minzzi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the first book I have ever read that really scared me.
I loved the Navidson Records, characters, the narrative and the way it was written and formatted. Truly genius. No complaints.
However, the parts about Johnny kinda irritated me, specially in the middle section of the book. All Johnny's storys about his childhood, or the story about the dead dog were great, fitted the theme of the book perfectly, but just how convenient is it that every person who knows something about Zampanò is an attractive young woman who wants to have sex with him?
I was having a great time learning about the terrifying maze in Navidson's house and Johnny would cut in with a random story about how he fucked a woman. It got boring quick.
Taking that out, as I said before, everything else was amazing.
I loved the Navidson Records, characters, the narrative and the way it was written and formatted. Truly genius. No complaints.
However, the parts about Johnny kinda irritated me, specially in the middle section of the book. All Johnny's storys about his childhood, or the story about the dead dog were great, fitted the theme of the book perfectly, but just how convenient is it that every person who knows something about Zampanò is an attractive young woman who wants to have sex with him?
I was having a great time learning about the terrifying maze in Navidson's house and Johnny would cut in with a random story about how he fucked a woman. It got boring quick.
Taking that out, as I said before, everything else was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
aspenrayne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Animal death, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer and Eating disorder
bites_of_books's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The amount of effort and work that went into House of Leaves is something that I can really appreciate. There were certain sections where the creepiness of the darkness inside the house was truly palpable but anytime that I was close to diving deep into that horror, the academic style of writing took me away from it. At times I was also really interested in the academic discussions regarding subjects ranging from physics to history and linguistics, but it was truly difficult to call it an enjoyable experience.
There are many interpretations about this book, ranging from who is narrating, the true meaning of the house, and even the timeline of events.
I don't think I can recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun book to read, but if you're into deep dives into linguistics, philosophy, poetry, physics, with two side stories that tell the stories of deeply troubled characters.
There are many interpretations about this book, ranging from who is narrating, the true meaning of the house, and even the timeline of events.
I don't think I can recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun book to read, but if you're into deep dives into linguistics, philosophy, poetry, physics, with two side stories that tell the stories of deeply troubled characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, Chronic illness, Confinement, and Death
unfinishedduet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Animal death, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Blood, Alcohol, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Child abuse, Addiction, Infidelity, Rape, Vomit, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Gore
transdankovsky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Drug use, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, and Misogyny
mimbomombo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
3.5
Alright then what a weird book to start my official big-boy-book reading journey off. Also, I read this as a pdf because I started it away from home, then it wasn't in my library or cheap enough to buy, so no upside down and sideways, or even coloured text unfortunately :(
I won't lie, this book tried my patience sometimes, Zampano waffles on and on about physics and various academic subjects and Johnny interrupts several times with the latest entry in how he's slept with every female he talks to for an hour or not using a full stop for a page and a half. That being said though, the fact that it is "Zampano and Jonny" writing the book and not Mark the actual author, I don't care as much and I'm not as offended. It all builds on understanding the characters more.
The book basically reads as an academic work with references and footnotes abound, as well as several ruminations on every part of the movie the book-within-a-book is about. It wasn't my favourite style of writing and the academic style was sometimes above my abilities, as well as the subjects it covered weren't that interesting to me at times. Sometimes I'd just skip a book paragraphs if I detected a huge waffle about something I didn't care to hear 3 different bodies opinions on.
Despite all that, I did enjoy the book enough to read it quite fast. the House story was fun, I'm glad it didn't have a concrete explanation but I do wish there was more craziness to it than I got, the biggest revelation was a window. I enjoyed following the family members and the story unraveling as I went. The knocking at the door was pretty damn crazy moment.
Jonny's story was interesting to see his deterioration and the glimpses of what it looked like from the outside. As I write this I feel like the story wasn't too satisfying, but there's clearly a deeper story to be found. I was very curious about how both these stories would end up.
That's what I'll say in general about the book, I expected it to be confusing and convoluted and it was, but still more engaging than the confusing and convoluted movies I've seen. I'm not too interested in finding out all the meaning of the stories, it's not really my taste of media to leave so much out, but I'll have a look. Just like the movies I've seen like this, it probably won't sway my opinion about the book. Though, I will admit, it does give you a lot to think about afterwards. I probably should have read it slower.
