Member Reviews

Superbly draws you in. I want to know more. Of course the description is vivid and ancient, Ms Clarke does that brilliantly!!

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An intriguing start to the new Susanna Clarke book. A world that is made up of buildings and a myriad of halls, which still contains recognisable elements such as tidal waters and skies with clouds scudding across them. I want to learn more about the significance of all the statues in the halls and loved the detail about their varying sizes in this opening segment. And while there are bodies left behind from previous times, this world only has two inhabitants at present. This short extract certainly whetted my appetite for more and I can't wait to see what Susanna Clarke does with the world(s) she's created in this new novel.

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This is an absolutely intriguing extract. It drew me into a world unlike any I can recall seeing. It has left me wondering what way the story will play out. The style is fantastic and I loved the way the extract ended. However, it has obviously left me wanting more and I will be keen now to get hold of the full book as soon as possible. It looks like another great piece of work from Susanna.

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This was just a glimpse into Clarke's new novel, but I'm already in love! Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell is one of my favorite novels, so I might be biased when I say Piranesi is a work of art. I have ordered the book and I'm patiently waiting for it, but I don't think my opinion will change for the worse!

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Enticing first chapter - reminds me exactly why I love Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. Will have to get my hands on Piranesi ASAP!

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How frustrating! Just a little sliver, a little teaser. I became immersed in the fantastical world of Piranesi from the first page and upon finishing this delightful morsel I immediately ordered the whole book. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive so I can dive in!!

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I have just read an extract from the new novel ‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke and I can’t wait to get my hands on the full book.

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A wonderful gripping mystery novel.
Susanna has beautifully written a spellbinding book.
A very welcome return of Mr Strange and Mr Norrell.
Every room and every corridor is a wonder of amazement in the Piranesi's house.
This is a stunning and inspiring read.

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I can sense from the snippet that this will be a richly-imagined, profoundly immersive and delightfully sophisticated tale with intricate nuances and a plot that is beautifully wrought. I cannot wait! Thank you for the sneak peek Bloomsbury!

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What an amazing start! I asked for this because I am a huge fan of Clarke’s first novel Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell. The first thing I was told by other readers is that it’s nothing like it’s predecessor, but I disagree. It is totally different, but just as brilliant. It’s been worth the long wait! The best way to read this book is going to be starting blind and letting the words wash over you, almost like listening to music. The setting is a palace, of labyrinthine halls and rooms, and seemingly infinite dimensions. Statues cover every available space in so many different forms; a woman carries a beehive, there’s a squatting gorilla, and an elephant carrying a castle. Our narrator whose name may or may not be Piranesi, believes this palace to be the whole world, It is vast, often flooded and filled with sea life,

I won’t ruin it by saying any more but this is the beginning of a great adventure for the reader. Trying to negotiate this strange space and the language of the narrator is enough for now, but it was all I needed to make me want to read on. This is clearly another great feat of imagination,

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This extract has definitely piqued my interest. I love Clarke's work, and so I'm interested to read more when this comes out!

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A nice sneak peak of what’s to come from Susanna Clarke’s long awaited novel. Roll on 15th September.

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It's very difficult to give any kind of realistic view based on about 10 pages of a book. I had a lot of fun reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell a couple of times, so I thought I would take a look at this preview of Piranesi. The trouble is, it's left me confused. It's a strange, fantastical world that is described in these few pages and this isn't really the kind of book I normally read. But the section about all the people who have ever lived is intriguing, as are the hints that the world might not be quite as other-worldly as it appears. It feels like the kind of book that I might abandon at 50 pages or might read all in one sitting because I love it so much: I just can't tell from this extract.

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This is a brief preview but tantalising enough to make me pre-order the novel! And it's quite different to <i>Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell</i> -- though just as elegantly written.

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Thank you to Netgalley for providing an extract in return for an honest review.

Piranesi has always lived in the house. The house is seemingly never-ending and filled with strange statues and skeletons. Only Piranesi and The Other live in the house and they are both trying to decipher the secrets their ever-changing walls keep.

Piranesi is a challenging work of fiction, and an incredibly creative idea. I don't know if I've ever come across a book quite like it, and I'm definitely intrigued to continue reading beyond the first chapter.

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This is only a very short extract, but it has me gripped. I wish I could have read more of the book. It sounds interesting and thought-provoking.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the sample of the book!

I have Piranesi on my to-be-read list since it was announced and I was very excited to read even a little bit of it before its publication. Even though it was only a couple of pages, the story has really caught my attention and I wanted to read on.

From what I gathered the novel is told from the perspective of Piranesi, who is one of two people living in a strange labyrinth-like world. The first chapter already sets up the setting quite skillfully, the narration was engaging, and the story seems to be truly fascinating.

I will definitely be picking Piranesi when it comes out on the 15th of September. Can't wait!

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Well this was a fairly short extract from Susanna Clarke's forthcoming book but all I can say is...well...wow! It is enchanting, mysterious, had me hooked instantly and wanting to continue reading from the moment the extract ended. All I can say is bring on the publication date! Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the electronic copy of an extract.

At first I wasn't sure that this would be a good fit for me, but very quickly into the extract I changed my mind. I was peaked when the world was described - tides coming in to massive hallways, statues, and alcoves - yes please! I can't wait to get my hands on the full book!

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Thoughts after reading the early extract: this is going to be fabulous and a five-star read for sure. Preordering now.

It reminds me of the Library on the Starless Sea - this vast house/world with innumerable rooms, with skeletons and tides washing through and two living inhabitants who wonder about it and attempt to document it. Color me very, very intrigued.

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