howesj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? No
3.5
jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Des Einen Leid ist des Anderen Freud - drehen wir das mal so, denn ich kam zu diesem Buch bloss dadurch, dass eine Freundin es abgebrochen hat. Und dann mal mir untergejubelt hat. Scheinbar sind unsere Geschmäcker unterschiedlich genug; denn ich habe dieses Buch richtiggehend genossen.
Aber ich kann verstehen, dass "Das Haus" nicht für jeden Typ von Leser/in geeignet ist. Ich empfehle allen Interessierten, erst einmal etwas im Buch zu blättern, um herauszufinden, ob es einem wirklich passt.
Ich als Vielleserin bin unter anderem deswegen so begeistert von Danielewskis Werk, weil es mal etwas völlig Anderes ist. Wenn man pro Monat an die 30 Bücher liest, braucht es schon ein bisschen was, bis man etwas vollkommen Neues entdeckt. Dieses Buch ist genau das - neu und unbekannt.
Wie auch die Protagonisten im Buch, so weiss der Leser eigentlich nie, was ihn/sie auf der nächsten Seite erwartet. Der Text funktioniert auf mehreren ganz unterschiedlichen Ebenen, macht einmal dies, einmal jenes und steht auch plötzlich mal Kopf. Oder die Seiten sind leer. Oder geschwärzt. Man muss also während des Lesens auch immer mal wieder einen echten oder einen sinnbildlichen Kopfstand machen.
Das Sujet des eigenwilligen Hauses kennt man theoretisch, aber hier wird es auf ein völlig neues Level gehoben. Dieses Haus will ich unter keinen Umständen betreten. Nein, das muss nun wirklich nicht sein.
Danielewski erweist sich als kreativer Autor, der unbekannte Wege nicht scheut und seinen Lesern einiges zumutet. Für jene, die das schätzen ist "Das Haus" somit eine grandiose Entdeckung. Wer es lieber gemütlich hat, sollte sich erst einmal Gedanken darüber machen, ob er/sie sich an dieses Buch wagen will.
Aber ich kann verstehen, dass "Das Haus" nicht für jeden Typ von Leser/in geeignet ist. Ich empfehle allen Interessierten, erst einmal etwas im Buch zu blättern, um herauszufinden, ob es einem wirklich passt.
Ich als Vielleserin bin unter anderem deswegen so begeistert von Danielewskis Werk, weil es mal etwas völlig Anderes ist. Wenn man pro Monat an die 30 Bücher liest, braucht es schon ein bisschen was, bis man etwas vollkommen Neues entdeckt. Dieses Buch ist genau das - neu und unbekannt.
Wie auch die Protagonisten im Buch, so weiss der Leser eigentlich nie, was ihn/sie auf der nächsten Seite erwartet. Der Text funktioniert auf mehreren ganz unterschiedlichen Ebenen, macht einmal dies, einmal jenes und steht auch plötzlich mal Kopf. Oder die Seiten sind leer. Oder geschwärzt. Man muss also während des Lesens auch immer mal wieder einen echten oder einen sinnbildlichen Kopfstand machen.
Das Sujet des eigenwilligen Hauses kennt man theoretisch, aber hier wird es auf ein völlig neues Level gehoben. Dieses Haus will ich unter keinen Umständen betreten. Nein, das muss nun wirklich nicht sein.
Danielewski erweist sich als kreativer Autor, der unbekannte Wege nicht scheut und seinen Lesern einiges zumutet. Für jene, die das schätzen ist "Das Haus" somit eine grandiose Entdeckung. Wer es lieber gemütlich hat, sollte sich erst einmal Gedanken darüber machen, ob er/sie sich an dieses Buch wagen will.
highestiqinfresno's review against another edition
2.0
One of the biggest disappointments in recent memory. I've been meaning to check out House of Leaves for years on the strength of its legendary status as an experimental work of horror literature. While the storyline was fine, I found the writing gimmicky and dated. Danielewski plays with typography and layout to communicate the way the House of Leaves feels to its residents. Unfortunately, this does not add much to the story. I found the Johnny Truant sections to be the most frustrating part of the book. Though Truant is obviously intended to be a stock character ('local tattoo shop tough), his vernacular blends the worst of noirish tough guy masculinity with Fight Club-style edge lord. A boring book masquerading as an exciting literary experiment; I couldn't wait to leave the House of Leaves.
cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
micmezle's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-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? N/A
3.0
babyfacedoldsoul's review against another edition
4.0
This book scared me so much when I started reading it that I couldn't read it after the sun went down. Late fall was not the ideal time to start reading it. This book will change how you look at your own living space.
