House Of Leaves: The genre-defying, immersive psychological horror and prize-winning cult classic Paperback – 6 July 2000

I first read House of Leaves (HoL) when I was 20 at University over 8 years ago, consuming it in around three weeks (or is that the other way around?). Upon the first reading I pored over many parts slowly to try to truly understand them and take in the beauty and depth of the prose. Some of it it literary poetry; some of it is literally poetry. I've since returned to the House a few times; it's one to revisit for sure. The D(evil) is in the details, as is G(o)od. It is a bit of a tome but I would say it's worth it...Note: there may be minor accidental spoilers here so read on at your own risk (of boredom).Also note, and not to be elitist here, but a keen mind and breadth of general knowledge can certainly help unlock the depths of this work and thus it's effect on the reader. Alternatively you may find yourself stopping to look things up to understand the context or a particular reference, which slows the impetus of the book down.Though maybe this isn't such a bad thing; Zampano is meant to be pretentious, and a beacon that a college education or a doctorate has no effect on one's potential or ability. The veracity of his story of the House to Truant and it's effect on him doesn't seem to be affected by this pretention, however...Always remembering that Johnny is pretentious also and puts together Zampano's morass of paperwork as he found it in a mess. Who's work is HoL, really? Old man Z's or Truant's? How much has Truant edited it?Concerning darkness: many have mentioned the dark and sombre tones within HoL. And yes, there is a solemn resonance, a violent and grisly presence in places from both Zampano's creation (the House) and perhaps even more so in Truant's life. And the picture painted seems so clear to me, despite the ethereal/dream-like nature of the story-telling in place (alas the power of books/imagination; it puts a certain tint over your eyes while reading, and afterwards). However, I would posit that the book's obvious dark tenebrosity and heaviness is offset with LIGHT, humour and an ethereal energy. An alchemy of which can make for an overwhelming read. It would also make it incredibly difficult to make into a film. Muted tones and big on hi/lo dynamics would be the order of the day. And perhaps, like Inception, a different cinematography for Truant's life ('awake') and Zampano's story ('fiction') to distinguish between the two...Suffice it to say, aside from the clear narratives of Navy and Johnny Truant there is room for interpretation of HoL in several places.I've found it can inspire long, spiralling, edifying conversations with like-minded friends about the nuances of what certain things mean, or if there even is an intended meaning (for example, the numerous codes hidden in the book - some seem to be just that, clever codes. Search them and decide for yourself).In any case HoL seems to stir debate around both the deepest and most arcane, as well as most light-hearted and trivial things. What was affirming is that despite the complexity in the delivery and style, the vast majority of what was understood and apparently felt was the same, while the fringes remain more hazy and interpretative. Case in point, do you believe a monster inhabits those ashen walls, or is this just human irrationality?In any case, the LIGHT mentioned before appears 'hidden' in plain view. In the relationships between Navidson and his family, of love and hope, examined heavily through the enlightening off-shoots into philosophy, Greek/Norse mythology (e.g. the 'minotaur', Yddrasil etc etc), religion and myriad religious references (Cain and Abel as a trope for Tom and Will Navidson, the H*ly tape), science and reason (professor Billy Reston, Navidson's recordings and the scientific instruments trying to understand the House), the sense of journey, awe and adventure into the unknown (Holloway and the team's exploration into the labyrinth) - and of course the ending in some ways. If one understands these depths and levels, there is lots of light even down in the fathoms of the House. A bit like 'negative space' seen in some artworks, any absence of darkness can be seen as light.In another sense of enlightenment, we know the truth of what happens in the story; of the heroism and anti-heroism, of it's gravity if it were to be a true story, not just a dark fairytale. The expansive picture we are drawn (however dark in the House) is enlightening; the way it is written is congruent with a feeling of privilege to be one of the few to come across the story. Or to 'see' the film captured by Navidson.In sum, Light, dark - and the greyness in-between - is a core theme of the book: "Some people reflect light, some people deflect it, you by some miracle seem to collect it".If you allow yourself to get into the depths, however, you should come out smiling on the other side. "Non sum qualis eram" - you will not be what you once were, hopefully in a good way. You may come to a more deep, 'truthful', multi-faceted way of looking at things (just as we have the bird's eye view from Zampano's story; an insight into all the characters' traits and thoughts as the story unfolds through a film verite-like direction)....but I guess the outcome for the reader depends on what kind of person you are, how you're feeling at the time of reading, level of cognitive ability, EQ etc etc, the same as many other books. But multiplied in this case.It would be remiss to omit a word or two on the atypical typography within HoL - words strewn all over the place as the story unfolds, the footnotes giving authority and dual narrative. These directional qualities becoming more a factor, and more intertwined (and perhaps disjointed) later in the book, as the labyrinthine House shows itself for what it is (or isn't?). But you soon get used to this with a bit of patience; it isn't so arduous once you come up with a system/order of reading...What's more, this under-used typographic quality adds another dimension and texture to the book. It is not a gimmick used just to mess around with the text, nor is it devoid of reason or feeling. At times it helps set the pace of the book, giving it a film-like quality. At times it allows context or switching between the two main narratives. It raises questions about it this was Zampano's style or the work of Truant's drug-addled mind (he seems almost as much of a savant at spinning a yarn as old man Z). Finally, this format also makes it almost impossible to issue an electronic version. Something I rather like. The Book itself in a sense is the House of Leaves; it is the story of the House, the burden of pages that Truant finds, puts together and weighs heavy on him due to his upbringing and his character. The book cannot be contained on a backlight screen; it needs to live in leaves, in pages. (Sounding as pretentious as old man Z here perhaps. But not without intention).A lot of wisdom and strength is there for the taking within HoL. Living vicariously through Truant's 'real' struggle or Navidson's 'fictional' struggle with a power which seems uniquely divine, or perhaps the part doorway to 'hell' or elsewhere; somewhere 'uncanny'. Depending on how you want to read it. "The ruminations are mine, let the world be yours".It's no surprise that it took apparently a decade to complete the drafting of this book. And despite the number of novels my eyes have taken in, it is the greatest story I have come across.

