SFF180 📚 ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke ★★★★½

[@will-o-the-wisp3977]

I just finished Piranesi and it is wonderful. You are absolutely right about avoiding reading any reviews before finishing the book. I can't even describe how perfect it was. 🤗

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

Can you try? I want to know without reading it.

[@toddchapman3032]

I didn’t want to read this book, but now I do! Great review, Thomas.

[@springsogourne]

A book like no other. Genius. I also recommend listening to the audiobook, its excellent and completely captures the atmosphere.

[@agnesmetanomski6730]

You convinced me by the end of the introductions (

[@carlatate7678]

I just finished this book and this is a brilliant introduction to the novel. Like you, I find that I will be returning to this book again and again. The plot is simple, the character development very thin, but the world-building is rich indeed, and the themes deep.

[@formerclarity8836]

Could not be more excited, and SO happy to see such a positive review from this channel.

[@lyramidsummer5508]

Great review. I really enjoyed the book. I read nothing about it before I read it.

[@sorenkrane]

I stopped watching your review, read the book, and came back to say how right you were in encouraging us NOT to watch reviews. Piranesi is wild and enchanting. I thoroughly enjoyed your review after reading. Before I was afraid I'd be spoiled, you still managed to keep things very vague. Thank you!

[@GalacticReads]

I agree - it's better to go into this book knowing as little as possible. An excellent review of an excellent book!

[@keithhealing1115]

I loved this book and, like you, could happily have re-read it immediately. It reminded me of a kinder, gentler version of Titus Groan.

[@SFF180]

That’s a pretty good description, really.

[@keithhealing1115]

@@SFF180 Thank you. For a small consideration, you may use it. Seriously though, from me, this is high praise as Titus Groan is one of my absolute favourite books.

[@JulieTheReader]

I took your advice did not look for anything about this book until I read it. I even stopped this review two minutes in the first time I watched it! …Wow. I was aware of the artist for gloomy neoclassical architectural etchings, but not of his “Imaginary Prisons” series. Thank you! It certainly helps shed some light on the story. It’s fascinating, imaginative, and so fitting for a time when (almost) all of us are staying indoors. I, too, am dancing around the story, but I just wanted to thank you for the insightful observations and questions.

[@kellswitch]

Well, that was an intriguing review.

[@greentokyo]

You convinced me! I'll pick up this book ASAP! Keep up the good work!

[@whisperphoenix19]

Thanks for the review. It helped me start reading this amazing book. It's just beautiful. And of course your insight into it was just right. Just enough to make one start reading, help them to be brave enough, but not spoil anything. Thanks

[@mhkpt]

I am definitely picking this up! Absolutely loved JS&MN.

[@inbetweenworlds]

It is STUNNING and SUBLIME!!!!

[@andiecurlybooks]

Definitely intrigued! Added to my library requests already! Thanks for the great review!

[@kiwikea2002]

Thanks for the encouraging and very inviting review and recommendation. I had unwittingly followed your advice: No reading of reviews before getting through the book myself; no research either. It was very good advice. Yours is the first review, now. (SPOILER) Nonetheless, I strongly urge to research Signor Piranesi (the historical person) and his art, not the least for the visual impact of his "carceri" and other pieces, after the reading. I also recommend to play with the title of his work that Ms Clarke uses here: The "carceri d'invenzione" can be translated two ways. Watch out for it. The end leaves much room for thinking. And this is good.

[@Kalanadi]

I can't wait to read this! You just make it sound more and more tantalizing.

[@Maren617]

You've just made me mega hyped about this one!!

[@radiantchristina]

this is the only book i have preordered in the last 12 months. I can't wait to receive it and start reading it

[@SoNotPat]

I have just finished this book: wonderful. I am going to begin reading it again.

[@cuppa.books.]

This sounds great 📚

[@HisNeverland]

Great review as always! Can't wait to pick this up, especially now that i know you enjoyed it! 😍

[@august3777]

4 and a half stars is a good rating. So glad I purchased it, and it will be here tomorrow. Great review.

[@jamie-sims]

Sounds great! I hadn't heard of Susanna Clarke until seeing all the hype around Piranesi and you mentioning her previous book in mailbags etc, but it all sounded great so I picked up Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell in a charity shop this week. After this review I'm deciding whether to read that or Piranesi first. Tempted to go with Piranesi just because its so much shorter and it will probably be a while before I can set aside the time required for Johnathan Strange (the edition I have comes in at 1006 pages!).

