House of Leaves
Mark Danielewski
March 2000
709 pages
So I have read (and bought) House of Leaves. But I think I missed about 90% of what the book is about, for a variety of reasons:
- I will confess to skimming many of Zampano’s footnotes. Although I did read all of Johnny Truant’s.
- I don’t want to work that hard at reading a book.
- There are poems in the back, and I SUCK at reading poetry.
- There were whole sections about architecture, and engineering, and carbon dating, and philosophy, and language, and other things, all of which went right over my head.
- There’s also an index, although it doesn’t always tell the truth. It must take after the narrators.
- It’s bizarre.
I read this book for a read-along with Rebecca and Jenn. I had noticed it in the bookstore before, because if you leaf through this book, you’ll find that it’s intriguing to look at. There are giant sections of unconventional text (pages where the text is sideways, or circular, or upside down, and pages with just a few words and pages jam packed with words). There are scads of footnotes (seriously, it makes Oscar Wao look wimpy in the footnote department) and there are Appendices with pictures, and poems, and letters, and collages and quotes. Also, the aforementioned index. I read somewhere that the book has been described as ergodic literature. Espen Aarseth, the expert in ergodic literature (so says Wikipedia) explains:
In ergodic literature, nontrivial effort is required to allow the reader to traverse the text. If ergodic literature is to make sense as a concept, there must also be nonergodic literature, where the effort to traverse the text is trivial, with no extranoematic responsibilities placed on the reader except (for example) eye movement and the periodic or arbitrary turning of pages.
And that’s enough about that, otherwise I’ll run screaming away from this post.
There is a story. Actually there are two stories. Or maybe three. Maybe even four. The first story is about Will Navidson, a famous photojournalist who has bought a house in Virginia in an attempt to settle down and save his relationship with his family. But after Navidson, his girlfriend Karen, and their two children move into the house, they begin to notice a few odd things. There are rooms that suddenly appear. And the house is bigger on the inside than the outside. And then one day there is a hallway that seems to go on forever. And it growls. As Navidson and various friends begin to explore the house, things just get creepier and creepier.
Meanwhile, in the footnotes, there is a second story. Johnny Truant, who found this whole tale on scraps of paper in a dead man’s apartment (the dead man being Zampano), is telling his own story. Johnny becomes obsessed with the story, to the point where he is slowly going insane. Although all of the drugs he took and his own mother’s history of mental illness may be contributing factors. One can never be sure with Johnny. He is amusing, though. Take this response to a quote from Heidegger:
Which only goes to prove the existence of crack back in the early twentieth century. Certainly this geezer must of gotten hung up on a pretty wicked rock habit to start spouting such nonsense. Crazier still, I’ve just now been wondering if something about this passage may have actually affected me, which I know doesn’t exactly follow, especially since that would imply something in it really does make sense, and I just got finished calling it non-sense. (p. 25 or footnote 33)
Johnny also said (page 20 footnote 25) “We all create stories to protect ourselves,” casting doubt on pretty much anything that comes after.
Zampano, the original narrator, and the house itself could also be considered stories, although we never do learn anything concrete about either one.
So that’s the gist of the story. But it’s almost impossible to just read this book. It’s more like you have to experience it. And study it, because there are hidden clues and meanings and references scattered through the whole thing. And that’s where I get lazy, because I don’t want to spend days poring over footnotes and looking for hidden messages. The one place where it’s obvious there is a hidden message is in the letters from Johnny’s mom, found in one of the appendices. She even explains how to find the message. Did I bother? No. Because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life decoding the damn book!
I did do a little Googling, to see what popped up about House of Leaves and Mark Danielsewki. There are a couple of interviews…the Bookreporter interview is kind of fun, the Guardian interview more serious.
And then there’s Danielewski’s Wikipedia page, which explains a few things, such as the fact that his father was a film professor and his sister is Poe, a musician who wrote songs that relate to the book. Which explains why the word Poe appears on the back cover. And why there is so much about film in the book.
And there is a whole forum devoted to discussing the book, which is way more info than I ever wanted. Although I did learn that one possible explanation for why the word house always shows up in blue is because of the blue screen that is used in filmmaking to create special effects. Therefore, a blue screen can be anything, or nothing. Is your head spinning yet?
In the bizarre column, I mentioned in my last Sunday Salon post that it wasn’t the weirdest book I’d ever read in terms of content…that honor goes to Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn. Later that day, as I was reading along in House of Leaves, I came across this reference:
Katherine Dunn is rumoured to have invented her own version of Karen’s journal. (p. 416)
And yes, that is how rumoured is spelled…there are other English spellings throughout the novel.
That was a bit of a Twilight Zone moment. The Dunn reference, not the spelling of rumoured. So maybe it is the weirdest book I’ve ever read. All I know is I’m tired of thinking about it.
I think I’ll stick with the nonergodic. I am not one to take on extranoematic responsibilities.
Thank you for making me scream.
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Black History Month: February 14, 1818 – Birthday of Frederick Douglass
I can’t get past the title reminding me of Leaves of Grass, which since you don’t like poetry, you would probably like even less.
Nicole´s last blog ..One Amazing Thing, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – Book Review
This sounds like a book that is best read with others–maybe even for a class. And it sounds like a book that is meant to be read over and over again, and yet the reader will still find something new each time.
Literary Feline´s last blog ..Monday At the Movies: Taking Chance
I’m glad I didn’t know abt this when I was a teenager. I can only imagine the possible obsession I might have had. I don’t think I have time for this (as I reach for a book of only 144 pages and few footnotes – if any, I haven’t looked.)
