This book blew me away! Something that made me fall in love with Piranesi is his approach to survival, it’s full of trust, respect and self-care. He just has such a deep and primal appreciation for everything that doesn’t leave him, and it gives him such wisdom and heart. It was such an interesting read! Most of the time mysterious, then heartwarming, suspenseful and sorrowful. Very wonderful.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Completely agree, he is comfortable in his environment and respectful of the world, and what it provides him. Probably something we can all learn from!
@carolankorten75983 жыл бұрын
Agreed! Max Reads I love your review by the way! Excellent video!
@inbetweenworlds3 жыл бұрын
Oh so true!!!!
@PetiteFrog3 жыл бұрын
I loved this book too! Just discovered your channel thanks to it. It reminded me of another which I loved called House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. It’s about a house as well and so much more. You may know it already, if not you may like it too :-)
@darkwatersart70253 жыл бұрын
I read this in one sitting! I was mesmerized, such beautiful prose and deep look at the human condition.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
It's pretty rare for me to read something cover to cover without even moving lol, but this was one of those.
@jokosi3 жыл бұрын
I had the same experience. Just blasted through it in a day. I've never done that.
@dimitarpopov9743 жыл бұрын
Its 4am, and I just finished Piranesi, and went looking for reviews to share my joy of this book.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I'm glad everybody seems to be loving it!
@anab53083 жыл бұрын
Ironically, I wish I could forget this book so I could read it like the fist time again. Might start it tonight, have been waiting since November since I didn’t want to reread it right away.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
omg me too! I just want those huge twists all over again for the first time!!!
@ericasims96073 жыл бұрын
I loved this book too. I saw a lot of themes around our connection to the earth, a forgotten connection, that Arne-Sayles work seemed to be referring to. That we had a certain magic (a sense of interconnectedness with plants, animals, the world) that over the generations we have forgotten. To reconnect you simply need to connect back into your child-self. I loved to think of Piranesi as the representation of what we could be if we had a more pure connection to our surroundings.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
He definitely was a character for me that represented total innocence.
@kelliannamaria45532 жыл бұрын
I alternated between the physical book and the audio book and no joke... your voice is SO similar to the narrator of the audio book on audible! 😍
@kelliannamaria45532 жыл бұрын
And House of Leaves is the creepier version of Piranesi so I've heard 🤷🏽♀️
@MaxReads2 жыл бұрын
That's a huge compliment thank you haha
@cheeseandonions95582 жыл бұрын
Liked 60% of this novel even though it made look up the definition of "vestibule" in the first paragraph.... But yes, it's basically a dreamscape of someone who is fascinated with something she saw once in her life and can't forget.
@MaxReads2 жыл бұрын
Think if I'd seen something that beautiful I'd be haunted too!
@mariareadsssf Жыл бұрын
My favorite book of all times. Since January 2nd 2021, when I read it for the first time I think about it almost every day. I set out in a quest to find more books with a similar feel and I hope that one day I will find another treasure like "Piranesi". I loved "The House of Asterion" and "The Library of Babel", the short Borgian stories that Inspired Susanna Clarke for this masterpiece. "Tainaroon: Mail from Another City" by Leena Krohn is another open interpretation misterious circumstances work of fiction, but without a clear conclusion.
@janroland885910 ай бұрын
Piranesi is one of my favorite books too. I recently read Storm-Wake by Lucy Christopher which had a very similar vibe, I recommend it.
@MaxReads10 ай бұрын
Oooh I've not heard of it, I'll check it out!
@Anna-io8pi3 жыл бұрын
This book is so good. I got goosepumps while reading and can honestly say it’s become one of my all time favorite novels
@amaro66038 күн бұрын
I found the main character and the disparity between his innocent perception of the world and that of the reader's quite simmilar to flowers for algernon. Also, as the story progresses, he loses that innocence but gains wisdom. It gave me a similar vibe while reading.
