“I remembered how Raphael had wondered which of the People of the…”

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The last time I was up to date with reviews was 2022-01-31. Since then, 208/383 books (54.3%) have been reviewed. We'll get there … eventually.

I remembered how Raphael had wondered which of the People of the Alcove had been murdered and how the simple fact of her posing the question had made the whole World seem a darker, sadder Place.
Perhaps that is what it is like being with other people. Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not.

Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke · published 2020 · read 2024-01-12

★★★☆☆

Hard to rate this book – 3.5 rounded down for now, but may round up over time. Immaculate vibes, but a bit thin other than that. The first third or first half is quite cool, while we just vibe and try to figure out what's going on (how does the protagonist know all those things? etc). But then, we get enough hints to puzzle things out – and I think we are meant to; I never felt like being too much ahead of the curve, or like the author thought I'd be slow on the uptake. But then – what's left after that? The self-discovery of a person I could never quite feel for, at times painfully slow, and an ending that still has impeccable vibes – which means that it leaves me quietly wanting, just like the entire book. Regardless, I'm happy I read it – even if it was just a description of the House and its statues, that would've been entirely worth it. (Though maybe without the Capitalisation of very Proper Noun – look, I'd read German books if I wanted more of that!)