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Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Have you read this book? Just a few quick questions — it takes about a minute. Share what you liked (or didn’t), and we’ll use your answers to recommend your next favorite read!

Love Piranesi but not sure what to read next?

These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Complete a quick Shelf Talk to get recommendations made just for you! Warning: possible spoilers for Piranesi below.

In Piranesi, did you enjoy ...

... the mysterious, intricately constructed world?

The City & The City by China Miéville

If you loved being immersed in the haunting, labyrinthine Halls and mysterious tides of Piranesi's world, you'll be equally captivated by The City & The City. Miéville crafts two overlapping cities—Besźel and Ul Qoma—whose inhabitants must "unsee" each other, creating a setting as enigmatic and alluring as Piranesi's House. The novel masterfully builds its rules and atmosphere, inviting you to unravel its secrets alongside Inspector Borlú.

... enigmatic, myth-laden storytelling that rewards careful reading?

The Book of the New Sun: Shadow & Claw by Gene Wolfe

If you were enthralled by the layered mysteries and subtle revelations in Piranesi, you'll find The Book of the New Sun endlessly rewarding. Following Severian, an exile with a perfect memory, you'll journey through a world that is as cryptic and richly symbolic as the House. Wolfe's narrative is famously intricate, with hidden meanings and allusions that invite you to ponder and re-read.

... the quiet, contemplative exploration of a unique space?

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

If Piranesi's solitary wanderings through the House resonated with you, you'll be enchanted by Auri's gentle, meditative days spent tending to the Underthing beneath the University. The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a love letter to atmosphere and introspection, celebrating small rituals, strange spaces, and the beauty of solitude.

... the use of unreliable narration and layered realities?

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

If you were fascinated by Piranesi's shifting perceptions and the puzzle of his world, House of Leaves offers a mind-bending journey into labyrinths both literal and psychological. With its nested narratives and a protagonist who questions what is real, this novel will keep you questioning the truth at every turn—much like Piranesi's search for the meaning of the House.

... the surreal, mysterious exploration of an inexplicable environment?

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

If you were drawn to the dreamlike, surreal quality of Piranesi's world and his scientific curiosity, you'll be spellbound by Annihilation. The biologist and her team venture into Area X, an uncanny landscape that defies logic and explanation. The novel's unsettling beauty and cryptic discoveries echo the wonder and strangeness of the House.

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