Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

104 reviews

chrisxmaverick's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lordcafeine's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Was it an easy read? Totally not
Was it good? I don't know
Will it stick with me forever? Yes
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ivana's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The reading experience of this was like nothing I've ever read and probably will ever read again. I loved how it mirrored what was happening in the story. I actually enjoyed Johnny's footnotes and the rambling nonsensical tone a lot more than most seem to have and I had a harder time with the pretentious fake analytical tangents from The Navidson Record
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

entityj's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

blueshirt's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Interesting premise and structure, but I found most of the characters unlikable and kind of boring. 


- Johnny Truant's sections are so self-indulgent/-congratulatory. I have no patience for some misogynistic twerp's #sodeep musings.

- I'm never actually convinced that Navidson is a good guy. He just makes one stupid, selfish choice after another. I'm glad Karen cheated on him and I think she should do it again.

- Karen's character is defined solely by her beauty (or lack thereof, at the end) and how much she Needs A Man. Gross.

- The children are not real characters, they are given no depth or development. 

- Reston has no purpose beyond talking about how cool Navidson is.

- Tom is great, no notes.


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

yaslanna's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

eemi42's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I'm not going to be at around the bush, this book was work to get through. The formatting is not the only difficulty. It was also like reading a dissertation of sorts, which doesn't make for the easiest reading experience. So then the question is, is it worth it?

In my opinion, no.
This is the book equivalent of a found-footage film, except the film in question doesn't exist. What we read is the old man Zampanò's essay analyzing this nonexistent film, and Johnny Truant's attempts to piece together the old man's writings. I was drawn to this book because of the horror aspect, though this is more psychological horror than monster or ghost story.

The essay feels pretentious at times, adding to the frustration while reading. Sometimes the book felt gimmicky. And I didn't like Johnny Truant at all (likeable characters are a big deal to me). There were many times where he would meet up with women to discuss the book, only to launch into—ahem—other activities without much preamble. It got repetitive and annoying.

I can respect the obvious amount of work that went into this book. I enjoyed the unconventional formatting and puzzles. It even made me stop and think several times and question my own sanity. But ultimately, if like me you're looking for an enjoyable read with likeable characters, probably just skip it.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

haileyhardcover's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It’s just a normal book. 🙂

It’s just a normal book. 

It’s just a normal book. 

It’s JUST a normal book.



      It’s just a NORMAL book.






It’s just a normal BOOK. 



It’s just a normal

book.


It’s
            just a normal



                                                           book. 


.koob lamron a tsuj s’tI


It


                                     ‘s



just a nor 







mal







book. 






Is telling’ songs justifiably unusual sometimes trying about nothing or relatively more after loss both other or kind.
 


               
It’s just  | It’s just a normal book. It’s j | a 
normal  | ust a normal book. It’s just  | book. 
It’s just  | a normal book. It’s just a n  | a 
normal  | ormal book. It’s just a norm | book. 
It’s just  | al book. It’s just a normal b | a 
normal  | ook. It’s just a normal book | book. 
It’s just  | . It’s just a normal book. It’  | a 
normal  | s just a normal book. It’s ju  | book. 
It’s just  | st a normal book. It’s just a | a 
normal  | normal book. It’s just a nor  | book. 
It’s just  | mal book. It’s just a normal | a 
normal  | book. It’s just a normal boo | book. 
It’s just  | k. It’s just a normal book. It | a 
normal  | ‘s just a normal book. It’s ju | book. 
It’s just  | st a normal book. It’s just a | a 
normal  | normal book……………………. | book.


It’s 
      just
             a
                normal
                             book
                                       .

               
It’s just a normal book. 🙃
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

heidi_may91's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

madyou's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense

4.25

This was a difficult book for me to rate. Just like Johnny I found myself losing hours just to find out what happens next. But there were times where I couldn’t get thru some of the ramblings, or the overly analytical chapters. I was mostly interested in ‘film’ itself and the house that was bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. I still have so many questions, so many whys or hows even though I know the answers are never given. There are only theories of what it might mean or could be. 

Overall this book was tense, freaky, and definitely questionable at times. I loved it and wish there was more. It might take me weeks for me to fully process everything I just read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings