House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of House of Leaves
Book Review: A Genre-Defying Monolith
Summary: 5 Stars
It deserves more than five stars. For the sake of this review, pretend that a five-star rating on Amazon is some incredibly rare thing that almost never happens, except for the most deserving of all works.
"House of Leaves" is a very difficult book to describe. To take a stab at summarizing the plot in one go, it's about a hedonistic young man with a troubled past working in a tattoo parlor who discovers a blind man's life work: a lengthy academic criticism of a documentary that doesn't exist. The documentary is called "The Navidson Record," and tells the story of a famed photographer who moves into a new home with his family, only to discover that the house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.
If it sounds complicated, that's because it is. This is an intricate, surreal monolith of a novel, told from the perspective of several unreliable and probably even insane narrators. Depending on your interpretation, some of them may or may not even exist. Maybe none of it does.
Much attention is paid by readers and critics to the unconventional structure of the book, both in terms of formatting and plot. The word "house" is constantly written in blue, in every use and in every language. Stories within stories within stories are told through footnotes, appendices, and asides. Every once in a while, a simple internal citation will devolve into pages upon pages of apparently meaningless lists of names, books, or films, some of them fictional, some of them real. It certainly is a unique approach to telling a story.
But of course, fancy visual tricks and impressive packaging aren't worth a thing if the story itself isn't. Fortunately for anyone who picks this book up, it is. It really, really is. Within the full-color, maddening pages of "House of Leaves," Danielewski tells much simpler stories of isolation, depression, brotherly love, sibling rivalry, romantic love and the struggles of keeping a marriage together, bouts with drug abuse and meaningless, self-immolating sexual escapades. Though it might seem like an overly dark novel, it's interspersed with flashes of beauty reinforcing Danielewski's overarching message that love can hold strong in the face of that darkness. It's sentimental without being anything near sappy, and represents true human nature in all its strengths and weaknesses in a way that few artists can.
While it's certainly not for everyone, I would recommend "House of Leaves" to any open-minded, well-read individual, and certainly to anyone interested in surreal, genre-defying art. At the heart of it, though, it's a book about human struggles that everyone can relate to, presenting common themes without even dancing near cliché. It's certainly one of the most important novels of the 21st century, and one of the best I have ever read.
Book Review: A Good Book Spoiled
Summary: 4 Stars
Thinking about reviewing this book, I'm reminded of the popular quote about golf being a good walk spoiled by a little white ball. Similarly, House of Leaves is a good book spoiled by an over-abundance of material.Like many people, I discovered this book in connection with the CD "Haunted" by the author's sister, Poe. The album is one of my personal favorites, and I thoroughly enjoyed making comparisons and seeing the similarities. However, for those who have not heard the CD, I'll start by looking at the book by itself.
The main story (as you may have read a zillion times in other reviews) revolves around a film (The Navidson Record), which is a documentary of the experiences of a group of people in a wickedly unusual house. What was supposed to be a film documenting the rebirth of a relationship turns into an eerie account of very strange happenings.
Where the book succeeds is in the excellently described explorations of the physically impossible hallways. The madness of the characters and the horror of the situation makes for fascintating reading. While some may be turned off by the odd writing patterns, it adds impact to an already powerful situation.
The book also includes a number of very interesting diversions, including chapters that focus on the science of echoes, the history of labyrinths, and the truthfulness of photography. Also, there are some interesting appendices, including a heart-wrenching series of letters from an institutionalized mother. The letters show the increasing mental deterioration of the character, and it's almost frightening to read.
Alas, as I said, the book is spoiled - if only slightly. The book is too frequently interrupted by the "founder" of the text of the film, Johnny Truant. While his story offers some interesting insights, the sexual escapades tend to come off as unnecessary and obstructive. They don't add any value to the story. Also, he tends to ramble without a sense of purpose. While his descent into madness shows the effect the story has on him, it's ultimately unneeded and unsatisfying - almost. There is a touching story near the end he tells that just about makes up for his previous material.
Now, I'm rambling. Overall, I did enjoy the book a lot. I would definitely recommend it. There are a lot of great insights in the book, and it was a very interesting read.
