House of Leaves

House of Leaves

  • Downloads:8112
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-05-23 10:54:53
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Mark Z. Danielewski
  • ISBN:0375420525
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet。 No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command。 Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth—musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies—the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children。

Now, for the first time, this astonishing novel is made available in book form, complete with the original colored words, vertical footnotes, and newly added second and third appendices。

The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside。

Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story—of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams。

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Reviews

Pablo

This is without a doubt the most disturbing, unsettling, haunting, and equally beautiful reading experience I’ve ever had。Gonna stick with me for a while。。。

Jonny Andres

Pretty fucking frightening。 Hell yes!

Elizabeth Barnes

I feel like this book was beyond my capability of understanding。 Curious to do a deep dive on all the various theories now。

Reid Belew

They did not make words for this book, and I will not rate it。 Amazing。 Frustrating。 Confusing。 Inspiring。

Hailey

As many others have said, I’m not sure it completely deserves 5 stars。。。 however all the work and effort I put in to reading HOL makes me inclined to give it 5/5! The parts that were good were REALLY good, but I did feel it dragged on a bit。 Towards the end I did find myself skimming a bit (especially the Johnny sections) which I’m sure is sacrilegious to House of Leaves purists。 I am excited for a reread in the future to see how I interpret the stories with time to digest and process everything As many others have said, I’m not sure it completely deserves 5 stars。。。 however all the work and effort I put in to reading HOL makes me inclined to give it 5/5! The parts that were good were REALLY good, but I did feel it dragged on a bit。 Towards the end I did find myself skimming a bit (especially the Johnny sections) which I’m sure is sacrilegious to House of Leaves purists。 I am excited for a reread in the future to see how I interpret the stories with time to digest and process everything。 。。。more

Bryan Patterson

What a fantastic book! If you read it once, you will definitely have to read it again。 It’s the kind of book that’s difficult to describe: so many fun details and connections。 It’s the kind of book that also invites you (almost literally) to participate in its story in a way reminiscent of ARGs。If you read it, have plenty of stickies and don’t be afraid to write your own notes。 Does a passage remind you of a prom or passage? Write it in the margins。 Not for anyone else, but for you。 Take part in What a fantastic book! If you read it once, you will definitely have to read it again。 It’s the kind of book that’s difficult to describe: so many fun details and connections。 It’s the kind of book that also invites you (almost literally) to participate in its story in a way reminiscent of ARGs。If you read it, have plenty of stickies and don’t be afraid to write your own notes。 Does a passage remind you of a prom or passage? Write it in the margins。 Not for anyone else, but for you。 Take part in the books world。 The more you put in, the more you will get out。It’s a horror book, and I’m not a particularly emotional person, but I nearly cried at the end。 。。。more

Rukia Hunter

I loved it。 Very well done。 Though it isn't scary。 The main theme of the book was the never ending labyrinth underneath the house located in Virginia's countryside。 I took notes because I loved the precise phrasing of certain scenes。 I'm glad Will Navidson explored the place。 I didn't like Johnny Truant's life。 Too much for my taste。 Booze, women, and a lonely life。 Overall, would not read again。 I read it to say, I read the horror novel that had so much acclaim and interest。 I loved it。 Very well done。 Though it isn't scary。 The main theme of the book was the never ending labyrinth underneath the house located in Virginia's countryside。 I took notes because I loved the precise phrasing of certain scenes。 I'm glad Will Navidson explored the place。 I didn't like Johnny Truant's life。 Too much for my taste。 Booze, women, and a lonely life。 Overall, would not read again。 I read it to say, I read the horror novel that had so much acclaim and interest。 。。。more

Puzzled Cellist

not what I'd consider scary like some have said, but found it a fun read if a little hard work at times! not what I'd consider scary like some have said, but found it a fun read if a little hard work at times! 。。。more

Tessa Macdonald

2。5*

Evan

Delightfully jarring

kit fearney

scary, clever, fun。 a riot to read。 a little bit obtuse at times, especially with the letters section, so i probably wouldn't read it again, but i would happily recommend it to another postmodern enthusiast scary, clever, fun。 a riot to read。 a little bit obtuse at times, especially with the letters section, so i probably wouldn't read it again, but i would happily recommend it to another postmodern enthusiast 。。。more

