Literally Dead Book Club discussion
HOUSE OF LEAVES
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the first 20 pages
I can't even afford this book. It's very expensive in India.:(
I am still confused, what to think of this book. Because I am afraid to miss some cruciale Information , i might be overanalysing it XD especially the introduction got me wondering:
why is the word HOUSE always written in blue?
why are some words underlined?
why does Johnny use some phrases, that don't aligne with his normal way of writing ( At least in my opinion^^)
The Record part is a bit boring to me honestly and those anecdotes, added by Johnny, are strange.
I hope, I can finish this book this month. I only read small parts of it at a time, because always searching for clues is a bit tiring XD
oh i total forgot to mention those wierd numbers and letters on the first and last page. what is that supposed to mean? is it some kind of code ?
So my copy has holes in two pages and you can find the pieces stuck a few pages later, is it just me ? Kinda scared
This book is expensive (paperback) in India and Kindle edition is not yet available here
20 pages in and the first thing I also noticed is that house is written in blue. I feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole.
I'm at about 100 pages in, and this book is straight up bonkers ! I've enjoyed most of the chapters so far, and I can see how this is a stressful read for some. I really enjoy the sense of dread so far. The appendix mentions in the footnotes are good for giving more context and depth to characters. I think I'm actually going to look through the pages I've read so far to make sure I haven't missed any. I really want to follow the "instructions" the book gives us in the footnotes by checking out things like the appendix.
Lala wrote: "Hi, this is going to be a challenging book to divide up into reasonable sections, having not read it yet. So read the first 20 pages and tell me how you feel.
What have we gotten into?
How do you..."
I've gotten to page 80 and read appendixes D &E (Full Colour edition), and I tried to explain it to my husband with the plot inside a different plot and he just kind of spaced out on me. I don't know if there is a easy way to describe this thing. It sure is interesting though!
Hi everyone, I am new here, I think I might reread this because it’s such a wonderful experience.My advice is to view this as a “found object” instead of a “book.” So you were out talking a walk, you sit on a bench for a moment and you see a jumble of pages lying there and you decide to take them home and read them.
They are not too deliberate, they are a bit of a mess, not everything has a meaning that the reader can deduce. Some of it was typed up in delirium.
Also when looking at misogynistic things that a character says and does, remember he is a
Person, not our hero, so he is flawed and possibly a reflection of a guy in the 90’s with typical attitudes of the time.
Hi everyone this will be my first literally dead book club read and I am so excited to start! I've had a copy of the remastered full color edition on my shelf for oh, 8 years? haha I've been so intimidated to read it, even though I've probably picked it up and read the first couple pages 10 different times. I am trying to power through the final book in a series I've been reading all through February (Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry) but I hope to dive into this this weekend! I am ready for this mess
Hi all! I came to Literally Dead because I saw news of a House of Leaves read-along floating around the book-o-sphere, and I've been meaning to re-read it. Thanks for the nudge!So yeah, the whole point of this book is to be more challenging/engaging to navigate than just "a book." I really like Aabha's suggestion to treat it like a found object. I also wouldn't say this is strictly a horror novel. It's primarily an ergodic novel that involves some creepy elements (very creepy at times!).
Also, from my memory of reading this 8-ish years ago, I would advise that you don't worry about scrutinizing every footnote or strange typographical anomaly. You can enjoy this if you just glance over some stuff.
On the other hand - have fun going down a rabbit hole with anything that catches your fancy! Like, I told myself I wasn't going to get too entangled in the ergodic elements this time . . . then I wound up reading the index for a good 20 minutes and doing research about it online!
