Welcome to Litsy!

A bit of a slow start, I took some time to get into this and get my head around it, but it was ultimately intriguing.

I‘d like to thank the internet for not spoiling this one. Most of the (positive) reviews I have read advised best to go in knowing nothing and I absolutely agree! That was part of the appeal to me. The negative reviews I can see, the first two sections were rough, a bit confusing, and felt repetitive. However, if you can get through those you‘re in for a wild, a little sad, but beautiful ride.

Bad News: woke up with a stomach flu on Thanksgiving
Good News: got to read since my husband, parents, and in-laws did the cooking while I rested #silverlining

Finally read this book! 😃 Overall I thought it was pretty good, though not nearly as Earthshakingly awesome as everybody else seems to think it is. I admired the narrative voice in which the story was told, although the way the plot develops was...questionable, to say the least. But still, it was a fun book, though not one that I‘ll probably reread anytime soon.

This is odd and tedious and I‘m not digging it. Sticking to my goal of DNFing books I‘m not enjoying. My first sort of #bookspinbingo as it‘s off my tbr!

This is very weird but also really awesome and I loved it. Totally not what I expected.

Book 28- 2021 Thank you so much to @rockpools for suggesting this book. It was absolutely fantastic. Magical, mysterious, compelling, beautiful... I could go on. I‘m afraid to say too much as this one definitely has to be discovered for itself. I would love to know more about Clarke‘s process in imagining and writing this novel. It is so masterfully done. And to top it off it fulfills my #booked2021 #musicalinstrumentonthecover prompt 😁

This book intrigued me a lot. In the beginning I had difficulties with understanding the world, but after a while everything became so logical. I can't say I understand all the methaphors, nor what exactly happened in Piranesi's head, but I grew to care about him. It was interesting to see the backstory unwhirl, before he did himself. I also kinda want to visit the House, but just for a very little while.
Loved it!

Well this was fucking weird, enjoyable but weird. I'm not sure if I liked it but it was an experience to read it

November #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Wow. I absolutely loved this. A rich and unusual read. I enjoyed this much more than her first book, probably because the pacing was better here. Clarke has imagined a captivating world and has brought in intriguing with plausible memory loss and unreliable narrator and supporting characters.
This is a fantastic magical realism book. 4.5⭐

I was in a bit of a slump, but coming back strong for October with a variety of great reads. Would recommend the left and middle columns; the third column reads were meh. Happy belated Halloween to everyone! ☠️🎃

More than most, this is a book that depends for its effect on knowing very little about it before you dive in, which makes it a bit of a bugger to review. It's short enough to be read in one or two sittings, though, so that would be my tip. And don't give up in irritated bafflement after a few pages. The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

Absolutely could not put down this unique book about a man exploring a mysterious house with an ocean in the center (you can tell there is more to the situation) that was so hopeful.

#weeklyforecast getting some of that recent backlist read!

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Just a lovely, beautiful, calming story with a sweet protagonist. It‘s not about the tidy ending, but the wondering journey through the magical world of the house. Lovely quick read.

Very unpopular opinion incoming! This book bored me stupid. If I‘d been able to take a shot every time the word hall was mentioned I think I‘d have been able to get through it lol. Tedious and repetitive and I never engaged with the story at all. I felt the book was pointless and the main character had no personality, So it‘s a pan from me

Time for the Roger's Public Library Books and Brews bookclub. Can't wait to get everyone's take on this wierd little read.

This was a really calming and nice book. It's refreshing to have a genuinely nice and innocent protagonist in a book, and the fact that it was a kind of magical mystery with an infinite house made it even better. Highly recommend it, it's short and the flow of the books is very easy. Read it in one sitting.

Yoga mats, Mayhem cat, and #black covered books on my #tbr this month.
I am a day late for #photochallenge #scarathlon because work was so busy yesterday!
@Linsy

What strange lovely book. I was enthralled. Beautifully written. I loved the way Piranesi looked at his world. The book is almost like a labyrinth itself as you try to piece all the story together. 5⭐️ #botm

“In my mind are all the tides, their seasons, their ebbs and their flows.”
“The cover of this book caught my eye at the bookstore and boy am I happy it did. I absolutely loved this book!*

Here's my September Wrap up
I read 6 books this month (one has been passed on so not in photo)

Mexican Gothic - 4⭐
Zoo - 3⭐
Caraval - 4⭐
Blood of Elves - 4⭐
Piranesi - 5⭐💜
Scythe - 4⭐

Picking my book of the month was a tough one this month but Piranesi stands out to me as my favourite of the bunch.I didn't know what to expect going into it but thought it was brilliantly written from the perspective of Piranesi and his journal entries.

