The Curator: a fantasy novel masterpiece
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, plus writing epiphanies and what I read in February
First, a long overdue thank you to the book friends who became paid subscribers or bought me a coffee (or book, or two) over the last few weeks - you know who you are and YOU light up my life.
Secondly, I’ve been epiphanized.
Want to hear it?
Too bad I’m in charge.
I can’t write when my ears are full of other people’s words.
On any given day, I listen to audiobooks when I get ready for work, driving in the car, walking anywhere, at the gym, while folding laundry or doing chores, IN THE SHOWER. It occurred to me this might be a problem while reading the wise reflections of
. My recent inability to type actual words when I sit down at the computer is not because I suddenly have nothing to say. Rather, it’s because I can’t get a word in edgewise. I never let other people shut up.This may seem obvious to you, as it does to me now. But it took a little ghostie floating down and whispering this is why you can’t write. You listen to too much shit. You have too much stuff in your ears all the time. Try silence. for me to get it.
Therefore, my goal next month is to do less. That’s a hard commitment, especially when I have so many interesting things on my shelves (partially thanks to those who encouraged me on Notes, money is fake but books are forever). Yet I know that if I want to keep showing up here every week, I need to give myself the gift of less chatter, of writing on a little wet notepad in the shower, of lying on the ground staring into space (
would agree). So that’s what I plan to do. I permit you to do the same, if it behooves you.Now. On to the books.
At the behest of all my book friends, last week I finally read Susanna Clarke’s fantasy spectacle, Piranesi. I selected it as my Book of the Month ages ago but never got around to it. The power of the internet sent me off to finally read it and I’m chuffed. I have never heard a single bad word about Piranesi and you won’t hear one now.
But I am surprised by this accomplishment. Not because Piranesi isn’t good but because, well, it’s weird. Having read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell I was prepared for Clarke-style shenanigans, but I was not expecting the House of Leaves vibes she delivered.
Here’s what the cover looks like. By this design, I’m expecting some strange fantastical mythology stuff to go down. And I was [somewhat] right.
What it’s about (without spoilers) → Piranesi lives in a great house of marble, wind, and water. Miles of halls are lined with hundreds of statues, all depicting life in its many stages. Piranesi is the only living inhabitant of his labyrinth world, caring for the halls and bones of those passed on like a loving museum curator. The tides crash about, birds come to roost, and sea creatures provide sustenance, but it is otherwise desolate with one exception - he is visited weekly by one other human, a man aptly named The Other, who is in search of a great and terrible knowledge. When suddenly a third living human appears in the marble halls, Piranesi realizes the world may be greater than he ever fathomed.
I loved this book. I loved Piranesi. He is sweet, generous, intelligent, but not naive. Clarke writes his character with precision but not without care. His hope in the world is contagious, childlike but wise, neither tainted nor cynical. Even when challenged Piranesi’s faith in the world is not shaken.
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.
Yet, in the end, Piranesi makes - shocking - choices.
Piranesi was published in September 2020, meaning Clarke wrote it all well before the pandemic. It is not a pandemic novel, nor does the text suggest it. Yet I couldn’t help but compare, as it feels like a metaphor for our post-pandemic isolation.
Perhaps she wrote it as a reaction to the internet, to our increasing isolation even as we search for the “truth”, but it feels prescient. Are we moving toward a society that would rather wander the safe sterile white halls of a lonely labyrinth than engage with the unknown? Is our reality only a product of our current beliefs? Does it even matter what the truth is and would we recognize it anymore? Or do we crave safety above all else in an uncertain, terrifying world?
Are we living in the marble walls of our own post-pandemic prison?
The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
This book is best left to discovery, so I will not give any more away. I see why it took Clarke 16 years to write another book. You read Piranesi once for the plot, and again for Piranesi. It is a masterpiece.
🖤 For Fans Of: High-brow humor, books that love being books, stories that aren’t what they seem, a narrator to fall in love with.
⭐ Verdict: I will think of you always and with fondness, Piranesi.
READING →
Blindsighted (Grant County #1) and Fractured (Will Trent #2) by Karin Slaughter - I listened to both on audio narrated by Kathleen Early and could. not. stop. I just want to hang out with Will, Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena all day. Which is great except that these books are the reason I have to muzzle my AirPods. Regardless, I am determined to become a KS completist by the end of 2025. Only like 17 more books to go!
Midnight on Beacon Street by Emily Ruth Verona - It won’t be listed as an incredible literary achievement but gave serious 90s babysitter slasher nostalgic entertainment. Its legacy will be that it makes me want to write something even better…
and Beartown by Fredrik Backman which made me cry. Three times. I covered that here.
WATCHING →
The Dark Knight, Christian Bale Batman #1. We struggled to find non-TV pure entertainment this week so we went with an old classic. It’s a story about a city consuming itself and begs the question, is the city even worth fighting over?
NEW BOOKS →
include a memoir about the death of a friend, a follow-up from a Pulitzer Prize-nominated author, a novel about a marriage ruined and a life saved by food, a new literary thriller set in an existing literary universe, and a gothic feminist horror novel from my most anticipated list.
BOOK NEWS →
Our favorite librarian was bullied into resignation but is already on to bigger and better things.
There’s a lot of drama over a man who writes mediocre thrillers.
Even if you couldn’t name a single person from Vanderpump Rules you’ve probably heard of Scandoval. Why? Everyone loves an interactive cheating mystery.
And the Willy Wonka Fyre Fest. Read it, just trust me.
RESTACK OF THE WEEK →
A moving essay everyone is googly eyes for right now from
. I think this is why we are all here, to write things like this.AND CATS →
It takes two.
YOUR TURN. SHARE WITH THE CLASS.
How are your pets doing?
When was the last time you cried?
What are you reading and is it any good?
In Case You Missed It 🖤
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See you around the bookshelf!
Natalie
You’ve managed to compellingly say just enough about Piranesi that I’ve added it to my book list. Curse you!
I finished Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. I found it so oddly prescient and believably dystopic that it was a bit disturbing. Very good. I just started North Woods. So far, the writing is gorgeous.
I have a bit of sad news for you. Your fave Amy cat, Zira, has a mammary tumor (I didn’t even know that was a thing). Luckily I caught it early and there’s no spread, so we meet with the surgeon this week for a consult. Zira is blessedly ignorant to these goings-on and is acting her usual sassy, fluffy self 😻
“His hope in the world is contagious, childlike but wise, neither tainted nor cynical. Even when challenged Piranesi’s faith in the world is not shaken.” - This. This is why I love Piranesi. I always think about Piranesi.