Kaytee (Flirting with Fiction)

I honestly don't get the hype of this book。 I thought it was an interesting read, but it was tough to get through。 It took me 6 months just to finish it。 Maybe I just didn't "get it"? I just thought it was ok。 I honestly don't get the hype of this book。 I thought it was an interesting read, but it was tough to get through。 It took me 6 months just to finish it。 Maybe I just didn't "get it"? I just thought it was ok。 。。。more

David Torres

"Hay que ser desmesuradamente revolucionario en la creación, y quizá pagar el precio de esa desmesura"。 Julio CortázarHouse of Leaves revoluciona por completo la idea que cualquier lector habitual tiene sobre lo que es la literatura, lo que puede ser。 Los caminos abiertos por Rayuela de Cortázar se reflejan en esta increíble obra que parece inacabable。 Se presenta misteriosa y termina por estallar en dudas e ideas que flotan sin llegar a unirse completamente。 Es una novela compleja, no por su e "Hay que ser desmesuradamente revolucionario en la creación, y quizá pagar el precio de esa desmesura"。 Julio CortázarHouse of Leaves revoluciona por completo la idea que cualquier lector habitual tiene sobre lo que es la literatura, lo que puede ser。 Los caminos abiertos por Rayuela de Cortázar se reflejan en esta increíble obra que parece inacabable。 Se presenta misteriosa y termina por estallar en dudas e ideas que flotan sin llegar a unirse completamente。 Es una novela compleja, no por su estructura, sino por sus personajes y las relaciones que de ellos nacen。Algo importante a destacar es el diseño del libro, lo que probablemente lo popularizó tanto。 Párrafos en otros idiomas, oraciones al revés, páginas en blanco, acertijos, círculos, espirales, espejos, deformaciones y laberintos literarios que dan vida a la novela pero, sepan de antemano, no son la totalidad del mismo。 Es muy fácil generarse expectativas altas al enamorarse a primera vista de este libro, pero es engañoso。 Lo que de verdad te orienta es el desarrollo de los personajes, el sufrimiento y las obsesiones de todos。 El libro solo se encarga de mimetizar lo que sucede modificando su estructura, generando una experiencia completamente diferente, un juego, una excitante lectura que da vueltas y se conserva como un eco después de haberla terminado。Una experiencia que recomiendo a todo lector apasionado。 Consejos para los que quieran leerla: - Necesitan un cuaderno y un lápiz para escribir todo lo que no entiendan, datos que se les escapan, referencias, momentos y más, este libro está hecho para ser leído de forma activa, una lectura pasiva solo los confundirá y los aburrirá。 Tomen nota de todo y hagan teorías locas, eso es lo divertido de leerlo。- Tal vez la historia de Johnny no resulte tan interesante para muchos, pero es de total relevancia para entender qué demonios está pasando en el libro, así que presten mucha atención。- Tener en cuenta que las referencias en su totalidad son ficticias, así que no es necesario darles importancia。- No sé qué tal será la traducción al español, yo lo leí en su idioma original。 Si lo van a leer en inglés tengan en cuenta que el nivel, aunque no es muy exigente, sí que puede requerir conocimiento de términos avanzados。 - SUPER IMPORTANTE: hay una parte en que te da la opción de ir a leer las cartas que se encuentran al final del libro, NO LO HAGAN, déjenlas para el final, si las leen antes se llevarán unas cuantas sorpresas que no resultan tan atractivas como cuando se leen al final de la historia。 No es una obra perfecta, pero sí única。 Quedo completamente satisfecho y de seguro la releeré pronto, además de conseguir los otros libros de Danielewski。 。。。more

