piranesi — Blog — Kell-Read

I cannot believe I am actually writing this right now, I swear I still have two more weeks left of June?? Honestly, this month has passed me by so fast, I thought I had more time to get things done. Sorry it’s been a bit quiet over here, apparently, I was really busy in June? With all that being said, I still read some books this month (yay!) so let’s get into the wrap up for this month, and what I am hoping to read in July.

June Wrap Up

*Audiobook not pictured, it doesn’t deserve to be in the company of these two beauties*

This month I finished 3 books (yay me!) and started about 10 AHAH. So, standard Kelly reading habits pretty much. The first book I finished was the audiobook of The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L Armentrout, and boy was it a letdown. This book simply was not good. It was too long, the plot (if you can find it), was poorly executed, and I am literally only invested in, like, one character. Apparently, Jennifer didn't have a proper editor work on this book, and boy can you tell! There was so much repetition in this book, it honestly felt like I was listening to the same page over and over again. The audiobook went for over 25 hours which is TOO LONG for a book that is a part of a 6 book series. And, if it had to be that long, why couldn’t something exciting actually happen? There was definitely not enough action and interesting events in this book to keep me interested. Poppy was actually less annoying in this book, but in saying that, I literally could not care less about what happens to any of these characters (apart from Kieran, ily). I usually get VERY attached to the main character and especially the main couple of books, but BOY do I simply not care about Poppy and Casteel. Anyway, I wouldn't be wasting my time with this series, and would recommend you pick up JLA’s Covenant Series. THAT is an MC and main couple I will stan for the rest of my days. I gave The Crown of Gilded Bones ★★☆☆☆.

The next book I finished was Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, which I am pretty sure I read in less than 2 days. This book was exquisitely written, and so unique I couldn't put it down. Once you get used to the layout of this book (it’s in journal entries), it absolutely draws you into the story and doesn’t let you go until the last page. From the beginning of this book, you get the weirdest sensation that there is something off about the House, which is the world that Piranesi and the Other live in. The story progresses, and as it does, the sense of eeriness increases. It was honestly, one of the best books I have read this year. The whole concept of the book was fascinating, and the underlying whisper of cultures, people and beliefs long past is subtle yet essential to the entire aesthetic of the story. Honestly, do yourself a favour and read this book (and I would recommend sitting down and reading the whole thing in one sitting, to get the full effect).

The final book that I have finished this month was another brilliant read, and the was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Another spellbinding read, but in a completely different way. The entire time you’re reading it, you know that Evelyn Hugo is going to drop a bomb that will turn Monique against her. You find this out in, like, the first 5% of the book. And so, as Evelyn is telling Monique every detail of her life from her first husband to her seventh, you’re equally enthralled, fascinated and slightly judgmental about the life Evelyn has led, and you just want to know the secret she has been hiding. I never wanted to put it down, and the way you get to hear about her life as she is telling it after the fact, you get both the story, and Evelyn’s thoughts and feelings in the current moment which added another layer of complexity to her character. Honestly, it was a bit of a surprise that I loved it so much, but I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone.

July Hopefuls (and books I started in June)

As I mentioned, I started a BUNCH of books in June that I am taking my time with. These include The Poems of Catullus, Tragedy, the Greeks and Us by Simon Critchley, Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess by Bettany Hughes, A Game of Fate (audiobook) by Scarlett St. Clair and an uncorrected early edition of THE REAL VALKYRIE: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown. I am slowly taking my time with The Poems of Catullus as well as Tragedy, the Greeks and Us. I am picking up The Poems of Catullus and reading a couple alongside a guide whenever I feel like it, and Tragedy, the Greeks and Us is an incredibly dense read, so I have a feeling I’ll be reading it for a while. I’m loving Venus & Aphrodite: History of a Goddess, it is a much lighter read than I was anticipating. Bettany has started at the very beginning of the development of the goddess that is probably best known today as Venus, and she is moving through time and using archaeological evidence, as well as literature from antiquity to track the goddesses development and movement through the ancient world. I am really, really enjoying it. A Game of Fate has been a really enjoyable read so far (although it took me a while to get used to the narrator. The story is the same as A Touch of Darkness which is the first in Scarletts Persephone x Hades series, except this one, is from Hades point of view. I love that we are getting SO much more information on the way the gods live in this urban world, and we get to see a lot more of the gods in this one which has been wonderful. I also love getting to know what was going through his head. Would definitely recommend to anyone who has read Persephone’s point of view but not Hades’ to definitely pick this one up! Finally, I have started reading THE REAL VALKYRIE: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women which I am reading for work, and will be reviewing here and over on World History Encyclopedia, as well as hopefully interviewing the author which will be wonderful! Another book I have popped onto my hopefuls (since I’d like to finish a couple of these this month) is House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. I have a feeling I will probably pick up if not this book (which sounds so intriguing), but another fiction or two books to break up the non-fiction!. What has been your favourite read of June? What are you most excited to read in July? Let me know down below or find me over on Instagram @kell_read ✨

This is what I would call a top-notch, ★★★★★ read.

