Susanna Clarke

Susanne Clarke's intimidating tome is more than worth the time it takes to sink into her antiquated prose, structured specifically to match the romantic fiction of the era in which she has set her novel. The footnotes are a truly inspired addition, adding chunks of humor and witty commentary, and drawing on an entire fictional library that documents the use of magic in England as well as "later published biographies" of the characters. You have to be patient to digest this carefully crafted novel, as well as brave to put the time into the brick-like book, but it is well worth the effort. Clarke fills her fiction with moral truths and her characters are fragmented with layered personalities. An admirable accomplishment for any author, and truly impressive.… (more)

The first 20% of this book almost made me put it down. I like a good mystery, but this just went on and on about statues and vestibules and houses....and it just didn't land the plane.

But I kept reading and I really enjoyed the rest of the book. This is a fantasy story (ish?) and a mystery starts to unfold, although the narrator is unreliable and you're seeing everything through his eyes. The writing is well done, but I'm glad the book wasn't any longer. The pace quickens as the story unfolds and the worldbuilding becomes clearer.

So....yeah. This is a good one. Not great. Not bad by any means. Just...good.… (more)

An unusual fantasy, a bit confusing at the beginning. But it grew on me. Piranesi lives in The House which is a labyrinth of Vestibules with Halls and Alcoves off them. The bottom floor is filled with an ocean with tides and the topmost floor opens to clouds and sky. Windows in the Halls show the walls of more connected building and courtyards. That is his world and he is happy living and exploring there. Two times a week the Other visits. Piranesi calls him that because he is the only other person he knows. The Other is seeking the Great and Secret Knowledge and set tasks for Piranesi to do. When another person starts appearing Other warns Piranesi to avoid the person who will try to harm him. But the person called 16 will set everything Piranesi believes into question. I ended up really liking this story and think I will look for other works by this author.… (more)