See:
I won't lie, this book tried my patience sometimes, Zampano waffles on and on about physics and various academic subjects and Johnny interrupts several times with the latest entry in how he's slept with every female he talks to for an hour or not using a full stop for a page and a half. That being said though, the fact that it is "Zampano and Jonny" writing the book and not Mark the actual author, I don't care as much and I'm not as offended. It all builds on understanding the characters more.
The book basically reads as an academic work with references and footnotes abound, as well as several ruminations on every part of the movie the book-within-a-book is about. It wasn't my favourite style of writing and the academic style was sometimes above my abilities, as well as the subjects it covered weren't that interesting to me at times. Sometimes I'd just skip a book paragraphs if I detected a huge waffle about something I didn't care to hear 3 different bodies opinions on.
Despite all that, I did enjoy the book enough to read it quite fast. the House story was fun, I'm glad it didn't have a concrete explanation but I do wish there was more craziness to it than I got, the biggest revelation was a window. I enjoyed following the family members and the story unraveling as I went. The knocking at the door was pretty damn crazy moment.
Jonny's story was interesting to see his deterioration and the glimpses of what it looked like from the outside. As I write this I feel like the story wasn't too satisfying, but there's clearly a deeper story to be found. I was very curious about how both these stories would end up.
That's what I'll say in general about the book, I expected it to be confusing and convoluted and it was, but still more engaging than the confusing and convoluted movies I've seen. I'm not too interested in finding out all the meaning of the stories, it's not really my taste of media to leave so much out, but I'll have a look. Just like the movies I've seen like this, it probably won't sway my opinion about the book. Though, I will admit, it does give you a lot to think about afterwards. I probably should have read it slower.
See:
- What is
the minotaur? what does the slashing, does it exist, does it relate to Zampano's story about the father of the minotaur loving the minotaur but having to hide it away (and how does that story relate to Jonny's vision of being lost on a ship) - Jonny and boats
- House of Leaves appearing in the book as a book two times
- Jonny writing the introduction of finding Zampano after already being insane for months and months
- How did Zampano write a book about a movie he hasn't seen?
- What did the house want? Is it God? Was it all psychologically influenced? Did it come from colonial America? It actually got Karen to rescue Will in the end, but killed others like Tom who had seemingly done no wrong.
- Contrary evidence, did the actually book exist? How the does that make any sense?
- What Jonny mean by "This is not for you"?
- etc.
Also, the strange formatting of the text in the book was entertaining, but a bit gimmicky.
OH and JESUS the sex did not need to get that explicit, I preferred it when Jonny just wrote poetry for an entire page. Glad I'm not alone on that front.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence and Rape
abandonedmegastructure's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
House of Leaves explores the very limits of what can be done with ink on paper.
A suspenseful tale of exploration into the unknown is enhanced with layers of symbolism, discussion, meta-discussion, and mythological allusions. The result is an enthralling novel, fundamentally mysterious yet deeply compelling, which invites its reader to join in the analytical discussions that take center stage from time to time. The book plays with page structure, footnotes, the fourth wall, text markup, and anything else you could imagine. It goes beyond having an unreliable narrator and straight-up invites us to question the narrator's existence; just another part of the fun it's having exploring the concept of writing (not writing - chronicling? depicting? recording? knowing?) itself. It touches on themes of cosmic horror, religion, mental illness, and the human subconscious, though if I had to pin down a single theme I'd say this is a book about absences first and foremost.
I realize I might be making this book sound like a pretentious tome that's more concerned with being clever than being readable. And to be fair, there are some pseudo-academic bits that go on for too long, and they're the reason I'm not giving this a 5/5. But the various narratives interwoven through the book are insanely well-written and evocative (not to mention disturbing), the main characters slowly reveal more of their fascinating yet flawed selves, and the references and metatextual elements add to their stories, rather than distracting from them. Even when viewed purely as a story, House of Leaves holds up extremely well; everything else is just a bonus.
A final thought: I've seen a lot of people call this a horror novel, and I get where they're coming from, but I found the text intriguing more than scary even at the most uncanny points. If you've been put off by the horror label, and would otherwise have considered reading the book, I encourage you to try it out anyway.
