I was curious if anyone here had read the novel House of Leaves , by Mark Z. Danielewski? I was thumbing through it the other day at a Waldens and came close to buying it. I just couldn't bring myself to pay $20 for it unless I knew as a book it was worth it.
So, have you read it? If you did, what did you think?
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
I would point you to the Amazon.com reviews ... but I'm assuming you've already done that?
Or maybe you think we're better than the Amazon.com reviewers?
What if one of us IS an Amazon.com reviewer? Hmm?
Posted by Fitz (Member # 4803) on :
I read it based on the recommendation of a Hatracker quite some time ago. I was a bit wary of the style (the parallel stories, extensive footnotes, upside down gobbledygook and what not), but I gave it a chance and was pleasantly surprised. It's one of the few books which has ever genuinely got me a bit freaked out. Originally I got it from the library, and I liked it enough to buy it after that.
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
It's so totally worth it. Mind-blowing book, that.
Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
House of Leaves is one of the *the* best books I have ever read.
It is amazingly conceived -- and truly terrifying without ever directly naming the fear.
Read!!!
(but don't buy it for $20 when you can find it cheaper on Amazon, etc. Strider got one new for $13.)
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
It's worth it. I was hooked and couldn't stop reading till I finished that book. I can't even tell you the number of hours I spent re-reading passages and flipping back and forth trying to put things together.
That book, more than any other, pops into my head on random occasions. It Haunts you! j/k, it's awesome. Buy it.
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
In answer, Kaioshin, I do value the opinion of fellow Hatrackers over the opinion of those on Amazon.com. I would much prefer the opinion of people who have proven themselves overall to be intelligent, well-read people than to random people I know nothing about. If Hatrackers happen to post reviews on Amazon.com, fine. I'll assume that the people reading their reviews are just unfortunate people who have not discovered the wonders of Hatrack.
By the way, thank you for the reviews so far. In general, I believe that you've convinced me to read the book. I, too, was somewhat worried of the readability when I peered into the book in a moment that it was just listing quotes on the pages...nothing but quotes, or so it seemed. However, it helps that other Hatrackers have read it due to the opinions of more Hatrackers and did, indeed, enjoy it.
Leonide, thank you for the tip, I'll definitely take it. I kind of frowned a bit at that kind of cost for a paperback book.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
House of Leaves is one of a handful of books that I freely recommend to intelligent and unusual people who may or may not like science fiction or fantasy.
Also on that list are Ender's Game,Good Omens,The Pleasure of My Company,Illusions,Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, and The Cartoon History of the Universe, Volume One.
[ December 20, 2004, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: TomDavidson ]
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
Yeah, House of Leaves rocked. I recommend it without reservation.
Posted by Foust (Member # 3043) on :
Ok, admit it. Who else here decoded the letters and wrote the solutions in the margins?
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
not in the margins, but I have a notebook filled with stuff. I not only decoded as many letters as I could, but I began a compilation of story elements. Dates, events, objects, names, thematic elements, seemingly nonsensical or out of place lines, etc...for use in comparing the different narratives and figuring out what is actually going on.
There are also other secret codes throughout the main part of the book, as well as the SOS message in the SOS chapter.
Also, the Appendices are just riddled with hidden stuff as well.* But what I love about this book is that you don't need to get into all that stuff to enjoy it. I think just the Navidson Record is a great story in its own right.
*Yes, I was a little obsessed with this book.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :