The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.
After reading those words and turning the page to find out they were the last ones my heart sank into my chest and my eyes began to wet. Truly a very beautiful book. That last chapter hit like a car. My own interpretation being how the main character does not describe the real world with the wonder he did the House. Feels like I just watched someone get ripped out of their village that has its own customs and culture and forced into a 9-5 cubicle job with the wonder-lacking frame of mind that follows (in stereotypes at least). He was only able to find that wonder by comparing the world with the House.
But yeah I absolutely loved how everything was alive and holy in the House and how Piranesi described his way of life and connection to what was around him. Not just described but in his very actions. I wasn’t just told what he felt but his very character displayed reverence for the sacred. But not just a respect held for some authoratative God but more like the World is a very generous friend in a way. And the way each and every room was special despite stretching out infinitely.
And the author did such a good job at making the setting feel wonderfully and awestrikingly surreal (idk if thats the right word). Each statue feeling like some representative of an archetype. Everything was significant and symbolic. How man connects with nature/the world is such a beautiful thing in this frame of mind. The scenery was great. Long stretched out huge halls with oceans and clouds, birds and fish, and strange sources of revelation – it’s like a dream. Truly magical.
No super complex lore or magic system needed. Probably the lack of answers made it more intriguing.
by arkticturtle