A suspenseful tale of exploration into the unknown is enhanced with layers of symbolism, discussion, meta-discussion, and mythological allusions. The result is an enthralling novel, fundamentally mysterious yet deeply compelling, which invites its reader to join in the analytical discussions that take center stage from time to time. The book plays with page structure, footnotes, the fourth wall, text markup, and anything else you could imagine. It goes beyond having an unreliable narrator and straight-up invites us to question the narrator's existence; just another part of the fun it's having exploring the concept of writing (not writing - chronicling? depicting? recording? knowing?) itself. It touches on themes of cosmic horror, religion, mental illness, and the human subconscious, though if I had to pin down a single theme I'd say this is a book about absences first and foremost.
I realize I might be making this book sound like a pretentious tome that's more concerned with being clever than being readable. And to be fair, there are some pseudo-academic bits that go on for too long, and they're the reason I'm not giving this a 5/5. But the various narratives interwoven through the book are insanely well-written and evocative (not to mention disturbing), the main characters slowly reveal more of their fascinating yet flawed selves, and the references and metatextual elements add to their stories, rather than distracting from them. Even when viewed purely as a story, House of Leaves holds up extremely well; everything else is just a bonus.
A final thought: I've seen a lot of people call this a horror novel, and I get where they're coming from, but I found the text intriguing more than scary even at the most uncanny points. If you've been put off by the horror label, and would otherwise have considered reading the book, I encourage you to try it out anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Child death, Sexual violence, Body horror, Rape, Infidelity, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Suicide
venusmage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
A brilliant work of narrative meta analysis, looking childhood/family trauma and the failures of parents (and the children left behind), and as the author put it, a love story. Wrapped up in delightfully twisted imagery. Pokes fun at the way academics can almost over-discuss art to the point it starts becoming dehumanizing, while acknowledging that every analyst inherently brings their own biases to the table. You’re forced to be included in that.
Less “overt” horror and more conceptual, based on metaphors. If reality-breaking narratives wig you out then maybe skip it, otherwise I’d highly recommend. I hate to say it’s an “you get it, or you don’t” sort of book, but I believe that is indeed the case. It’s a modern classic for a reason.
Less “overt” horror and more conceptual, based on metaphors. If reality-breaking narratives wig you out then maybe skip it, otherwise I’d highly recommend. I hate to say it’s an “you get it, or you don’t” sort of book, but I believe that is indeed the case. It’s a modern classic for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, and Animal death
Moderate: Alcohol, Violence, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual assault
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Pedophilia
cuppachaii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't even know what to say. This is my favourite book. It makes sense that it's becoming popular right now, since --despite coming out twenty years ago-- it blends all the current horror trends of lost media, liminal horror, analogue horror, and coded-lore-horror. I cannot recommend this enough for someone who wants to read a really difficult book and flip wildly between footnotes, indexes, and appendices to reveal some of the most subtle, creeping horror I've read. This is the only horror novel that's gotten me so scared it stopped me in my tracks, and it did it several times. The way it accomplishes this is by getting under your skin and slowly worming its way into your psyche so it can rearrange itself (ha) without you noticing. This book was good enough that my illiterate ass pushed through and read a paper copy (which you must do).
If you like books that get you obsessed, scouring forums, and uncovering secrets: read this. I cannot suggest it highly enough. It's impossible to describe the plot in less than a paragraph, which is the point. This is the kind of book you want to discuss with other fans as you make a spiderweb of twine on a corkboard. If you like subtle horror and interesting writing, read this. Do not miss this book.
If you like books that get you obsessed, scouring forums, and uncovering secrets: read this. I cannot suggest it highly enough. It's impossible to describe the plot in less than a paragraph, which is the point. This is the kind of book you want to discuss with other fans as you make a spiderweb of twine on a corkboard. If you like subtle horror and interesting writing, read this. Do not miss this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Forced institutionalization
lookleft's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a mesmerising book. Truly special and haunting. A horror story and a love story, separate and together. I love the way it plays with the look of the text and uses that to create atmosphere and tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content, Pedophilia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, and Rape