Piranesi

This is very different, and I loved it! It's Weird, but mostly in a very beautiful, poetic way. Everything about it is compelling, and there's definitely dramatic tension, but it also feels dreamy. The narrator is intelligent, resourceful, courageous, loving, and kind, but almost immediately the reader sees that there's a naivete that may be problematic. So much of his joy in life comes from unhesitating, total acceptance - is that a good thing, or a danger? So, no surprise that there are strong echoes of the Garden of Eden here. I've long thought about that story as expressing human frustration that we are driven to find out, learn, and understand, but there can be no learning without pain. A lot of the enjoyment involves watching the mystery open up and accompanying the narrator in his experiences. So I don't want to give much away. I'll just say that the writing and characterization are beautiful, while the plot steadily gains momentum as you go, and the ending is handled in a way I found satisfying. Along the way, I was reminded of a strange array of other great stories, including:[b:American Elsewhere 14781178 American Elsewhere Robert Jackson Bennett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1340758848l/14781178.SX50.jpg 20434248][b:The Library at Mount Char 26892110 The Library at Mount Char Scott Hawkins https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453225113l/26892110.SY75.jpg 42797715]Lovecraft's Dream Cycle: https://www.goodreads.com/series/212217-dream-cycle[b:Circe 35959740 Circe Madeline Miller https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565909496l/35959740.SY75.jpg 53043399]and even [b:Guards! Guards! 64216 Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch #1) Terry Pratchett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431127356l/64216.SY75.jpg 1128601], in that Corporal Carrot is also smart, capable, and above all Good, while being utterly clueless about a lot of things his more cynical compatriots understand.