House of Leaves House of Leaves question


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Is it too scary for a scaredycat?
BrandiH BrandiH May 23, 2014 06:58PM
I am completely intrigued by all the reviews of this book. However, I like to be able to fall asleep at night, and not worry about rapists and murderers.
The image from Blair Witch, with the guy's face in the corner, haunted me for years. I loved The Road, but it definitely haunted me too.
I do like some psychological thrillers though.

Do you think this book would deprive me of my beauty sleep?

Thank you!



Jaksen (last edited May 25, 2014 04:53AM ) May 25, 2014 04:52AM   2 votes
I read it, managed to make it through all the footnotes, etc. Tipped the book upside-down, read it sideways or backwards, whatever was required and then I said, what a terrible waste of time.

Again, a book with a fascinating premise, but the production falls flat. Disappointing book.

But scary? Yes, in the first 50-100 pages or so. Takes a scary idea and runs with it...

Then runs off down the street. My problem, I followed, didn't get lost, but in the end, didn't care.


Honestly, this is not conventionally scary ... not at all. If you hate ghosts and ghouls and gore, well, you'll be a-okay. This is a psychological "scary"; a thought provoking glimpse into a man and his mental collapse. The story jumps from an old man and his secluded life with a story, the story itself (about a house that is unnaturally alive - and clearly has a force of its own), and the man who lived near the old man and found the book and is reading it while he loses his mind and unravels.


Trust me if anything this book will help you sleep, it's so boring! I also loved Blair Witch but i am afraid you will be very disappointed. I am a great lover of scary books and movies and take it from someone that loves a good scare it really is not worth reading. I know so many have bigged this book up and that is why i decided to read it but oh my gosh i wish i hadn't. Most of it makes no sense at all, some of it is not even in English. Please feel free to ignore my comments but i can only say i warned you.

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Tracy Reilly I dunno--I think I'm like you--I made it through twice, but I psyched myself out of a lot of sleep. ...more
Sep 15, 2015 03:51PM · flag

This book is scary in the sense that you don't know what's reality and what isn't. It's our own imagination that we have to be afraid of. You'll have to be able to appreciate the style this book is written in or you will not be able to get the most satisfaction from it. A house whose dimensions are bigger on the inside than what is seen on the outside and somehow keeps expanding, creating new rooms and hallways? Let your mind get taken on a trip.


Yes.


The book is sold as Horror but it REALLY IS NOT A HORROR NOVEL, although there are a few moments that will give you chills. Ignore the posters above, it is a fascinating psychological novel that touches on hundreds of different things, not all of it will make sense.


Try it, if you don't get into it then give up. I saw it through and was not satisfied.

What started out as a good idea just became lost. For me the author lost control of his own ideas, resulting in a bit of a mess to be honest.

You may get it. I didn't. I was just glad when it was over.

If you do try it, let us know what you think.

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Mikael I felt kind of like the form of the novel (i.e. all the footnotes and stuff) were part of the book itself. One part concrete poetry, one part academic ...more
Apr 27, 2015 12:38PM · flag

It's more creepy than scary. Think noises in the attic. You'll know by about half-way through. If you're not scared by the time they're exploring the space in the house, you shouldn't have any problem finishing it.

FWIW, I really liked House of Leaves, flaws and all. For me, it was one of the more satisfying endings of a novel. Some of the writing is really hokey, and the sideways and upside down stuff didn't add anything, but it didn't interfere either. I let it go as an experiment that didn't work.


The book isn't scary: it's suspenseful. Honestly, the book centers a lot on relationships between characters more so than "horror" elements.

This book is great. Don't worry about reading every single footnote or sidebar though. I'm a completionist but even I stopped reading all the made-up references and rambling footnotes. Don't skip "The Whalestoe Letters" though. Creepy stuff.


It's more weird than actually scary. Also, incredibly dense, and somewhat confusing - which I liked.


not scary, not a horror book. it is impossible to really classify this book, but horror is definitely not part of the classification. Although you could turn the 5 1/2 minute hallway into a pretty good horror movie, maybe.


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