A vision of cosmic grandeur, I suppose. A symbol of the mingled glory and horror of existence. No one gets out alive. (177)

What is the book about?

Piranesi is a book of journal entries. The journal entries are being written by a man in his thirties whose name has been given to him by the only other human which lives in the House. He is known as the Other, and the name he has given our protagonist is Piranesi. Piranesi doesn’t feel like this was always his name, but he accepts it. The journal entries detail Piranesi’s movements, daily routines and discoveries as he moves about the House. The House is the entire world in which only two people live. But there are rooms full of water, and tides which Piranesi has noted the patterns, there are birds of all different types, long halls and thousands of statues. He is a Child of the House. But, all is not as it seems in the House, and as Piranesi begins to unravel the mystery, he uncovers secrets that could potentially cause madness. Piranesi’s once beautiful world is becoming something strange, and the more he uncovers, the more dangerous it becomes.

Thoughts and Feelings

I am absolutely awestruck with this book. I have a feeling this is going to be a short review, not because I didn’t love it (I did), or because I don’t have a lot to say about it (I do), but there just isn’t a lot I can say about it without spoiling it. I thought the writing was beautiful, for a novel set out in journal entries, I thought the language was incredibly evocative, and the journal entries read more like the action or the conversion was happening as you read it, rather than it being a later account. In this way, I was in awe at the writing and I thought the style of writing was the perfect way to express this story. You are in the mind of Piranesi the entire time, and for once, I was thankful we only had his thought process and point of view. As Piranesi discovers secrets and uncovers mysteries, you are right there along with him, which is why I just could not put this book down. It’s atmospheric, strange, beguiling and so complex. Not everyone will like this book (as with all books). It wanders from hall to hall, slowly opening up and the magical realism-esq feel of this book is probably why I loved it so damn much. If you’re looking for action and a straightforward plot, this is not the book for you.

Not everything about the Wind was bad. Sometimes it blew though the little voids and crevices of the Statues and caused them to sing and whitle in surprisnig ways; I have never known the Statues to have voices before and it made me laugh for sheer delight. (28)

The House is absolutely phenomenal. There are hundreds upon hundreds of great halls and corridors, there are rooms which open to the sky above, rooms with no windows, rooms full of water, rooms full of clouds, and birds of many types who have found a home in the House and its walls. The description of the House, and the way Piranesi interacts with it is such a pleasure to read, as he treats everything and every creature with respect and kindness. The labyrinth of rooms and corridors is also laden with statues; thousands upon thousands of statues. Many of these statues depict actions and concepts that do not exist in the House, such as gardening and beekeeping. Many of the statues are imbued in metaphors, and many depict figures and creatures from mythology such as minotaurs and satyrs. I found that, although this book had nothing to do with mythology, the whole thing made me think of the Minotaur in the labyrinth, and the notion that only one person survives the labyrinth, and it was 99% of the time, the Minotaur (there’s a chance that I blame Erica over at Moaninc for this, but I am so glad for it). It was like this constant feeling that not everything was as it seems. This book exudes a whisper of mythology, but is rooted in the idea of a higher order of being, in Piranesi’s case, the House. It’s so hard to explain the way in which the beliefs and rituals of civilisations passed such as Ancient Greece, are woven into the foundations of this tale (to me, at least).

I almost forgot to breathe. For a moment I had an inkling of what it might be like if instead of two people in the World there were thousands. (59)

That’s all I’m going to say about this book, simply because I don’t want to say too much and ruin anyone else’s experience whilst reading this book. I’m sure people have gotten more out of the metaphors and subtleties from this book than I have, but I say thought it was a spectacularly written story with an incredibly original and unique plot. I absolutely adored it. I would recommend that you read this in as little sittings as possible. It is best experienced as undisrupted as possible. If you have read this book, I would LOVE to chat with you about it!! Please chuck a comment down below or find me at @kell_read on Instagram!!