@gabriellejoypires2 жыл бұрын
I came here after I finished reading Piranesi - what a beautiful story! Thanks for such a wonderful review, I needed to debrief and to tie things together after reading!
@MaxReads2 жыл бұрын
Thanks very much for watching, glad you enjoyed!
@Ttoby893 жыл бұрын
I spread this book out over commuting times (in between places!) cos I thought this was the kind of book you only get to discover once and I wanted it to last. Forever salty that it's not 3x as long. Really wonderful and haunting.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I agree, but also I'm glad they didn't drag it out. The ending was so nice!
@vincemess3 жыл бұрын
My entire life I haven't really read much. I did touch some textbooks from time to time when I was in school. This year I just got bored from my daily routine. Wake up, eat, work, eat, sleep. I decided that I needed a hobby. So I brought this book in an online store. Took me 3 days to start reading this after receiving. Turns out, this is the best decision, best spending I did in my entire life. I was so drawn to this book. I couldn't stop reading it. I just finished this book today. Now I'm thinking of buying another book, I'm open for suggestions.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
what kind of stuff are you a fan of? I'll try think of some good recs for you!
@vincemess3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much. Since I was a kid, I really loved mysteries. After Piranesi, I found out that I'm a fan of fantasy too.
@peterpuleo2904 Жыл бұрын
@@vincemess Try "A Study in Scarlet" by Arthur Conan Doyle. It is the first Sherlock Holmes novel, and it is superb. It is also a mystery.
@vincemess Жыл бұрын
@@peterpuleo2904 thanks! currently reading nevernight. will give it a shot after.
@peterpuleo2904 Жыл бұрын
@@vincemess If you enjoy it you can enter the realm of Sherlock Holmes. There are four novels and 56 short stories. I have read all, some twice. Give it a try!
@jackhanson17133 жыл бұрын
I completely agree. I was nervous and excited to read this when it came out - as I loved Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell so much. I was completely entranced by this book, it was magical in a very different way to Strange and Norrell.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is a big pair of shoes to fill!
@Essinvee3 жыл бұрын
Great review! Definitely took me a bit longer to get into but once I got to page 50 I couldn’t put it down! And I already can’t stop thinking about it!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Ahhh I'm really glad you liked it!!!!
@Katevino3 ай бұрын
I was also so surprised that he was not a faun. The first time he described his feet and when he talked about the statue i was kinda sad but the rest of the book made it up. Brilliant story. How does one come up with things like these i wonder.
@DanKaraJordan3 жыл бұрын
It sounds like you have not read Jorge Luis Borges' Ficciones, which was clearly a strong influence for this novel. If you want to spend more time in places like the House, then you need to check out some of Borges' short stories.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I definitely will. The only thing I've read of Borges is his Book of Imaginary Beings.
@mamoru18362 жыл бұрын
Lovely review! I enjoyed it so much. You're also not alone, I too thought Piranesi would be a faun haha
@antiagarcia74953 жыл бұрын
just finished it. It has made me so happy - specially the ending and fell in love with Piranesi. I nearly got teary at the end. I'll definately re-read it. My only fear now is Ms. Clarke's health won't allow her to publish more soon (I admit I still long for that unfinished sequel of JS & MN). Have you read her collection "The Ladies of Grace Adieu" it contains a story about the raven king, from - supposedly - the children's book about him. It's weird, but Piranesi reminded me of House of Leaves, in themes, but in a totally different tone. Thanks for keeping the review non-spoilery. I started watching while reading, stopped and finished it just after closing book, and I don't think you gave away anything. You've just got a subscriber
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I have read that, I love that short story collection! I agree I hope her health stays good so we get some more novels of this calibre! Talented artist and it would be so sad if she only got 2 out!!
@AvatarJini3 жыл бұрын
I loved this review! I just finished reading Piranesi and loved it entirely. I'm just upset that it's only over 200 pages long when Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell was gigantic and thoroughly entertaining, but I guess you can't have everything. One thing I did want to mention was that the tone of the book and the underlying almost sinister vibes kind of reminded me Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer. It's got a similar inexplicable quality to it, but again, it's not really the same. Anyway, loved the book and enjoyed the review! Now off to find more validation for my emotions . . .
