Piranesi is Susanna Clarke’s second novel published 16 years after her debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell. In 2021, it won the “Women’s Prize for Fiction”.

Piranesi was a book that had been on my tbr (to be read) for a while, and when I saw it in a bookstore this summer, I decided that it was time for me to finally read it. The moment I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The story instantly pulls you in and makes you so immediately confused that you want to keep reading to understand what is going on. It almost instantly became one of my comfort books. The way the story was told and the atmosphere of the book made it a perfect summer read, and honestly a great read for any time of the year. 

The novel is set in a parallel universe made up of an infinite amount of halls and vestibules, and the only animals are birds and fish. The story is told through journal entries and research notes of the protagonist, who narrates while he is exploring and reconstructing his entry into this world.Piranesi is a book that is very difficult to summarise, because the content is quite complex and trying to explain it in any capacity could potentially lead to spoilers. I also believe that Piranesi is a book that you should read without previously knowing anything about it, it really enhances the story and reading experience. Then after reading it once, read it again with the knowledge you now possess.