The Book Slump

Tag: Mysterious

  • Piranesi

    Piranesi

    By Susanna Clarke

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2020, 245 pages.

    Piranesi‘s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.

    There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: CONTEMPORARY, MYSTERIOUS, SPECULATIVE, FAST-PACED.

    Piranesi lives in a house so large, that he has yet to explore it all. He is kept company by the statues that line the halls as well as the only other living being. The Other.

    The Other and Piranesi both convene to discuss scientific matters. The search for Great and Secret Knowledge.

    Piranesi enjoys these regular catchups until he starts discovering peculiar happenings around the house. The more he discovers, the more he begins to question everything around him.

    I got this book all wrong.

    Despite being told it was not a retelling of the minotaur; I stubbornly assumed it was (references are made though). Another aspect that surprised me is how modern it is (2000’s).

    This was a very easy book to get through. The diary entries allow the reader to become Piranesi. Whilst I have read many first-person stories, there can be suggestive sentences that are just for the reader. Whereas in Piranesi, you find out everything with him. That being said, there are so many moments you want to scream at him.

    Clarke does a great job at building Piranesi. He has very distinct characteristics, which are most prominent when he interacts with The Other. The story was consistent throughout, and the ending felt right.

    The diary titles and location descriptions felt unnecessary. It is one of those funny situations where it is important to the story but unnecessary for the reader. I ended up skimming them.

    Overall, a great read. It took me a minute to get into, but once I did, I flew through it! Despite it not being a Greek Myth retelling, I still put it in the category.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

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  • A Pale View of Hills

    A Pale View of Hills

    By Kazuo Ishiguro

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 1982, 183 pages.

    In his highly acclaimed debut, A Pale View of Hills, Kazuo Ishiguro tells the story of Etsuko, a Japanese woman now living alone in England, dwelling on the recent suicide of her daughter. Retreating into the past, she finds herself reliving one particular hot summer in Nagasaki, when she and her friends struggled to rebuild their lives after the war. But then as she recalls her strange friendship with Sachiko – a wealthy woman reduced to vagrancy – the memories take on a disturbing cast.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HISTORICAL, EMOTIONAL, REFLECTIVE, EERIE, MEDIUM-PACED.

    Etsuko lives alone in the countryside of England. She enjoys her quiet life, but the suicide of her daughter has caused her to ponder.

    She is brought back to the hot summer she met Sachiko. A strange and formally wealthy woman with an even stranger daughter. The more she digs, the eerier her memories become.

    Warnings: Animal abuse and suicide.

    What an impressive debut novel.

    I don’t know how Ishiguro does it. He has a way of writing that completely captivates me. Even when the story is about something simple, like this one.

    When looking back, I recall how relaxed I was while reading. Which is strange considering the quietly disturbing and sometimes unsettling content. It reminds me of The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea in that way.

    The characters are realistic and stay true to their nature. I am particularly fascinated by Sachiko, as she is such a peculiar character. It was difficult to glean her motives. Only towards the end did I understand her more.

    Everything in the story is subtle, yet impactful. I did a little research after reading, and there were aspects brought to my attention that I hadn’t even thought of. It just makes me want to re-read it and take it all in again.

    If you couldn’t tell already, I recommend everyone read this book. But please heed the warnings above (in red).

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • Yesteryear

    Yesteryear

    By Caro Claire Burke

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2026, 391 pages.

    ‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’
     
    Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.
     
    Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: CONTEMPORARY, TENSE, HUMOROUS, THRILLER, MEDIUM-PACED.

    Natalie Heller Mills has a perfect life… to her Instagram followers. She lives on a farm and leads a ‘traditional’ life. As a woman of faith, she serves her husband and children and never complains.

    So why has she woken up in this nightmare. Her family is familiar, but something is off and her expensive, perfect house is now shabby and tired. Is this a test from God, or a practical joke? And most importantly, can she escape?

    This book has blown up.

    Maybe I am out of the loop, but for me, this book came out of the woodwork and took over my feed. Many people claim they read it in one sitting, which is one of the most enticing sentences a book lover can hear.

    I did not read it in one sitting, and never would. Kudos to those who could, but you are insane. Natalie was too intense for me to take in all at once.

    She is a very interesting character, and it was fascinating reading from a completely foreign perspective. Burke does a good job at making the reader feel like Natalie. I would catch myself reacting as if I was going through it, which is great but a little embarrassing when in public.

    I’ve noticed a couple reviews saying that they didn’t like the book because they hated Natalie… but isn’t that the whole point? Wasn’t that the authors objective? A story doesn’t always have to be adored but understood. And if you understand it, you may come to love it.

    After I finished the book, I kept looking up the characters, forgetting they are fictional. I still get the urge to whenever I think about the book, but alas the search is fruitless.

    I was not a huge fan of the ending, it felt a little unoriginal but at the same it was realistic. I think some of the middle could have been cut out and the ending lengthened, as it felt a bit rushed.

    An enjoyable read but I think it is slightly overhyped. I would suggest spacing it out if you’re someone whose mood mirrors the tone of the book you’re reading.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE