Anyone read House of Leaves?

#1

It's a horror book by Mark Z. Danielewski. I'm not completely done, but I need someone to discuss this with!

If you don't recognize the title, it's about an award-winning photojournalist who moves into an average house with his family. A weird, mysterious hallway appears, and it takes much longer to walk down the hallway than it would to walk down the length of the house. More eerie than scary.

#2

I've been meaning to read it but have been uncertain about which edition to buy. Would I miss something by getting the cheapest paperback one?

#3

I am not sure -- I have the full color edition, so certain words are in red and certain are in blue ("house" always appears in blue). I don't know that the full color edition really would add your enjoyment of it though.

Hurry and snag it so we can have an online reading club!

#4

I wouldn't mind an online reading club k

#5

Great! Poke me when you get it. The book is 750+ pages, but like 200 of that is attachments and exhibits, so it's not as long as you might think. Get ready for lots and lots of footnotes.

#6

I love footnotes, especially in novels.

#7

I've been meaning to read it but books cost money and I don't often have that or the opportunity to spend it.

#8

A Person wrote:I've been meaning to read it but books cost money and I don't often have that or the opportunity to spend it.

I got mine from the public library because I am often broke and cheap.

#9

Mongoose wrote:
A Person wrote:I've been meaning to read it but books cost money and I don't often have that or the opportunity to spend it.
I got mine from the public library because I am often broke and cheap.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Matt lives in the middle of the desert and doesn't have a public library.

#10

I do have a public library, it's just an awful one. I've just checked their online catalog and it wasn't there, just as I expected. I think I've looked for it there before.

#11

Oh that sucks, Matt. See if your library can do an ILL, or Interlibrary Loan? When my library doesn't have what I need, they can borrow from thousands of reciprocacting libraries. I've even borrowed a book from Alaska before (I'm in FL).

#12

Mongoose wrote:Oh that sucks, Matt. See if your library can do an ILL, or Interlibrary Loan? When my library doesn't have what I need, they can borrow from thousands of reciprocacting libraries. I've even borrowed a book from Alaska before (I'm in FL).

I know I can order books from different branches of the district library, but I'm not sure if I can go outside it. If I'm ever there I could ask. I'm somewhat scared to go back because I accidentally forgot a book I'd checked out and had it for a year.

Also I lost my library card (for the umpteenth time).

#13

A Person wrote:
Mongoose wrote:Oh that sucks, Matt. See if your library can do an ILL, or Interlibrary Loan? When my library doesn't have what I need, they can borrow from thousands of reciprocacting libraries. I've even borrowed a book from Alaska before (I'm in FL).
I know I can order books from different branches of the district library, but I'm not sure if I can go outside it. If I'm ever there I could ask. I'm somewhat scared to go back because I accidentally forgot a book I'd checked out and had it for a year. Also I lost my library card (for the umpteenth time).

We see this all the time. Don't be embarrassed! Ask them specifically if they have ILLs; they should know what means if they are a participatory branch. Yay!

**http://www.last.fm/user/nutella23** · #14

Oh man that book is also on my (super long) reading list. I've heard a lot about it and even looked at a (full color) copy of it once -- SO crazy!! I remember looking at the index and there were words listed that weren't anywhere, lol.

#15

I knew the title sounded familiar, but then I opened the thread and read the first post. It's that thick tome that has one word on some of the pages and a bunch of nonsensical stuff elsewhere.

Yeah, I've picked it up a few times at the bookstore. Always put it right back down too.

#16

Yeah, it has a ridiculous amount of footnotes. A whole 'nother story is told through the footnotes. Unfortunately, that story isn't as good as the main narrative. It can be a bit of work to read through because you are flipping back and forth and looking for the corresponding footnotes or flipping to the appendices all the time, so not a great book to read in bed.

#17

Is it worth it though? I had always dismissed it outright as a gimmick.

#18

Vompatti wrote:I love footnotes, especially in novels.

Have you read Jonathan Strange amd Mr.Norell? My husband loves that one because of the fictional footnotes. I disliked it for those made-up footnotes however.

Have not read it Mongoose, but its if not super scary I will check it out. Love my local library, but they now charge $0.25/day for late items. I now have to consider it more like my annual member fee to get books or only let myself get one at a time.

#19

Footnotes should be on the foot of the page. Not on a different page.

#20

Maybe it means a foot from the page.

#21

A Person wrote:Maybe it means a foot from the page.

Could mean a note I deliver with my foot up the author's rear end too.

#22

Epignosis wrote:
A Person wrote:Maybe it means a foot from the page.
Could mean a note I deliver with my foot up the author's rear end too.

#23

nutella wrote:Oh man that book is also on my (super long) reading list. I've heard a lot about it and even looked at a (full color) copy of it once -- SO crazy!! I remember looking at the index and there were words listed that weren't anywhere, lol.

I remember someone on HV told me about it like forever ago and I've always meant to read it as it sounded cool. I forever in my head had thought that person was you LA. Apparently that was not the case. Maybe it was Lent then? IDK - I associate most fiction recommendations with you or Illy. heh.

Payday is friday - so I could conceivably go to the book store and get me a nice color copy of it..... I'd love to do the online book club thingie.

#24

Hedgeowl wrote:
Vompatti wrote:I love footnotes, especially in novels.
Have you read Jonathan Strange amd Mr.Norell? My husband loves that one because of the fictional footnotes. I disliked it for those made-up footnotes however.

I have not. It looks somewhat interesting.

#25

Epi - It is very gimmicky. Sometimes the words are written diagonally across the page or upside down. The footnotes usually are at the "bottom" of the page, but sometimes not. Often, half of the page is footnotes. Several times, whole pages were composed of footnotes. I like the book despite its shortcomings. It's hard for me to recommend necessarily because it's so niche.

Hedge - I have read Jonathan Strange! It was right when I started law school so it's been since 2005? You might like The Night Circus actually. And the Jonathan Stroud books. It's not super scary, I promise. It's really more eerie or creepy than something that will keep you up at night.

Bea - I think you totally should!

All - I have a real life book club (we've read everything from The Night Circus to YA dystopia to Shakespeare to Brave New World to Casual Vacancy), so I'm really excited about bringing it online. I also run the book club at the library I moonlight at.

All - This is me on GoodReads if you want to add me: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8210498-alison

#26

I have procured my copy of House of Leaves. Shall I wait to start reading it till more people have a copy or just jump in?

#27

I'm likely to get my copy early next week.

#28

I will hold off for a bit then. I tend to read fast when I'm not over loaded with work so it prolly wouldn't be good for me to jump in and start ahead of everyone anyway. Also - it will give me some time to finish the book I'm reading. heh.

#29

I have read both House of Leaves and Jonathan Strange. I have a very definite and different interpretation of the former than anyone else I know. I did not view it as a "scary" story at all, but rather as a satire of academic writing. I thought the whole book was one big send up of the conventions and pretensions of academia and the way they approach communication. Just my opinion, but I've never heard anyone else echo it, so I thought it worth mentioning.

I really liked Jonathan Strange, but it did bog down a bit at the end. It's been a long time since I read either of them.

#30

Have you read the The Third Policeman? If you're not put off by academic satire you are likely to enjoy that one.

#31

Academic satire sounds like fun. Given that I'm odd enough to read literary criticism for the heck of it...

#32

thellama73 wrote:I have read both House of Leaves and Jonathan Strange. I have a very definite and different interpretation of the former than anyone else I know. I did not view it as a "scary" story at all, but rather as a satire of academic writing. I thought the whole book was one big send up of the conventions and pretensions of academia and the way they approach communication. Just my opinion, but I've never heard anyone else echo it, so I thought it worth mentioning.

I really liked Jonathan Strange, but it did bog down a bit at the end. It's been a long time since I read either of them.

Hmm. I think I can see that. The hallway is a foil for the Ivory Tower in a way.

#33

Mongoose wrote:
thellama73 wrote:I have read both House of Leaves and Jonathan Strange. I have a very definite and different interpretation of the former than anyone else I know. I did not view it as a "scary" story at all, but rather as a satire of academic writing. I thought the whole book was one big send up of the conventions and pretensions of academia and the way they approach communication. Just my opinion, but I've never heard anyone else echo it, so I thought it worth mentioning.

I really liked Jonathan Strange, but it did bog down a bit at the end. It's been a long time since I read either of them.
Hmm. I think I can see that. The hallway is a foil for the Ivory Tower in a way.

I love love love that I'm on this random awesome site of smart people and I just got to read this bolded thing.
I love love love you guys so much.

#34

I got my copy of House of Leaves. It feels and smells quite nice.

