With the first few lines of her book, Suzanne Clark jolts readers into a bizarre, beautiful setting. 

She writes, “The Ninth Vestibule is remarkable for the three great Staircases it contains. Its Walls are lined with marble Statues, hundreds upon hundreds of them, Tier upon Tier, rising into the distant heights.”

Piranesi is by no means a normal book; it is experimental both in its premise and its form. Throughout her book, Clark sews together strands of fantasy world that serve as the primary driver of the novel. In fact, the setting—including perception and distortions of it—are what drive the plot forward.

Piranesi is a novel centered around a man by the same name who lives in an infinite labyrinth of ocean, vestibules and statues. He keeps careful records and explores the house, revering its wonders and gifts. He converses with a man called the Other once a week, who he aids in the pursuit of a Great and Secret Knowledge. Yet, as Piranesi journeys through his labyrinth, he uncovers a deep ominous truth that threatens his understanding of existence. 

That’s really all I can say regarding the plot of Piranesi without giving away what makes the book exceptional. But, by closely examining how she builds her seemingly impossible world and drops it into the consciousness of her readers, I want to highlight Clark’s imagery-filled and incisive prose. 

Clark creates the perfect balance of cluelessness and cleverness when crafting Piranesi’s character. Through glimpses into his mind, we see him using everyday allusions and references pulled from mythology or daily life that are familiar for us, standing in stark contrast to his surroundings that are so far removed from our reality. This immediately creates an anchor from which the audience can stave off wave after wave of new plot advances taking unfamiliar, foreign turns—until we start to see Piranesi piece the fragments together. 

Clark, through Piranesi’s point of view, also heavily personifies the house as benevolent, setting up clashes and conflicts later on. When pondering the origins and reasons the house emerged, Piransi thinks, “‘It does not matter that you do not understand the reason. You are the Beloved Child of the House. Be comforted.’ And I am comforted.” By recognizing the humanity of the house, Piranesi breathes life into the world around him. Additionally, through his careful study of the house, we gain insight into its patterns, which drive the plot and eventually the climax of the story.

Piranesi is not another forgettable romance or coming of age story. The book defies genres and classification, instead presenting a unique story structure through the eyes of someone who is wholesome and naive. This story of seeking truth truly gives readers a unique experience they will not soon forget.