Jan-Maat’s review of Piranesi > Likes and Comments
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I started a sample of this and for some reason dropped it - I think it had something to do with Piranesi's childlike innocence - and his reliance on a logic which we already knew would be woefully inadequate. I think I disliked this emotional positioning immediately - but yes fauns - Nárnia - books talking to each other.
Laura wrote: "I started a sample of this and for some reason dropped it - I think it had something to do with Piranesi's childlike innocence - and his reliance on a logic which we already knew would be woefully ..."
I guess that is making a point about logic, which is one of the drivers in the whole book, and his innocence is similar a product of his environment like his logic and no less flawed, but admittedly you have to get a way into the book to start to suspect that
I only read the first few pages. But your review is one that encourages me to re-try.
Laura wrote: "I only read the first few pages. But your review is one that encourages me to re-try."
it's fun, but the opening is strange, and as you say the innocence of the character is not compelling!
I'm in the process of joining - a lot of reading groups. Because the process of discussing is so much fun. The only problem with reviews is that - you want to say - Oh can we read it together - it sounds so good? But of course the person's already read it.
I will probably die soon from literature overload - I think I am now active member of 4 possibly 5 groups.
Do you belong to any groups Jan-Maat?
You made some amazing connections to works that influenced Clarke, Jan-Maat, her writing in Piranesi could not be described better.
Laura wrote: "I'm in the process of joining - a lot of reading groups. Because the process of discussing is so much fun. The only problem with reviews is that - you want to say - Oh can we read it together - it ..."
no groups for me! I joined a couple on goodreads previously, and they were fun, are you meeting with people face to face in your reading groups, Laura?
Lea wrote: "You made some amazing connections to works that influenced Clarke, Jan-Maat, her writing in Piranesi could not be described better."
thank you, Lea, kind of you to say so
Hi - no I didn't think that was an option - face to face. It's something interesting though because comments are quite limiting - it's v linear.
Did you participate in online groups?
A very helpful review on what to expect from this (not a book on the artist Piranesi, but evoking a world possibly inspired by his drawings). The book sounds fun especially when one has read the books it seems so cleverly to reference to. When being brutally explicit results in a superb review like yours, it is pure joy :-).
Laura wrote: "Hi - no I didn't think that was an option - face to face. It's something interesting though because comments are quite limiting - it's v linear.
Did you participate in online groups?"
yes on goodreads, face to face reading groups were fashionable at one time, I thought maybe they are reviving now after the covid waves?
Ilse wrote: "A very helpful review on what to expect from this (not a book on the artist Piranesi, but evoking a world possibly inspired by his drawings). The book sounds fun especially when one has read the bo..."
it is fun, I think even without reading the magicians nephew
and for you there is a labyrinth
I love your list of references and influences - many I had thought of, but I didn't think of Gormenghast, since the vibe here is so much dreamier. But yes it somehow manages, in a very few pages that are for the most part about something completely different, to somehow catch the echo of those books without feeling at all derivative or even "inspired" by them (possible exception for Lewis).
Amy wrote: "I love your list of references and influences - many I had thought of, but I didn't think of Gormenghast, since the vibe here is so much dreamier. But yes it somehow manages, in a very few pages th..."
Oh thank you!
I feel that it manages to be both drawing on a lot of other books, but also manages to feel quite original. I suppose if we think about it as a quest for one's own lost self (and if that can ever be recovered) then there would be a whole different bunches of influences to see.
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Laura
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Jul 01, 2022 04:47AM
I started a sample of this and for some reason dropped it - I think it had something to do with Piranesi's childlike innocence - and his reliance on a logic which we already knew would be woefully inadequate. I think I disliked this emotional positioning immediately - but yes fauns - Nárnia - books talking to each other.
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Laura wrote: "I started a sample of this and for some reason dropped it - I think it had something to do with Piranesi's childlike innocence - and his reliance on a logic which we already knew would be woefully ..."I guess that is making a point about logic, which is one of the drivers in the whole book, and his innocence is similar a product of his environment like his logic and no less flawed, but admittedly you have to get a way into the book to start to suspect that
I only read the first few pages. But your review is one that encourages me to re-try.
Laura wrote: "I only read the first few pages. But your review is one that encourages me to re-try."it's fun, but the opening is strange, and as you say the innocence of the character is not compelling!
I'm in the process of joining - a lot of reading groups. Because the process of discussing is so much fun. The only problem with reviews is that - you want to say - Oh can we read it together - it sounds so good? But of course the person's already read it. I will probably die soon from literature overload - I think I am now active member of 4 possibly 5 groups.
Do you belong to any groups Jan-Maat?
You made some amazing connections to works that influenced Clarke, Jan-Maat, her writing in Piranesi could not be described better.
Laura wrote: "I'm in the process of joining - a lot of reading groups. Because the process of discussing is so much fun. The only problem with reviews is that - you want to say - Oh can we read it together - it ..."no groups for me! I joined a couple on goodreads previously, and they were fun, are you meeting with people face to face in your reading groups, Laura?
Lea wrote: "You made some amazing connections to works that influenced Clarke, Jan-Maat, her writing in Piranesi could not be described better."thank you, Lea, kind of you to say so
Hi - no I didn't think that was an option - face to face. It's something interesting though because comments are quite limiting - it's v linear. Did you participate in online groups?
A very helpful review on what to expect from this (not a book on the artist Piranesi, but evoking a world possibly inspired by his drawings). The book sounds fun especially when one has read the books it seems so cleverly to reference to. When being brutally explicit results in a superb review like yours, it is pure joy :-).
Laura wrote: "Hi - no I didn't think that was an option - face to face. It's something interesting though because comments are quite limiting - it's v linear. Did you participate in online groups?"
yes on goodreads, face to face reading groups were fashionable at one time, I thought maybe they are reviving now after the covid waves?
Ilse wrote: "A very helpful review on what to expect from this (not a book on the artist Piranesi, but evoking a world possibly inspired by his drawings). The book sounds fun especially when one has read the bo..."it is fun, I think even without reading the magicians nephew
and for you there is a labyrinth
I love your list of references and influences - many I had thought of, but I didn't think of Gormenghast, since the vibe here is so much dreamier. But yes it somehow manages, in a very few pages that are for the most part about something completely different, to somehow catch the echo of those books without feeling at all derivative or even "inspired" by them (possible exception for Lewis).
Amy wrote: "I love your list of references and influences - many I had thought of, but I didn't think of Gormenghast, since the vibe here is so much dreamier. But yes it somehow manages, in a very few pages th..."Oh thank you!
I feel that it manages to be both drawing on a lot of other books, but also manages to feel quite original. I suppose if we think about it as a quest for one's own lost self (and if that can ever be recovered) then there would be a whole different bunches of influences to see.