#35

bea wrote:
Mongoose wrote:
thellama73 wrote:I have read both House of Leaves and Jonathan Strange. I have a very definite and different interpretation of the former than anyone else I know. I did not view it as a "scary" story at all, but rather as a satire of academic writing. I thought the whole book was one big send up of the conventions and pretensions of academia and the way they approach communication. Just my opinion, but I've never heard anyone else echo it, so I thought it worth mentioning.

I really liked Jonathan Strange, but it did bog down a bit at the end. It's been a long time since I read either of them.
Hmm. I think I can see that. The hallway is a foil for the Ivory Tower in a way.
I love love love that I'm on this random awesome site of smart people and I just got to read this bolded thing.
I love love love you guys so much.

I'm so happy you feel that way too!

Vompers, so glad you got your copy!

#36

I'm at page 33 and I want to say we gave 3 narrators,

this is the most complex thing I've read in ages,

#37

Is it not intense? Are you finding it eerie?

I definitely did not always know where to go. Vompers, did you start reading yet?

#38

After you guys finish House of Leaves, Mafia Book Club should read Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I am reading it now and it is very unique and interesting.

#39

Will likes that one I think, Llama. Is Anathem part of a series?

Well, my library did not have it, so I will have to order it looks like. Off to Amazon!

#40

thellama73 wrote:After you guys finish House of Leaves, Mafia Book Club should read Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I am reading it now and it is very unique and interesting.

I really need to read some Neal Stephenson so I will take you up on that. Can you write down some discussion questions as you go along?

#41

Hedgeowl wrote:Will likes that one I think, Llama. Is Anathem part of a series?

Well, my library did not have it, so I will have to order it looks like. Off to Amazon!

Can your library do an ILL (interlibrary loan?) I've gotten stuff from Alaska before. There are thousands of cooperating libraries across the continental US.

#42

Mongoose wrote:
thellama73 wrote:After you guys finish House of Leaves, Mafia Book Club should read Anathem by Neal Stephenson. I am reading it now and it is very unique and interesting.
I really need to read some Neal Stephenson so I will take you up on that. Can you write down some discussion questions as you go along?

Okay!

Hedgeowl wrote:Will likes that one I think, Llama. Is Anathem part of a series?

Well, my library did not have it, so I will have to order it looks like. Off to Amazon!

It is not part of a series, no. Amazon is charging $11.65 for it, which is outrageous because the list price on the back cover is $8.99, which is what I got it for a Barnes & Noble. Odd, since usually Amazon has lower prices than retail stores.

#43

I still need to get your latest novel.

#44

Mongoose wrote:I still need to get your latest novel.

Almost done with the new one. Just seven chapters left!

What do I have to do to get my books into that ILL system? I would love to have a book I wrote in a library. You should all demand it!

#45

I'm so jealous. I've been beating myself up continuously for my lack of progress.

Llama lo, I've almost asked you about getting your books into the library, but I wasn't sure how'd you feel about that.

You need to let the local program director/programming librarian at your local libraries know about your books. You can request your local library purchase said book if it's not available within its local library system.

I actually tried to get an e-copy of Pandemonium for our ebook collection when I was trying to use up all the money by the end of the year, but I was stuck only using Publishers X & Y.

#46

To get your works into the ILL system, you just need to get your book into ONE library within the ILL system. Cooperating libraries will give all the other cooperating libraries within the system access to that book, so as long as you can get it into one library, you're golden.

College libraries also have an ILL system (called OCLC) that has lots of sister academic libraries.

Since you are so close to the literal Library of Congress, you should find out how to have your stuff catalogued!

#47

This would be an amusing story if I remembered any of the details, but some decades ago in Denmark or possibly Sweden the national library was required by law to purchase a copy of every book published in the country, and this anarchist poet (I don't remember the name) somehow managed to get an ISBN number for his "book" which was actually a relatively large wooden log, and now this log is somewhere at the library (most likely in the storage room).

#48

Vompatti wrote:This would be an amusing story if I remembered any of the details, but some decades ago in Denmark or possibly Sweden the national library was required by law to purchase a copy of every book published in the country, and this anarchist poet (I don't remember the name) somehow managed to get an ISBN number for his "book" which was actually a relatively large wooden log, and now this log is somewhere at the library (most likely in the storage room).

That story is still fairly amusing without the details.

#49

Yeah no kidding! That sounds so Denmark. Maybe we can all write wooden logs.

#50

I wouldn't mind writing wooden logs. In fact I should suggest that to my writing group comrades next week.