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Comment by bemmu | Hacker News Reader

I'll take this opportunity to drop the fact that I'm kind of obsessed with the book "Piranesi", where the main character (named after the artist in the article) survives in a world which is just endless corridors of classical architecture, statues, and staircases.

It's an incredibly calming experience, I've listened to the audiobook over 10 times before sleep. Highly recommended.

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A very different book, but I loved reading "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell" [0] as well by the same author.

[0] which used footnotes to great effect

This also has a great audiobook version. Simon Prebble really brings the characters to life.

I enjoyed the TV adaptation as well.

Indeed. It made long walks with my dog seem all too short.

Clicked the article for the book, stayed for the awesome explanation on how perspective works.

This must have been the inspiration for the Counter-Strike map de_piranesi !

No, the CS map predates the novel by almost 20 years. Almost certainly they were just both inspired by the same artist.

I second this review - Piranesi is a fantastic and inventive novel.

I remember being very frustrated with the main character while listening to the audio book. I enjoy the memory of the story a lot more than I remember actively listening to the story. I think I kept trying to "figure out" the world like it was a puzzle. I also find naive characters very frustrating. It wasn't until I finished the story that I really appreciated it.

"The House is valuable because it is the House. It is enough in and of itself."

So did you just spoil the ending for me?

Not even close

Nope, that's a quote from early in the book.

I think about this book ALL the time. It was way more terrifying than calming to me. But still absolutely love it / haunted by it.

A truly wonderful novel that I also opened the comments to shill.

we each enter the corridors for our own purposes and yet they are one

Loved the book. Bought it in hardcover, based just on the blurb, which sounded so futuristic and imaginative. Surprised me in ways I didn't expect.

I absolutely adored Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, I don't read a _ton_ of fiction, but somehow stumbled into it and recommend it to anyone who will listen.

But I couldn't get into Piranesi at all. The first few chapters never seem to actually go anywhere. It got terrific reviews so maybe it's just too abstract for me.

It reads like a parable and you are right there isn’t a lot of action. I thought the imagery was very stark and the relation the main character had to the world is similar to an abuse victim rationalizing their situation.

Read the book once, will definitely check out the audiobook. I got in the habit of reading it before bed too, sounds perfect.

Absolute banger. I am convinced it will be held up as a true classic.

There are a few "wait what?" moments in the first half of the book that no other books have matched.

Sadly, the ending doesnt live up to the expectations, at least for me.

The paradox of mystery, when the mystery is too good that no ending can justify it.

Yes, could almost have been written for another story altogether.

Came here to say this. I loved the voice of the main character.

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