowing what is going on under consideration when I do.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you for watching the non-spoiler section! Readers differ when it comes to not know what's going on in a book at the start, and I hope you enjoy the journey! My mom isn't really into fantasy, which is my passion, but I'm slowly showing her that there might be a fantasy book or two for every reader!

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

This was awesome!! I'm so glad you brought your mom on here!! I loved this book so much and can't wait to reread it.

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Penny! I'm so glad you loved the book and our discussion! I definitely hope to reread it someday! 🧡

[@onfaerystories]

This is so lovely! I wish I could buddy-read books with members of my family, but I'm the only active reader. Otherwise, I just read books to my husband (he prefers reading non-fiction here and there), and so we can discuss literary fiction. He likes it, but he's not passionate about it as I am. I feel quite lonely, but at least I have Booktube 😅 Piranesi sounds very interesting!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much! I am very lucky to have grown up in a family of readers. My mom used to be an English lit teacher, so she has a background in active reading. Great point about BookTube! It's is a wonderful found family of active readers in this community. 😊

[@harrietsbookcorner]

What a beautiful video! I can’t wait to watch the whole discussion once I read this novel ☺️

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you so much, Harriet! I hope you you love Piranesi!

[@BookishDrummer]

This was fantastic! Great discussion! I kinda want to read the book now, even though I wasn't a huge fan of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel. The way you and your mom describe the book has me intrigued.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

Do it!!!!

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you! I haven't read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but I get the impression this is very different and much shorter. It truly touched me, and I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up!

[@gregorylaperche5574]

I'm far too behind on booktube content. This video is amazing! I wonder if I will ever buddy read a fantasy book with my mom. I'm glad that your mom is old enough to start enjoying fairy tales as CS Lewis would say 😂 just listening to her talk and you talk about her taste makes me think she'll like Senlin Ascends.

[@gregorylaperche5574]

Also, sorry for being a broken record about Senlin Ascends. It is payback for you telling me to read Poppy War 🤣🤣

[@Johanna_reads]

I deserve that! 🤣 Maybe I'll get my mom to read Senlin Ascends with me. I plan to read it next year for sure. Thank you for your kind words on the video! 😊

[@zpkspiano]

This is ma favorite book of the year so far!

[@Johanna_reads]

It's so special and up there as one of mine as well! Thanks for stopping by!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

Very aware the ending thing is very much my taste, not that there's anything wrong with the ending itself. One of the things that were interesting was how he didn't think of himself as the same person anymore. Would still love to do a video with a few people to talk about this book :-D

[@Johanna_reads]

Oh I loved your hearing your thoughts on the ending and I'm sorry if I didn't articulate what you meant clearly. I'm definitely interested if you do have a few people talk about the book-either as a participant or viewer!

[@LarryHasOpinions]

@@Johanna_reads no I didn't mean it that way, I was just clarifying, nothing to be sorry about! :-)

[@LarryHasOpinions]

Your mum is a natural! When is she starting her own channel?

[@Johanna_reads]

Thank you, Larry! I'll have to ask her. 😄

[@LarryHasOpinions]

@@Johanna_reads it wasn't a joke btw, I'd definitely watch her :-D