Care´s last blog ..Benny & Shrimp
I didn’t decode the whole of Johnny’s mum’s acrostic letter either – I started to, but it seemed like just more of the same with her other letters, and I was in a car and getting a headache, so I stopped. I didn’t mind so much turning the book in different directions, or how insane the footnotes were, but I don’t think this is one I’ll be rereading OFTEN. Too much work.
House of Leaves is like crack to me – I have 2 copies – the first is filled with my scribbles and notes, the other is my reading copy which is starting to fall apart.
I’ve read this about 6 times after I became utterly obsessed with it. At first I really liked the creative style, but then I just wanted to understand every little bit of it – a hopeless endeavor. Aside from needing to read the Whalestoe Letters (Danielewski’s book of letters from Johnny and his mom) there are literally hundreds of references to other books.
It does seem like quite a bit of work but it’s sort of interesting too. The way it’s done I mean. Every time you open it there’d be something new to discover. Of course that’s me, reading this review and not the book itself. Given my patience level it would probably drive me batty.
Ti´s last blog ..You’re a Bookseller and you said WHAT?
This definitely sounds like something I would not like. lol.
Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
Damn, woman! You sped through this. I’ve managed to read 100 pages since I started it last week. I love the format, and I’m reading the footnotes, and I’m really wondering if I should be flipping back to the appendix when it’s mentioned or just read all those pieces at the end. I’m also wondering if I should give it up….
Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..Kathleen Grissom at Fountain Bookstore: Win a signed copy of THE KITCHEN HOUSE
LOL! Fantabulous review full of frustration. Which would probably make Danielewski very happy. I’m also a fan of Poe’s music. The House of Leaves “soundtrack” album, Haunted, is probably one of my all-time faves. It’s really creepy as it uses their dad’s voice overlaid on some of the tracks. Good stuff.
Andi´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – A Review and a Happy V-Day!
I’ve seen this one at the bookstore a few times, but I have to admit, it always seemed gimmicky to me, and I always thought it would be kind of annoying to try to read it. I don’t wan to have to hold my book up to a mirror or flip it around to weird angles in order to read it!
Steph´s last blog ..“The Egyptologist” by Arthur Phillips
Ummmm. Just not sure what I think — sounds like fun (layout etc.), sounds like work (footnotes, acrostics). I should at least check it out of hte library. But, then, I don’t like spooky, so (like I said) I’m just not sure.
Beth F´s last blog ..Spotlight On . . . Judith Moffett
I’m with Care – in my younger (more energetic) days, I probably would have decoded, deconstructed, and debated this book for hours/days with my friends.
Now I’m content to move my eyes, turn the page, and at times think and converse.
The term ‘ergodic’ made me think of ‘cogito ergo sum’; HOUSE OF LEAVES might require too much cogito(ing) for me, ergo, I’ll avoid it.
Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Book Review: *Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy* by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
Better you than me with this one…
heidenkind´s last blog ..Interview with Chloe Neill + Giveaway
I just don’t want to have to work that hard to read a book.
Jenners´s last blog ..Review: "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova
I admit this actually sounds interesting to me! The problem is, I’m not sure I have the time (and attention span) for a book like this right now. I’d have to look at a copy to decide!
Valerie´s last blog ..FreeVerse: Lucille Clifton (Again)
I really hate working hard to get thru a novel … and this one sounds exactly like one that will go way over my head
And 700 pages, that is enough to make me put the book back
I remember looking at this after Andi read it and loved it. And I confess, I just didn’t get it!! I’m impressed you made it through reasonably intact.
Heather´s last blog ..When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge
i CANNOT believe you made it through this book. this is one of two books i’ve ever QUIT in my whole life as a reader. i’ve written entire posts about how much this book aggravates and confuses me with this devices and cuteness. argh!
how did i miss an entire ‘house of leaves’ read along?!?!?! lol. thank GOD.
This book has been on my TBR list forever! I think I’ll wait a bit longer though – I just finished a difficult, mind-bending book so I think my head needs a rest.
EL Fay´s last blog ..Of Love, Life, and Death
I been hearing about this book and am quite curious. I think that I am going to check it out!
Thanks for the info on it.
Kelly´s last blog ..Top 5 Posing and Directing Photography Tips
You know, at some point I remember wanting to try to read this book. You’ve convinced me not to. I tried reading another Danielewski book a couple of years ago and didn’t get past 20 pages. It was bizarre. I think his efforts at being experimental just don’t work for the vast majority of readers out there.
Wendy´s last blog ..Why Join Reading for a Cure?
This is one of my favorite books ever. I was mesmerized when I first picked it up shortly after it was released (I happened upon it as a fan of his sister’s music) and re-read it every few years. There’s always something new to discover in it. <3
Laura´s last blog ..Book Review: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
This book is an amazing one that has the most intricate care and details. Its post modern approach is a big step in literature and it is very addictive. I have not had as much emotion when reading a book as I did when realing HOL. Everytime something creepy is being described it makes you want to check over your shoulder. As people said you can read it over and over and find something new. We actually read this one in an english class and most of the kids were like some of the reviews here, “It seems like too much work” etc. etc. You have to want to enjoy it and care enough to take the time, but just because you’re not willing to, doesn’t mean that the author failed at his attempts. If read with interest and not like a chore, you will enjoy the book for what it is….
(No joke: Some may have trouble sleeping for weeks at a time, their first time reading)
I found your blog on google and read about 5 more of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the amazing work Look forward to reading more from you in the future. Later