Piranesi

I really enjoyed this book, especially the world building! As much as books already give us a means of escaping from our day-to-day lives, Piranesi gave me an even greater sensation of this. In trying to map out Piranesi's world, I felt the thrill of learning about a fictional world that I haven't felt since reading The Lord of the Rings. It's wasn't as much about Piranesi's world being complex as it was trying to wrap my head around what his world is: a giant house whose steps and halls are as tall as our own buildings and mountains. If I had to guess what our own pets feel in our homes, I'd bet they see these halls and walls as one would Piranesi's world.

Also on the point of escaping our day-to-day lives, I wasn't sure what to make of Piranesi's aloofness in spite of emerging details about his world and existence. Although a part of me wanted to intervene and make the truth clear to him, it was also satisfying to see him content with his world as he knew it. Ignorance is bliss. I'd describe it as a fine line between momentary bliss vs. intentional negligence of facts. A very loose analogy is how national news and politics don't directly affect our everyday lives most of the time yet we have a duty to be informed and conscious of these events; they likely affect those around us and demographics who lack representation.

Some quotes that I enjoyed:

as a scientist and an explorer I have a duty to bear witness to the Splendours of the World.

the search for the Knowledge has encouraged us to think of the House as if it were a sort of riddle to be unravelled, a text to be interpreted,and that if ever we discover the Knowledge, then it will be as if the Value has been wrested from the House and all that remains will be mere scenery.

Perhaps that is what it is like being with other people. Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not.