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I can see why you got annihilation vibes (I love the Southern Reach trilogy!), for me it also had a slightly similar vibe in terms of the scenery and the weird take on space to "The city and the city" by China Mieville. Thanks for watching I'm glad you liked it!
@shannakay-vellumandvellich35423 жыл бұрын
Hahaha I was also surprised he wasn't a fawn so don't feel bad 🤣 I have been trying not to watch your review until I had mine done, but alas, I could no longer resist. Great job!
@rmsiever91373 жыл бұрын
I'm always hesitant to pick up books that are so beloved. When the prose don't jibe with my wacky brain, I'm left feeling disappointed and "outside." But, you've convinced me, Max. Excellent review.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Yes! It's one everyone should read!
@ravenswood118 Жыл бұрын
I LOVE THIS BOOK ARGHHHHHH
@MaxReads Жыл бұрын
Everybody needs to read it!!!
@crazyforbooksandcoffee3 жыл бұрын
I adored this book I read it in one sitting. It may well be my best read of 2021
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I think as soon as I read it, it jumped straight into my top 5 books ever!
@jordandaher6222 жыл бұрын
I want to talk about the symbolism of tarot cards in this book. The possibility of symbolism of the other being a representation of the government and religion. Having a big brother figure to unknowingly blindly accept, pridefully attach ourselves to.. That the house symbolizes our contentment for this blindfold. The last line of the book wasn’t as literal in my understanding. It wasn’t JUST about the houses physical beauty. It was about the bliss of ignorance.
@jordandaher6222 жыл бұрын
And not touching on these points is equivalent to much of what i believe to be the greatest layer of this book. In pure sight, going right over our heads. The depth of Peranesi is deeper than the oceans you’re allowing yourselves to visualize. The pressure is powerful and the discussions seeds have been planted but i need to talk about the connections. There is grand meaning to our lives within these pages On a less !!! Note: there’s also connection to hunch back of notre dame I love this book. I want to talk about it Does anyone else see the connections stated? I finally watched the write speak slightly about tarot cards so that was validating but i think it’s far deeper than she explained in the short interview As they say “a good teacher shows you where to look, but not what to see.”
@Uppernorwood9763 жыл бұрын
I really loved this book. The build up of the mystery was incredible. The contrast of the ethereal and strange location with very practical and matter-of-fact thoughts of the main character was quite unsettling. No ending was ever going to live up to it, but it was still pretty good.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Idk, I kinda liked the ending in a bittersweet kind of way! Left me feeling melancholy but satisfied!
@Crina-LudmilaCristeaAuthor3 жыл бұрын
Hmm, this sounds like a book I might love!
@MaxReads2 жыл бұрын
It won the UK women's prize for fiction last week and it totally deserved the award!!
@Crina-LudmilaCristeaAuthor2 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads I've heard she had won. I've yet to check this book out. Maybe at my next trip to the bookstore.🤗
@SantReads3 жыл бұрын
I just finished reading the book and I agree with you. This is not really the sort of books I'd generally pick up, but holy shit.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
So far I've only seen one negative review! Seems to be pretty universally loved!
@dejectioncatreads17583 жыл бұрын
I don't know this author, but your enthusiasm is contagious! It's on my list now :) Thank you and great review!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Think that definitely means I've done my job properly :) Thanks for watching!!
@iuditareads48683 жыл бұрын
I also loved this. What a remarkable and special book. I thought you did a great job discussing it. I wouldn’t have even attempted it.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thankyou :) That's really nice of you to say! I loved it too, a heck of a lot.
@hannahballer27473 жыл бұрын
This is amazing that you filmed this on release date! Shoes the love! I still need to finish Johnathan Strange!!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I was waiting for it since it was announced and luckily I got to reserve one the minute they came in as I work at a bookstore haha!
