The beauty of the House is immeasurable; its kindness infinite."  - Piranesi, Susanna Clarke My beautiful copy of Piranesi was undoubtedly an impulse purchase, but after hearing only enticing things about the book from the author in a New Yorker interview and after hearing several of my friends rave about it, I just caved in. The fact that Susanna Clarke resorted to J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and C.S. Lewis during times of the author's illness made me want to read her even more! In her interview, Clarke writes about her book: "This would be more about the fact that, at the centre of things, there's a secret or mystery, and it is joyful." And I loved this. This novel is haunting, whimsical, and philosophical, but in the least pretentious of ways. In some ways, it is a rich parable, a maze or puzzle of images vividly brought to life through this mysterious idea of the House. Clarke writes exquisitely, beautifully, achingly, and simply. “In my mind are all the