Super fast delivery and the book was in amazing condition. It looked brand new. Tyvm, I can't wait to start reading.

Wow, what a book.The introduction on this book starts with describing Zampino's appartment and his writing and how he was found. It continues talking about the Navidson record, which is a movie Zampino talked about in his notes. The footnotes are Johnny Truant's work, adding about his life as he is putting together Zampino's notes on the Navidson record. It seems a little confusing as you first start reading, but makes sense as you go along. The Navidson record is pretty creepy in places too.It is about a guy called Navison and a few other peoples trips inside the never ending hallway within the house. It's kind of creepy, being lost inside a house, all the psychological torment it causes to the people who enter it. The way it is written as you are reading about the house is kind of odd, but in a good way. The words themselves, are not creepy, it's the way it's put onto the page, it makes your heart race. It may look confusing at first, as you flick through the page, but isn't too bad and sometimes, when it is confusing, the confusion adds to the book in a good way. Makes you feel how they feel as they are in the house. I think the pages with sometimes as little as one letter on a page actually were some of the best parts of the novel itself. It was those that helped build up the suspense and it was done with such great skill that it left me needing to stop and catch my breath at the end, my heart was in my mouth at these times in particular.The first point I really started getting into the book was on page 26, they way Mark z. Danielewski writes it is amazing. It really made my skin crawl, my eyes water, my hair to stand on end and my breath to quicken. I felt at that moment that I was there, that it was happening to me. It was a that point I really started to want to read more, and from then on I struggled to put it down and when I wasn't reading, I couldn't stop thinking about it.I can totally appreciate the amount of work it must have taken to write a book like this, but in my opinion, it totally paid off. I did find some parts a little boring and wondered a few time where he was going with it, but it does make sense later on in the book why those parts were included. Without them, I don't think it would have been as good to read.The book caused so many different emotions when I was reading and it actually scared me and caused me to get emotional in places too, not many books instill those emotions within me, but this one did.I am totally glad that I bought this book, it was a long read, but well worth the time and effort as well as the money. It is definitely worth reading this book.