House of Leaves in Overdue Podcast

Oct 29, 2018 Jason rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

This review, currently a blank, or is it just the all consuming darkness?

---XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX~~help~~XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXunendinXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX---

So much going on here, though the question remains is the whole as great as the sum of it's parts - I thin ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

May 25, 2020 Sarina M rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book was intense and probably the scariest book I have ever read (though scary might not be the best word, unsettling might be better). The story itself wasn't particularly scary, or at least not compared to some other horror stories. Instead Danielewski uses a variety of techniques to get the reader into a weird hyper-aware, uncertain, questioning state of mind.

He does this through multi layers of different unreliable narrators, dramatic shifts in tone and pace, direct and indirect metafi This book was intense and probably the scariest book I have ever read (though scary might not be the best word, unsettling might be better). The story itself wasn't particularly scary, or at least not compared to some other horror stories. Instead Danielewski uses a variety of techniques to get the reader into a weird hyper-aware, uncertain, questioning state of mind.

He does this through multi layers of different unreliable narrators, dramatic shifts in tone and pace, direct and indirect metafictional elements, and laying out the text multidimensionally to make reading it a physical activity (i.e. turning the book sideways and upside town, moving back and forth through the pages, moving the eye around the page between endless footnotes of differing lengths (each with varying importance / relevance) & font layout/color/style changes). The reading speed changes constantly, with some sections racing by (either by font formatting or dramatic content - often together), then suddenly to slow to snail's pace when the book diverts to hyperfocused faux-achedemic analysis of minute details, tedious meaningless lists/quotes, and long exhausting tangents. It also genre-shifts a lot too, moving from horror to angsty beat literature to academic essay to satire to family drama to psychological thriller to mystery and so on. I was looking around online and Danielewski apparently said it was overall a love story, which is so pretentious it made me laugh out loud. - Actually would argue that it is anti-romantic, and that Will Navidson made zero decisions in the story for the benefit of his "love" Karen, or their children, and solely focused oh himself.

Plot: The book is narrated (?) by an increasingly disturbed young man (Johnny Truant) who finds and later edits records/documents written by an old blind man (Zampano), which analyze a famous film about a family (the Navidsons) who move into a house in Virginia which opens to another dimension which materializes into a continually shifting dark freezing labryinth of seemingly endless hallways / stairs. The reader then is made to evaluate the 'truth' inside the fiction which is impossible as many storylines are mutually exclusive, meaning if one is 'true' the other cannot be. This makes the reader have to question every piece of the story and be on the lookout for connections (which constantly contradict themselves).
Some Layers:
1. The Navidson Record is a real documentary film (or not), or is a hoax, about a real phenomenon (or not), and the film/family are famous (or not) and have impacted the world to the point there are hundred of books about it (or not).
2. Zampano actually exists (or not) and wrote about the Navidson Record (which is real or not)
3. Truant actually exists (meaning the Navidson Record is not real) and actually found Zampano's documents (or not), or made up Zampano (or not), published his book (or not), and has some crazy experiences (or not). - while he is especially unreliable (as he admits to lying), at the same time his version is the most plausible.
4. Also there is another layer about Truant's mentally ill mother who may or may not have tried to hurt Truant when he was young, and the whole story could be an allegory for the resulting trauma.
5. Lastly there is an Editor, who adds footnotes/translations.

This is really work of art which is incredibly layered, unique, clever, and intense. Once it got going it was hard to put down. It made me uncomfortable but also incredibly intrigued. I was often frustrated sifting through the more tedious parts and was anxious to get back to the innermost story line, but now realize that the 'filler' parts made the book exponentially more suspenseful. If the Exploration of the Labyrinth piece was read all in one go (without footnotes or the endless excess analysis), it would be an interesting story, but not nearly as impactful. Truant's sections were by far the most exhausting to read, as many of his experiences were depressing, he is pretty unlikable, and also as he descends into madness he is harder and harder to follow.

This book's aim is not so much to communicate a story, but to manipulate the reader into a certain mental state. I wasn't scared while reading it, but instead uneasy of the world around me when I put it down (especially at night). For example after finishing the last page I had a general uncomfortable feeling and decided to take a shower before going to bed. When washing my hair I had a sudden irrational feeling like I wasn't alone and something supernatural was watching me. I quickly rinsed my eyes and confirmed there was nothing there and felt silly. Then as I washed my face I was again sure that there was a demonic being in the bathroom with me, and when I opened my eyes I would see it glaring menacingly at me. Again I tried to quickly wash the soap out of my eyes to confirm I was safe and alone, but when I opened my eyes I saw these huge eyes staring back at me and I screamed. As my cat scampered out of the room I realized my mistake, but it still resulted in an intense rush of feelings. She hasn't ever previously (to my knowledge) come into the bathroom while I am showering and put her little paws on the tub rim just to weirdly stare at me. Now I think she must have sensed that I was afraid and come in to check in on me. Anyway it was weird.

I am glad I finally read House of Leaves (I have wanted to for years, ever since picking it up years ago when at a Barnes and Noble and noticing its weird format). It feels like an accomplishment and was 'enjoyable' in its own weird way. I think I am going to read something light next though. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 15, 2020 Sarah rated it it was ok

Shelves: horror-supernatural, something-completely-different

Abandoned. I decided life was too short to keep trying with this one...

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 18, 2017 Camille24 (camilleisreading) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: set-in-virginia, new-weird, horror, haunted-houses

This book was a total mindfuck. 😬

I may have fallen asleep with the lights on one night until my boyfriend came to bed, turned them off and didn't understand why I was so freaked out. Because he is smart and did not read this book right before bed.

Although this book has been described as horror, it read to me more like a satire of an academic paper. Of course it was still very scary at times, particularly during the various explorationsof the house. But there were also long passages which, with ...more

Like · see review