Onika

The book has a good premise but。。。 I do not know how it is so beloved。 I guess its a different strokes for different folks situation。 I found the book dry as hell, flat out boring and a chore to read。 I read this for a book club and I had to stop and start multiple times because I was not enjoying myself。 Johnny Truant is so desperately unlikable while still reeking of being a self insert。 The parts with the Navidsons should have been interesting but all the life is sucked out of it。 The whole t The book has a good premise but。。。 I do not know how it is so beloved。 I guess its a different strokes for different folks situation。 I found the book dry as hell, flat out boring and a chore to read。 I read this for a book club and I had to stop and start multiple times because I was not enjoying myself。 Johnny Truant is so desperately unlikable while still reeking of being a self insert。 The parts with the Navidsons should have been interesting but all the life is sucked out of it。 The whole thing felt like reading a textbook and I've read actual textbooks out of just plain interest of the subject matter。 I wouldn't recommend this book to any of my peers。 。。。more

Danny Fernandez

House of Leaves is lots of fun, very scary, and has a formal gimmick that works perfectly in concert with what the book is trying to do。 The book is at it's best when describing fictional documentary footage of the titular haunted house。 Danielewski does a great job of emulating various genres and tones of writing to really make the book feel like a collection of found objects and writings。 Unfortunately the book is at its worst when the main character is narrating。 His voice is unbearably prete House of Leaves is lots of fun, very scary, and has a formal gimmick that works perfectly in concert with what the book is trying to do。 The book is at it's best when describing fictional documentary footage of the titular haunted house。 Danielewski does a great job of emulating various genres and tones of writing to really make the book feel like a collection of found objects and writings。 Unfortunately the book is at its worst when the main character is narrating。 His voice is unbearably pretentious and grating。 The book's main characters spews pseudointellectual nonsense ad nauseum and I fear that the author intends that we read his musings as being meaningful。 There is far more meaning in the interplay of the book's form and mix of genres than in the main character trying to say all the quiet parts out loud。 Still well worth reading, but the sort of "default" tone makes me weary of reading more Danielewski。 。。。more

Alinaelaine

intense, unlike anything I've ever read but also exhausting。 will definitely re-read at some point but I might skip some parts then intense, unlike anything I've ever read but also exhausting。 will definitely re-read at some point but I might skip some parts then 。。。more

Abby

This book just was not for me。 I found myself bored most of the time, and a lot of it just went over my head。 I know a lot of people really like this book, but I just didn't understand it。 This book just was not for me。 I found myself bored most of the time, and a lot of it just went over my head。 I know a lot of people really like this book, but I just didn't understand it。 。。。more

Amanda

DNF at 10%。

Lana

I don’t really know how to describe this book。 I found it weird, difficult to read and yet I felt compelled to finish it。 Many seem to find it frightening but for me it was more disturbing。

Carla

E' un libro, un horror, un gioco, un labirinto, una accusa al giornalismo moderno che mira solo al sensazionalismo spesso bluffando, una storia dentro a una storia dentro a un'altra storia。c'è la protagonista, la casa e c'è il minotauro che non si vede mai ma ti aspetta nell'ombra。C'è di tutto, difficile non trovare il lato piacevole。 C'è il film girato all'interno della casa dell'orrore, c'è il racconto del film fatto da un anziano cieco e c'è il libro basato sul racconto scritto da un ragazzo E' un libro, un horror, un gioco, un labirinto, una accusa al giornalismo moderno che mira solo al sensazionalismo spesso bluffando, una storia dentro a una storia dentro a un'altra storia。c'è la protagonista, la casa e c'è il minotauro che non si vede mai ma ti aspetta nell'ombra。C'è di tutto, difficile non trovare il lato piacevole。 C'è il film girato all'interno della casa dell'orrore, c'è il racconto del film fatto da un anziano cieco e c'è il libro basato sul racconto scritto da un ragazzo con un passato molto problematico e un presente che forse lo è ancora di più。Personalmente mi sono divertita molto a mettere insieme i puzzle, a leggere il libro al contrario o allo specchio, a decifrare le parole incomplete o a leggere lettere dove il senso si trovava solo mettendo insieme le iniziali delle parole。Non sono nemmeno certa di aver colto tutti i giochi di parole。E come non apprezzare gli incipit dei capitoli, soprattutto le poesie di Rilke, già queste per me hanno valso una stellina in più :) Non so se consigliarlo o no, sul web si trovano ennemila forum e tentativi di dare un senso al libro, leggeteli e se vi ispira comprate il libro (consiglio l'acquisto del cartaceo, anche se costa un mezzo leasing, perchè rende molto di più ed è piacevole da maneggiare e annusare :D ) 。。。more

Lori

My head is spinning。 I have never read anything like this before, and some day may read it again。 BIZARRE!!

Anna

This book was not for me, but I appreciate it for how DIFFERENT it is than any other book I've read。 This book was not for me, but I appreciate it for how DIFFERENT it is than any other book I've read。 。。。more

Virginia

I think the only correct response to this book is: What?Read it if you want an adventure。 It is unlike anything I've seen before and likely anything I'll see again。 You will want sticky notes。 I think the only correct response to this book is: What?Read it if you want an adventure。 It is unlike anything I've seen before and likely anything I'll see again。 You will want sticky notes。 。。。more

Sarah L

I’m still in the middle of the book but I’m SO FRUSTRATED I want to hit something and then fall asleep。 What am I missing? I specifically got this because I’ve never been scared by a book and all of the bookstore employees told me I had to try this one。 Every time something approaches scary, the second narrator busts in with an unnecessary anecdote about how much he drinks and how little he sleeps。I want to go to sleep。 I’m reading a shitty textbook with worthless commentary。 I’m going to keep g I’m still in the middle of the book but I’m SO FRUSTRATED I want to hit something and then fall asleep。 What am I missing? I specifically got this because I’ve never been scared by a book and all of the bookstore employees told me I had to try this one。 Every time something approaches scary, the second narrator busts in with an unnecessary anecdote about how much he drinks and how little he sleeps。I want to go to sleep。 I’m reading a shitty textbook with worthless commentary。 I’m going to keep going because of all the hype but Jesus Christ this book better get better。 。。。more

Laura

Dnf @ 50%I officially admit defeat。 I just don't get it。 Dnf @ 50%I officially admit defeat。 I just don't get it。 。。。more

Dawn Robinson

I couldn't finish the book, for me it was definitely not what I expected。 For me, it ended up feeling more like a chore which was a shame as I really wanted to finish it as it is clear that the author had put a lot of effort and skill into writing this book。 It's just not the correct book for me。 I couldn't finish the book, for me it was definitely not what I expected。 For me, it ended up feeling more like a chore which was a shame as I really wanted to finish it as it is clear that the author had put a lot of effort and skill into writing this book。 It's just not the correct book for me。 。。。more

Alyssa Lentz

I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but I do know I really respect what it does and can see why so many people love it。 Personally, I think you're going to get the most out of it if you really commit with a lot of effort, including multiple rereads and reading theories online, and I'm just not really in a place to do that right now (and to be frank, it grab me enough to do so)。 I still enjoyed it and found it worthwhile, but it is definitely not a book I would recommend to ev I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but I do know I really respect what it does and can see why so many people love it。 Personally, I think you're going to get the most out of it if you really commit with a lot of effort, including multiple rereads and reading theories online, and I'm just not really in a place to do that right now (and to be frank, it grab me enough to do so)。 I still enjoyed it and found it worthwhile, but it is definitely not a book I would recommend to everyone just on the simple fact that it is intentionally frustrating and intimidating。 Additionally, I think there are some classic misogynistic early 2000s horror elements to this that make it lose a little bit of its shine when reading it today。 。。。more

Spatula

What the fuck do you even read after this????

Diane

Not just a book, House of Leaves is an experience。 Though central story is a horror based around a house that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, this could almost be viewed as an analagy for the book itself - a vast maze that layers stories upon stories, creating multiple dimensions to every page。 The format makes it difficult to read in public, causing you to rotate the book around and catch the occasional sideways glance from befuddled onlookers, but this just adds to the uniqu Not just a book, House of Leaves is an experience。 Though central story is a horror based around a house that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, this could almost be viewed as an analagy for the book itself - a vast maze that layers stories upon stories, creating multiple dimensions to every page。 The format makes it difficult to read in public, causing you to rotate the book around and catch the occasional sideways glance from befuddled onlookers, but this just adds to the uniquess。 A true tour de force。 。。。more

Danielle

my favourite parts of this book were ones focused on the navidsons and the actual house。 some very fucked up shit and i loved it