[@dM-ij1we]

Wow! You have two treats ahead of you. JS&MN is one of my favourite books. Enjoy.

[@brendantannam499]

I put off reading a large book about Nordic myth to read Piranesi. I wondered when I might get back to reading it. It wasn't an issue. Piranesi was such a page-turner that I was back to the other book in two days.

[@jamie-sims]

I've read JS&MN now. I'm getting Piranesi for Christmas and anticipating reading it in a couple of days too :)

[@andreamolloy6254]

Superb review I want this book thank you.

[@thetbrdiaries]

Piranesi is already so high on my list but this has me even more intrigued! Great review 😊

[@jamesholder13]

Amazing review!

[@JoshsBookishVoyage]

Great review! There's a good chance I'll pick this up (tho not right away).

[@ThatsSoPoe]

Oh, so glad you enjoyed this so much! I've been looking forward to it. I'm so surprised that it's only 250 pages, though!

[@thebookbella4764]

I just started this book and I'm trying to figure out where this is going, but so many interesting elements are included. I'm glad to know this is "that good". I'm leaving now so I can finished it, I don't want to know more and I'll come back to this.

[@sheafamily3]

so glad I found you... you are AMAZING!

[@SFF180]

Thank you! Welcome to the channel.

[@theabelmontero]

Sold!

[@moonireads]

You put this book on my radar and now I'm definitely picking it up!!

[@FlyingStylus]

Alright I might have to pick it up :)

[@francissreckofabian01]

The house sounds bigger than Gormenghast

[@brendantannam499]

I was thinking of Gormenghast too. I was trying to find a term to describe the book. Perhaps it's 'Gothic existentialism' or 'metaphysical Goth'. Mervyn Peake with a dash of Owen Barfield!

[@leabhairagustae7279]

I genuinely had no interest in reading this book but now I need to get my hands on it ASAP!! Thanks for the review, Thomas!

[@PVillager]

Over the last decade or so I have yet to suffer a letdown on any book Mr. Wagner has recommended with this much fervor. So, good news: I'm buying this one tomorrow as soon as I get to the bookstore which has it (cuz the better ones I prefer old school). Slightly irritating, though in no way deal-breaking vibe: what does it take to earn that final half star?

[@michaelgrey1351]

So, you liked it then? ;)

[@SFF180]

Rare for me, I know!

[@srakuuna9183]

Does this one have footnotes (asking while watching so maybe you answer during video 😅)? I absolutely HATE footnotes in fictional reads, the reason why I DNF'd Jonathan Strange after like 50 pages...

[@SFF180]

Nope, no footnotes. Too bad, you're missing Terry Pratchett.

[@srakuuna9183]

@@SFF180 yeah, I hate that issue. I really wanted to like Nevernight, too. 😅

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

And the second half of the book? I tried and dnf-ed and so I don't care reading it.

[@georgeheingartner6995]

“...haunting, dreamlike puzzle of a book.” Thanks for the warning. I may well be in the micro-minority here but I am increasingly leery of this sort of “artsy” material. Should I give this a chance only to discover it being some manner of metaphor for mental illness, I will burn my copy. Marduk as my witness, I am so very tired of that...

[@SFF180]

I don’t do spoilers but I can assure you it’s very much not that. Clarke isn’t the kind of mediocre mind who would concoct something that cliche and trite.

[@georgeheingartner6995]

@@SFF180 Good to hear. Now about that "artsy" aspect. Are there car chases and/or gun fights?

[@Uppernorwood976]

That would put me off too! But having read it, I would say don’t confuse ‘dreamlike’ with ‘vague’. The writing is actually very clear and specific, the reader always knows what is going on. But the setting is strange because while it has very ordinary things in it, they appear in unusual quantities or locations. It’s very much like a real dreams in that sense.

[@dreamwind55]

This was also my concern. I am 75% and stl don't know.

[@sabahadek-1]

I can't understand you because you are talking too fast.Could you put english subtitles?(I am from Turkey.)

[@SFF180]

English subs added!

[@sabahadek-1]

@@SFF180 Thank you

[@charlottedouglas1777]

Worst book I have read, so bad I had to abandon it.

[@SFF180]

Well, maybe somewhere out there you’ll find something more your speed.