I'm just into chapter IV and woooow this is a fun adventure! I'd never heard of this book before it was announced as a book club pick and im really surprised! I absolutely love the found-footage trope and this book feels exactly like that. Navidsons film, so far, feels like its a blair witch kinda deal - setting out with good intentions of just documenting a journey and then turning into something a lot deeper. It's also reminding me of a very niche part of the Internet that not a lot of people may know about, but if anyone is familiar with The Slenderman, they may know about the YouTube series called Marcel Hornets?? Very obscure and again, very niche, but it has the same elements: the creepy vibe, the weird cryptid energy, mystery within a mystery, meta exploration
Love, love, love!!!!!
im 70 pages in + 50 pages of the appendix. i really love reading the navidson record but not really johnnys side of things. some of his passages are good, but some feel like filler. maybe they wont by the time im finished and/or rereading. i am enjoying it now, but everything up until this point seemed like a lot of set up
I just wanted to pop in and say that I hope everyone enjoys this month's read! I will be skipping out on this one just because this book is really not my cup of tea and that's ok! I'm excited to join back in April <3
I’ve loved Poe’s companion album Haunted since it came out so long ago. It’s one of my favorites to listen to when I write.So, it’s been 15-20 years that I’ve been meaning to pick up this book and gotta say after 20 pages I have no idea what I just read. But I’m filled with dread and fear and that’s excellent.
I’m also confused. I also don’t know what’s real. Man this book is great already. I’ll check back in soon!
Hopefully third times the charm because I never get past the first few chapters. The massively meandering footnotes by Johnny are a big detractor for me. But hoping the group read will keep me motivated (fingers crossed).
Sarah wrote: "20 pages in and the first thing I also noticed is that house is written in blue. I feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole."Right, I felt the same!? And why is house in blue? I am curious about that too.
I am on page 40 and I have had mixed emotions so far. I loved the intro. I was getting a little lost in the text during the first chapter. Around the 3rd chapter I understood the flow of the book better, so it's more enjoyable now.I agree with most opinions already stated: I am a bit bored at times; however, I also get an exciting sense of horror at times. The book overall does have a creepy vibe that I am appreciating.
To everyone that gave tips on how to read this book: thank you, I thought they were helpful.
At the moment, I like the creativity of how this book is put together and I think it's an interesting read.
I think this book needs to be read physically to get the full effect, especially since you have to turn it around and possibly go back and forth between pages. It also has 709 pages!! I want to read this at some point but it seems way too much for my mind to handle right now. Might be good during the holidays or something.
I'm 20% into this book and I feel like I'm reading a mash up of cinematic, philosophical, and psychological theory for a uni class lol.
So far I'd rather compare the feeling of reading the book to a surrealist movie or found-footage horror than to reading any other book. It's really an experience
I’m not sure what to make of this book. I’m feeling kinda bored with it and I’m finding the jumping back and forth a bit annoying.
So I had finished a book the group wasn’t reading towards the end of February and I realized how thick House of Leaves was so I started it a little early. I’m only on page 64. I’ve dove down the rabbit hole. I’ve looked on Reddit and things like that for various fan theories making sense of the book and such. It’s a lot. I am thoroughly enjoying it and find it more like a mystery than a horror. It does get a little slow in spots. I think it’s important to note that I don’t think we’re supposed to like Johnny. I don’t think that’s the point of his perspective. I think we’re just supposed to observe his reactions to putting this novel together. I’m also quite confused as to why house is in blue. So let’s go over what we know of the color blue to try to make sense of it:It is one of three primary colors
It is the hardest color for our eyes to see
Now let’s go over what we know of the house so far:
As of page 20, not a whole lot. However we do know that the “author” of the main part of the book is blind- is this why they colored the word house with the hardest color to see?
I recommend getting a physical copy of this book! It adds to the experience . Based on the recs in this thread , I'm treating this like a mysterious found journal/book. And taking the time to read the appendices /attachments I've come to learn more about the guy Johnny who found this and how he interprets and experiences the "effects" of this book.
So I am roughly 75 pages in, and it's no where near as intense as I anticipated, but that makes sense. I really liked the prologue. I liked Johnny introducing the book in a reflective tone, where he's already descended into madness, it read like a warning. It sets up the tension in the reader because while the beginning is quite benign, we as readers know this book drove a man to madness, and now we are about to experience the same thing. I also really like Johnny's footnotes. His initial tangents that establish his character "before" - a pretty typical 20-somthing, holds a job, goes out with friends, maybe a bit of a stereotypical late 90s grungy bohemian a la Roger from Rent (I'm picturing Adam Pascal lol) but all around a regular guy - and I find these lucid, mundane stories a stark contrast to the introduction. It's all setting up the "fall" really well.
