Robyn W

It's a wonderful house — huge soaring rooms connected by hallways and staircases extending to infinity. And filled with beautiful statues. The House is usually benevolent providing food, water, conversation, and comfort. The only perceptible evil — killer tides that, fortunately, can be predicted and avoided.This magnificent house comprises the entire world with a total of 15 inhabitants, 13 of them skeletons. Piranesi with his journals and The Other are the two protagonists of this magical, alter world.

Susanna Clarke allows the reader to discover Piranesi's slow understanding of himself through twists and turns in this fantastical novel. Her storytelling ability wholly immerses us in mystery and adventure making us question which world is real — a journey worth traveling.

At first, I didn't like With or Without You. Stella and Simon had been married for twenty-two years and two more unlikely partners would be hard to find. Simon was a musician and did not want anything to interfere with his life including Stella's wish for a family, a house and financial security. Stella, a nurse, initially was willing to travel on Simon's tours but found herself isolated and no longer wanted to be involved in his lifestyle. So they decided to do drugs to reignite their relationship and what followed was catastrophic.

This book takes a poignant look into the three main characters - their foibles, their strengths, their regrets, and finally their redemption. It examines the changing relationships between husbands and wives, lovers, and friends as they navigate through self discovery, loyalties, betrayals, and finally self awareness.

Final conclusion: This novel provides an entertaining insight to life's hopes and dreams and the transformation Stella, Simon, and Libby go through to accept the reality which truly makes them happy.