“Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke: Let’s read and discuss!

Welcome back readers, it’s the fiction round and we’re reading “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke – a surprising pick possibly, but it was requested by our longtime members Erik and Eli, so here we go!

Buckle up, this is a strange one:

> Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has. In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.

> Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims? Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

Alright, truth be told, I’m not sure what to make of that yet, but we shall find out! Here’s a Guardian review, ending with “Piranesi was worth waiting for: the most gloriously peculiar book I’ve read in years.”

Curious to join us? Then order a copy at your local book shop or online:

• [The book on Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/p/books/piranesi-susanna-clarke/15861178)
• The book on Amazon

Translations into various languages and ebook versions are also available.

Our meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025 and we usually discuss in English, for 1.5-2 hours. You definitely don’t need a literature degree to participate! It’s important to us to listen to each other, to treat everyone with respect and to create a safe setting.

The discussion takes place virtually in Zoom and the meeting link will be added to this event on the day it happens. Just check back here half an hour before the meetup starts!

It doesn’t matter if you have actually finished the book – everyone is welcome, as long as you have read at least a few pages and bring your impression.