#PIRANESI MYTHOLOGY FULL#

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). Many of the statues are imbued in metaphors, and many depict figures and creatures from mythology such as minotaurs and satyrs. Many of these statues depict actions and concepts that do not exist in the House, such as gardening and beekeeping. The labyrinth of rooms and corridors is also laden with statues thousands upon thousands of statues. 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.

#PIRANESI MYTHOLOGY FULL#

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. 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. If you’re looking for action and a straightforward plot, this is not the book for you. 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. Not everyone will like this book (as with all books). It’s atmospheric, strange, beguiling and so complex. 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. 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. 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.

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 am absolutely awestruck with this book. Piranesi’s once beautiful world is becoming something strange, and the more he uncovers, the more dangerous it becomes. 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. 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. The House is the entire world in which only two people live. The journal entries detail Piranesi’s movements, daily routines and discoveries as he moves about the House. Piranesi doesn’t feel like this was always his name, but he accepts it. He is known as the Other, and the name he has given our protagonist is Piranesi. 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.

Piranesi mythology