Mark Z. Danielewski's "House of Leaves"

[LifeDuringWartime]

anybody read it?

[Pied Piper]

1. Not long after it first came out

I was disappointed. I really liked the concept of a story-within-a-story. I also liked reading the journals and the messed up fonts and colors of the text. But in the end, eh, not so much. Towards the end, it felt more like a chore than interesting fiction. And there was nothing that made my pulse raise. I had expected more of a horror/thriller. Have you finished it yet? Any thoughts? I saw this in the bookstore a few weeks ago, and I almosted wanted to give it another try, but I have too many other books on my list right now.

[cenacle]

2. wow funny you mention it...

I just finished this book not a week or so ago. It's pretty amazing, relentless in countless ways in telling its story, and telling it in a singular way. I'd highly recommend it.

I found out about it while working at a bookstore a couple of years ago. One of the supervisors had put it out as his 'employee recommends' book. Kept it in mind, finally got around to it.

The author has a second novel coming out in the fall. So if you like this one, you have another to anticipate!

[pitohui]

3. yes i greatly recommend it

a nice weirdness factor and some great visuals, it doesn't hurt that i have had some dreams similar to what was described in the book

one of the better "meta" fictions out there (assuming i'm using this terminology right, i'm no english professor, heh)

nothing will top "infinite jest" in my heart for the endless looping of footnotes and complications and weirdnesses but still a terrific read

[NewHampshireDem]

4. Read it when it first came out ... I don't know why but it scared

the bejeezus out of me. I rarely read horror fiction any more (pretty much since Clive Barker went over to being a fantasist) but picked this up because of the meta-fictional elements. There was just something profoundly pshychologically disturbing about the book, the relationships among the characters, and the inner secrets and isolation the house represents. I also found the part where the outer narrator later gives the background of his sexual conquests really troubling ... not scary so much, but disturbing in another way.

I'm glad to hear he has another book coming out ... I've been hoping to see more from him.

Here's the official site for his next book, Only Revolutions. Not much content, but sure to be some soon. http://onlyrevolutions.com/or.swf

[NewHampshireDem]

5. He finally has a new book coming out

Only Revolutions

http://www.onlyrevolutions.com/

The website has some nice audio of what sounds like Mark reading from the novel, ala 'Hey Pretty.'

Amazon lists a Sept. 12 release date. I've already pre-ordered! :)

[Davros]

6. An amazing read

I really enjoyed it after it was recommended by the folks on http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/ another good author. There is a whole website of interpretation of this book : http://www.houseofleaves.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5

Basically it will change the way you read since 2 stories are told almost at the same time. One is on the top half of the pages and the other on the bottom. Quite original in terms of the plot.

[BlueIris]

7. The single most disturbing book I have ever read. EVER.

It fried my brain in '05. SCARY.