The one uncertainty I have right now is actually with Zampano. His footnotes mention various interviews and scholarly articles which obviously don't exist in our real world (as opposed to things like the novel days between stations which someone above mentioned) but my question is, do those references exist in Zampano/Johnny's world? The impression I'm getting is that Johnny started researching and tracking down these references and discovered that they all don't exist? Not 100% sure but that's what I think is going on.
All in all though I like the set up! I'm a big found footage style horror movie fan, so the original navidson film reads like that, with Johnny's presentation adding layer of urban legend that adds a sense of realness/validity to the whole experience.
Ashley wrote: " I think it’s important to note that I don’t think we’re supposed to like Johnny."Totally agree. He has a perspective that lends something to the story, but that doesn't mean he's the hero of the story. Also worth remembering that he talks about how he was a consummate bullshit artist and recreational liar - what impact does that have on how we take his notes and how he (allegedly) packaged Zampano's writing?
Just got through the first 24 pages according to the page count on the bottom. So far I'm intrigued but definitely confused by what's going on. I've heard bits and pieces about what this book sort of revolves around but after actually reading it, I no longer think I know. I will say, I'm getting vibes of like the Blair Witch Project or Antrum, in which there is a narrative being created around an idea that turns out to be fictious.
I'm around 80 pages in and I'm honestly kind of confused about what's going on but I'm enjoying reading it even if it is confusing and I'm curious to see where it goes hopefully ill be able to finish by the end of the month
I dnf'ed it. I am the first? the only? I was even jumping ahead, hoping at some point it would get interesting enough, but it start giving me Blair Witch Project vibes and that sealed the coffin on this one. I was thinking "what, there are more then 700 pages of this?!" I just can't force myself to read this one. But I am curious to see what everyone actually likes about it.
so I’m around just over 100 pages in and can’t decide whether I’m ~enjoying~ the somewhat gruelling reading process, ie finding myself having to read things over and over to even comprehend it (which I think is due in parts to the grammar in some of Johnny’s sections, and the density of Zampano’s tangents). I’m definitely more invested in the Navidson side of things than I am in the rest, but I don’t find Johnny as unlikeable as some of you guys appear to! I really like this take on the “haunted” house/ “haunted” person/s, but can’t tell if it’s going to be worth all the effort 😩 fingers crossed!
@Elliot Anderson I’m using the app and i have no idea how to reply/tag, but I’m getting Marble Hornets vibes too!! i remember very little from that series but the energy is definitely similar to this
I really want to like this book but I'm struggling to convince myself to read it. It seems like I'm just not in the mood for a book where I have to use my brain. Also, this book reminds me too much of a university textbook with the footnotes and the size of the book.I'm super interested in the plot and where things are going but I don't know if my brain can handle it right now. I'm going to give it 10-15 more pages but I might have to put the book on pause for now and revisit it at a later date.
I’m struggling to just get through the prologue... the crowded text is really irritating. :X Perhaps I’ll be able to revisit this post-pandemic...
I honestly don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into. I may have bitten off more that I can chew due to the length of this book. That being said, I am enjoying it so far. I am a little confused but I feel that the further I read into this the more I will understand. I actually really enjoy the footnotes, I like knowing more about the character and situations. I’m going to have a hard time finishing this book within this month I think, but I’m determined to do it. So far I like it😊
I decided to read the Navidson record first and go back and read Johnny’s story.
has anyone read Johnny’s mother’s letters in the Appendix and, in turn, decoded that one letter? I found them all fairly upsetting and emotional but that one in particular was really disturbing. they were so realistic that I could hear her voice in my head almost instantly. wasn’t prepared to feel this sad 😔
woof I really wanted to enjoy this story but wow it has put me in such a reading slump. Chapter 5 is so slow and difficult to understand, I've completely been taken out of the immersion.