@hannahballer27473 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads nice! I haven't had an author release a book that if wait in line for, for years! Its sad! Lol
@ryanolson23083 жыл бұрын
Does anybody know who is talking on page 79? Is it just Piranesi hearing random voices from the outside world?
@jacquelinefaulknall85133 жыл бұрын
This book is utterly beautiful.
@GalacticReads3 жыл бұрын
I've had this book pre-ordered for months now. The most anticipated book of the year hands down. Comparing it to Neverwhere just makes me asdfghjkl seriously words cannot describe how excited I am!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I had no idea what I was going into but it just drop kicked me in the soul. Urgh so amazing.
@GalacticReads3 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReadsahhhh I can't wait to read it, it should be arrived tomorrow :D
@GalacticReads3 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads I finished reading it and 'drop kicked me in the soul' is the most accurate way of describing it. Oh my god.
@devlyn8733 жыл бұрын
Loved this book. It reminded me most of Silently And Very Fast by Catherynne M. Valente
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Never heard of that one, but I'll be looking it up, thanks for the rec!
@peterpuleo2904 Жыл бұрын
Not my kind of book. I was disappointed. It was a huge letdown after "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" which was magnificent.
@MRuby-qb9bd3 жыл бұрын
I have this one on order! So excited for it! Great Review!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thankyou! Hope you enjoy it, I couldn't put it down!
@martinzinn61083 жыл бұрын
Very good review...! :) I liked very much how this story became clearer and clearer, by clues, more or less, - so that it grew into a full puzzle in the end...a full puzzle with still a dreamlike ending...I also think it was quite wide for a subjektiv interpretation...
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Definitely, this would make a really great book group or discussion read!
@GetWriteOnIn3 жыл бұрын
This book was so good! Definitely well worth the read, and certainly worth the wait from Mr. Norrell. Really enjoyed your perspective on this, thanks so much for sharing :)
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Let's hope it's not 16 years til the next one haha!
@PerfumedByTheSea3 жыл бұрын
I thought he was going to be a fawn too!! I would recommend the Waterstones exclusive edition with the two interviews! I loved Piranesi, and the last chapter. Once read you should google “piranesi’s prisons” and check out the guardian article from November 2002. So much thought went into everything. Will probably read it again in the next week.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I was familiar with the Artist Piranesi so I had a lot of imagery going in as I'd seen his prison drawings before :) The waterstones exclusive is the one I have, I pre-ordered it with them haha
@tunnelofbooks3 жыл бұрын
Just saw it yesterday at the store. I wasn't sure if I should get it or not. But now I'm gonna get it soooon
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thankyouuu!! I'm so glad you're going to read it can't wait to hear what you think!
@russianblob31573 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the review! I'm finishing Senlin Ascends and then jumping in on Piranesi!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I hope you enjoy it! I've not heard of Senlin Ascends but I'll be sure to look it up!
@russianblob31573 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads it's a whimsical tale of a man climbing the tower of babel, each level of the tower contains different kingdoms with their own rules. I found it really good!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Interesting themes already!
@EleanorNicBhatair3 жыл бұрын
This sounds amazing, I love how you describe everything!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thankyou! Helps to be reading a beautiful book!
@melsbookshelf3 жыл бұрын
HAHA I was waiting for the twist that he was a fawn but it never came 😂 great review on a great book!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for watching! Can't wait for her next novel!
@PaulWilkinsonMusician3 жыл бұрын
Great review :) Looking forward to reading it. Her interest/intuition/inspiration and imagination in the work of Owen Barifled brought me to Piranesi. Best - Paul.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I've not heard of Barifled but I'll be looking him up!
@leabhairagustae72793 жыл бұрын
Loved this book so much! Great review! I now need to get my hands on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell as soon as possible.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell has quite different vibes to this one, it's much more historical with lots of footnotes, but the magic and the fantasy is 10/10 and I loved it sooooo much.
@leabhairagustae72793 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads I love footnotes! I adored her writing style and I love historical settings so I hope I love it just as much!