I thought it was such an interesting idea, especially all the foot notes. I loved the different voices he used. My favorite was his mother's letters in the appendix. This book lost me at times and I found the stylistic choices a bit too self indulgent at times but I enjoyed this book as a whole. I will never read it again though because it eats at you.
I thought it was such an interesting idea, especially all the foot notes. I loved the different voices he used. My favorite was his mother's letters in the appendix. This book lost me at times and I found the stylistic choices a bit too self indulgent at times but I enjoyed this book as a whole. I will never read it again though because it eats at you.
cryptidcorvid's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sauriansouls's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ebbie_casuallereading's review against another edition
3.0
Between 2.5 and 3.
I get it, kinda, why people like it, but also ugh.
The house thing is really cool and what is good about this book. The rest was tedious and long and bleh.
It's more of a flex from the author than entertaining or mind blowing for the reader. I also think there's a great missed opportunity with the colony chosen as the origin story, but that spoiler-ish so I won't say more on the matter.
Johnny Truant is not only unlikable, but reading through is parts was really excruciating at times, and there's some (TW) mention of rape, murder of animals, and mention of abuse that were not all that well motivated.
I appreciated the winks and more cinema/literature stuff + the French parts (even though the translation is not always the best), because these things were all part of my academic life, but even then, it became kind of a thing where after a few times, you got it, and it doesn't have the same feeling to it afterwards. You're just start to roll your eyes. It's supposed to be Zampano's stuff, but as the voices of him and Truant start to blend a little more, as the whole book is constructed as a "tour de force" by the author, one cannot fail to associate the annoying stuff to the editorial choice of the one pulling the strings of the characters.
The whole mise en abyme is fun for a while, but after the "surprise" of it, the recognition of the game, it becomes just there, and not enough to withstand interest.
I've finished the book solely because I wanted to know the ending of the movie. Everything else, I didn't care for. I was counting the pages until I arrived at the ones with less text to read. And it's all fun and everything, the layout thing, but even at the time of publishing, it was nothing new, so I had the "I see what you're doing" half smirk, but nothing more.
I guess, yet again, my expectations where too high, or the length of the book somewhat killed my enjoyment of it. There were big parts of the book, mostly Truant's parts, where I was made very aware I was reading a book written by a white male author, which made the mother's letters reveal fall very flat as well. I don't know if it's because it didn't aged well or something, but yeah, tedious, annoying and boring. It brings the greatness of the house story down.
Anyway, I'm glad I'm done. Highly unlikely I'll give the author another chance.
I get it, kinda, why people like it, but also ugh.
The house thing is really cool and what is good about this book. The rest was tedious and long and bleh.
It's more of a flex from the author than entertaining or mind blowing for the reader. I also think there's a great missed opportunity with the colony chosen as the origin story, but that spoiler-ish so I won't say more on the matter.
Johnny Truant is not only unlikable, but reading through is parts was really excruciating at times, and there's some (TW) mention of rape, murder of animals, and mention of abuse that were not all that well motivated.
I appreciated the winks and more cinema/literature stuff + the French parts (even though the translation is not always the best), because these things were all part of my academic life, but even then, it became kind of a thing where after a few times, you got it, and it doesn't have the same feeling to it afterwards. You're just start to roll your eyes. It's supposed to be Zampano's stuff, but as the voices of him and Truant start to blend a little more, as the whole book is constructed as a "tour de force" by the author, one cannot fail to associate the annoying stuff to the editorial choice of the one pulling the strings of the characters.
The whole mise en abyme is fun for a while, but after the "surprise" of it, the recognition of the game, it becomes just there, and not enough to withstand interest.
I've finished the book solely because I wanted to know the ending of the movie. Everything else, I didn't care for. I was counting the pages until I arrived at the ones with less text to read. And it's all fun and everything, the layout thing, but even at the time of publishing, it was nothing new, so I had the "I see what you're doing" half smirk, but nothing more.
I guess, yet again, my expectations where too high, or the length of the book somewhat killed my enjoyment of it. There were big parts of the book, mostly Truant's parts, where I was made very aware I was reading a book written by a white male author, which made the mother's letters reveal fall very flat as well. I don't know if it's because it didn't aged well or something, but yeah, tedious, annoying and boring. It brings the greatness of the house story down.
Anyway, I'm glad I'm done. Highly unlikely I'll give the author another chance.