Not sure what to think quite yet. I've been reading this book in small portions. I'm the type of reader that is determined to finish a book if I have begun it (there are some exceptions) so I do plan on getting through this. Reading some of the positive thoughts here and some reviews has made me pretty excited again so there's a plus! I guess i'll check in again at the halfway mark 🤞🏻
I'm reading it in Russian, got it from my usual book shop and turns out it's the one in black and white, so no blue "house"s BUT they are still in bold. The translator's part in the beginning seems somewhere between a marketing trick and a weird initiation ceremony, the beginning of the actual book is also kinda confusing, let's see if I can finish the book... this year...
I'm intrigued. Still intimidated. Not sure how long this will take. Still not 100% sure I'm reading this correctly or understanding. I'm curious though and it hasn't completely lost me... yet.
I have been trying for like 2 weeks and I am on page 26. Honestly I do really like it, I like the way it’s written I love how real it feels. But honestly I wish Truant would just SHUT UP! I don’t care about the lies you tell women to get them to sleep with you! I don’t care! Bright side, when he’s talking I zone out so much I think I have uncovered the truth about the Christian god, Jesse and satan, not because it has anything to do with what he’s talking about, he’s just so goddamn boring
I'm 20 (numbered) pages in. This book has made me angry, already.... However, I'm going to keep reading. I see so many mixed reviews online. Some people have finished this book and said it needs to be thrown in a fire; some people have finished it and said it's the only book that has stuck with them for 15+ years... SO, I'm REALLY hoping there is a payoff because right now I'm feeling very "Team Fire".
Just got husband to read the book to me, as I was complaining and jokingly said “please read to me” and it is the best decision I have made in my life, his commentary is golden.
Kopratic wrote: "Amberdee wrote: "Sarah wrote: "20 pages in and the first thing I also noticed is that house is written in blue. I feel a little like Alice going down the rabbit hole."Right, I felt the same!? And..."
Oh wow. This is an interesting tidbit...
Emma wrote: "Just got husband to read the book to me, as I was complaining and jokingly said “please read to me” and it is the best decision I have made in my life, his commentary is golden."Haha damn...I should get someone to read it to me too
I'm confused, thenfirst 20 pages front and back=2 pages or front and back=1 page? since the beginning uses roman numerals to start numbering pages before breaking off into different parts of the book?
Just finished The Navidson Record section/chapter 2 which ends on page 18 for my edition not including Johnny Truant's Introduction. I have the remastered full color 2nd edition btw. I first saw this at the start of last year in B&N and was intrigued but intimidated, still am tbh.I enjoyed the intro as to how Johnny got a hold on Zampanò's work, it laid that foundation of obscurity and mystery to what lay ahead.
These first 2 sections of The Navidson Record are rough for me. I have only been able to get through section 1 and 2 over these last 2 days. They seem very dense, and like someone above mentioned, makes me tired from possibly over analyzing everything. I also am stopping constantly to highlight the foot notes (which make no sense to me, they are just a bibliography of works I am not familiar with, and I don't know what to make of them) and stopping to write some interesting words down on paper. I am a tad frustrated but I do want to try my best to power through.
I do not think I will be able to finish this before the end of April, especially since I read Every Vow You Break before this.
I received this book as a gift about a year ago. The person who gave it to me got a hardback copy and handed me the very thick, heavy paperback saying it's good and I should read it. flipped through the pages to discover it has an interesting layout. I have pulled it from its spot on the shelf to open it up and read it. I know little to nothing about it going in, but I like it that way, I have little to no expectations. I have just finished reading III ending on page 24 of my copy.
I am probably over analyzing. Why is HOUSE always blue? What's up with the old house? Is it haunted? I must continue reading in hopes of answers.
I will give the opening this, the hook worked on me. I have many questions and desire answers to said questions.
So read the first 20 pages and tell me how you feel.
What have we gotten into?
How do you feel?
Are you fuming at my book club choice?
Do we need to bump the live show to 2023? lol