@peterpuleo2904 Жыл бұрын
After reading the remarks from readers, I am astounded that this sub-par, pretentious, less than mediocre novel should get such praise. Is there a pay roll here? LOL !
@daltonwsteinert3 жыл бұрын
I read this in one sitting and I loved it. I know this is a stand-alone but I would honestly love a deeper glimpse at the labyrinth in another novel. Or something.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I think it would be good one day to maybe revisit with another character, but at the end I definitely felt like the Piranesi story was complete. But I could see it being re-explored through other eyes!
@caleba96483 жыл бұрын
Going out tonight to find a copy. This sounds absolutely stunning.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Definitely do! SO incredible!
@inbetweenworlds3 жыл бұрын
STUNNING BOOK!!! OMG. I just finished this and it is SUBLIME!!!! AGREEEEEEEE!!!!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Yesss! I'm glad so many people are loving it as much as I did!
@dlasis Жыл бұрын
Why rename it Piranetzi?
@xNatTheDayDreamerx3 жыл бұрын
This book is phenomenal
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@slowlyred20823 жыл бұрын
Nice review 👌 You smashed through that fast.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Sooooo good.
@whisperphoenix193 жыл бұрын
Great review. and the book, ohmygod. it's amazing
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I knoooow, Clarke had better win some kind of award for it or I'm gonna be so cross.
@radiantchristina3 жыл бұрын
I just finished it this morning...amazing!
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
I hope Clarke wins some kind of prize for this one, they absolutely deserve it.
@BOOKSYadaYada3 жыл бұрын
Ooooooh! Putting it on my TBR.
@hawaiiantk58653 жыл бұрын
This book was terrible. I really wish I could understand how someone could like this. But, to each is own
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Interested the other way for me! What did you not like about it?
@hawaiiantk58653 жыл бұрын
@@MaxReads More than the first half of the story dragged and really made no sense as you read it. Then the end of the story is a sub par ending and explanation for everything. It was such a boring read which may have been an ok book had it had a great ending. But it didn't have a great ending. I kept hoping for a crazy twist to make me feel like my time wasn't as wasted as it was. I feel bad saying it but it's probably the worst story that i've ever read. I wanted to like it but it wasn't anything special at all. It seemed like a story made up by a high schooler, written by an adult. Can I ask what about it you did like?
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
For me the visuals and the scenery, something so beautiful being narrated by somebody so totally innocent. Any story that has a sliver of magic hidden in real life that appeals to the childlike-wonder part of my brain. Especially since some of the story mentions places I'm familiar with, being from London. I like hints at a world that's not fully explained, that make my brain try to build the rest of a world around it. I like the idea of a human that's so not separate from their environment and the piecing together of a past that wasn't what I thought. The hints it dropped with the items that seemed out of place that made me keep building and re-thinking theories. I thought that the ending was to do with how when you go through drastic change its like the person you were before literally dies, and rebuilding who you are objectively knowing about your past but not being influenced by guilt or experiences. I thought it was really really beautifully written and the whole idea seemed like a warm and happy dream to me. A world I wish I could walk through. Have you read Clarke's other novel? If so I'd be interested what you thought of that one, I know they're very different.
@peterpuleo2904 Жыл бұрын
@@hawaiiantk5865 I agree.
@miraclesinthedark34073 жыл бұрын
Wonderful review and nice voice 👍🏿
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Thankyou! That's a great compliment!
@dM-ij1we3 жыл бұрын
Gormenghast by M. Peake. has a similar feel.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
Definitely a similar atmosphere. I think Gormenghast wasn't as gripping though it took me like a month to motivate myself to slog through the whole of that lol
@dM-ij1we3 жыл бұрын
Max Reads Really! I loved Gormenghast. One one my favourite books. I never found it a slog. It’s beautifully written.
@MaxReads3 жыл бұрын
@@dM-ij1we I did get through it at age 17, so maybe I'd appreciate it more now! Might give it another go one day just in case it hits different :)