#LittensDressedInBlood – Strange Magic – Piranesi is trapped in a strange, magical house. Of course, he doesn‘t think he‘s trapped. He loves the house.

"May your paths be safe, your floors unbroken and may the house fill your eyes with beauty."

The book was a bit difficult to start but became increasingly engaging pretty early on. I have so many thoughts but will only share a few that won't give anything away. Piranesi is an unreliable narrator and really proves that much at the end. I also think his given name really fits the Imaginary Prisons art, right down to the very end with his last realization at the park. There's just so much to think about.

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Wonderful and weird, this story is ephemeral and atmospheric and quite unlike anything I‘ve ever read. Really fabulous! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

#currentread #travelingreader

Amazing fantasy dealing with psychology philosophy. Piranesi lives in a vast world full of hallways, oceans, wildlife and one other person — the Other. The arrival of “16” - a mysterious outsider - threatens the stability of this world. Exciting story, full of tension and brilliance. https://cannonballread.com/2021/09/piranesi-elcicco/

Why yes, I‘m happy to “buy now with 1-click!” I‘ve been anxiously waiting read this one. 😄

This year‘s winner of the Women‘s Prize for Fiction.

A thoroughly deserving winner, in my opinion!

Don‘t know how I forgot to review this book! Can‘t even describe the story about a man trapped in a surreal world of floods and statues. It‘s one of my faves.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/03/susanna-clarke-neil-gaimans-the-sa...

Interesting article today 😁

#BookspinBingo card! I changed a couple of books yesterday based on new books :) @TheAromaofBooks

Loved this 🤗 Loved the setting, the style, all of it. It's a slowly unraveling fantasy mystery, and really unique, I can't think of anything to compare it to.

I really liked this but I just have so many questions. This would be a good book group discussion.

I REALLY should go to bed but this guy is so comfortable. So, I guess I‘ll keep reading.

This author has an interesting imagination. There's a labyrinth and missing people. And it all seems ridiculous until you figure it out.

Reading the tagged book… so weird, to start! But intriguing ☺️

Almost done listening to Penny‘s 4th 🌲🌲🌲

And got these 4 lovelies today — my friend ordered from London, so we got pretty UK editions 😍😍

#bookhaul #ukcovers

Excellent! Couldn‘t put it down through the second half!

This was a delight. Two of my favourite genres are fantasy and mystery and this is a delicious blend of both! Piranesi is writing a journal of his life in The World but the one living inhabitant he shares it with is acting strangely.
I loved trying to figure out where this was going - as I also loved trying to figure out Stuart Turton‘s The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. This is quite different but you start out just as lost. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this one. Loved the writing, the atmosphere of the House, all the Statues, the narrator's voice. It does get weird right at the end and I still don't know what to think about that.

I'm about five pages in and loving it already.

easily one of my favorite books of the year, and one of my new favorite books. Piranesi is completely unique & compelling, and I hope we see a lot more from Susanna Clarke. I agree with many others that it‘s best to start reading it blind and let the mystery unfold, so even though I love spoilers and usually promote them, don‘t spoil this story for yourself!

Hey friends! I‘m so excited to announce something that has been in the works for a while now. It‘s my own brand of bookish accessories called Blanket and Page where I sell blankets, socks and bookmarks. Everything a reader needs 🥰
I‘d love you to check it out at www.blanketandpage.com

I knew this was on the shorter side but I didn‘t expect to devour it in one sitting. I love that it is told entirely in journal entries and you sort of get to piece together the background as it goes on. I loved the world and the way the narrator interacts with it. Now I can finally listen to the latest Sword and Laser episode without ruining the magic of this.

My top June reads. Mostly fantasy books , which is unusual for me but I enjoyed them a lot!!