Now, for those who HAVE heard the Poe CD (and if you haven't - go listen to it), the connections are very interesting as you come across them. There are blatantly obvious ones (Like the 5 1/2 Minute Hallway and the references to Spanish Doll in the mother's letters), but some of the songs seem to take on new meaning after reading the book. I'm Not A Virgin Anymore obviously relates to the character of Navidson's wife. And Control almost doesn't seem like a lover scorned anymore. It sounds more like a woman gaining control over the House (as described in one section of the book). If you try to make the connections, it makes the read even more satisfying.
Book Review: A Good Horror Story
Summary: 4 Stars
IMO the best horror books are those that don't directly expose the creature or fright. This is one of those books. It leaves you on edge, however, wondering what is going on and what is going to happen next. Even when things are calm, you wait for the next event.
As others have said, it is also a story inside a story. You could probably read the main story and enjoy it, however, if you want to stretch your imagination and test your reading skills, go ahead and read all of it, including the voluminous footnotes that comprise the "outer" story.
The author does an excellent job of painting the characters- I can see Johnny Truant and even feel his turmoil. The term "horror" book can be applied to books that feature supernatural or unexplained beings or it can apply to regular (well, almost) human beings who live or subject others to a state of horror. This book accomplishes both.
The book is a challenge, but a fun one, and one thatshouldn't be read just once. There are too many nuances.
Book Review: A Haunting Book about a Strange House
Summary: 4 Stars
Curiosity is what brought me to this book. And it was well rewarded.But, to describe what I've just finished reading? Nearly impossible. This book has so many layers. So many components. So much depth and texture.
Definitely the most complex book I've read this year. Without question one of the best I've read this year as well.
I think the most important or remarkable aspect will depend on who you are. So, in telling what I enjoyed and admired, I'm not sure that I can speak for everyone.
First of all, for a debut -- or any other -- novel, this is a very accomplished piece of work. It sprawls and doesn't always add up. But there is reason for some of that.
There are some who may say that the format is a clever contrivance for hiding the author's inability to hone his narrative. I would disagree. The multiple layers, the several angles from which information comes to the reader -- there is more art in this than artifice.
If Danielewski doesn't always make his point as successfully as possible, he as an author will ultimately have to decide. And if his intention is to misdirect the reader's attention or create confusion by omitting details, I think it is used as a device to bring the reader to a point similar to that of the novel's characters.
The story of the Navidson family and their bizarre, shifting, maze of a house is itself enough of a puzzle and horror story. However this is presented in such a way that we read about the enigmatic case of Zampano, the possibly fictitious author of a possibly fictitious unpublished manuscript dealing with analyzing the possibly fictitious documentary film based on the -- yes -- possibly fictitious Navidsons' experiences.
Our master of ceremonies for this excursion is one Johnny Truant.
Supposedly, Johnny found the manuscript and other related materials in his friend's apartment building after the mysterious disappearance of Zampano.
But, we can never know for sure.
While the character of Johnny has a way with words, he admits to having a way with more than just that.
If the story is true, he may have altered it for his own satisfaction. If he didn't alter it, perhaps his attempts to piece it together have created a product distorted by his sense of importance. Even if this didn't occur, we learn much about Johnny that makes him a narrator in whom we cannot place our full trust.
And maybe what we learn about Johnny isn't true...
The experience of this book goes beyond appreciation of a simple narrative. It stirs emotions and ideas. And definitely requires the reader to participate.
You cannot pick this book up expecting it to take little of your time. Nor can you expect it to be easy entertainment.
However, when there are unexpected developments, they are big.
I don't remember when I last gasped out loud or jumped in my seat while reading a book, but I did with this one. Not many times...enough though to realize that I had been drawn far into the novel.
A substantial part of my appreciation for this book was increased by listening to the "Haunted" CD created by the author's sister -- Poe. To me the two works will forever be intertwined even though I'm sure one could be enjoyed without the other. The CD is by no means intended as a soundtrack for the book. But it does explore related themes.
Since the book does deal with a documentary film, it leads to the question of whether or not it could be adapted for the cinema...something like the "Blair Witch Project". I think not. The one -- a psuedo-documentary which does nothing but display a series of edited but very raw images -- fails to have anything to offer on repeat viewing. This novel though is full of possible interpretations and could be moved to the medium of film in several ways.
I'd almost hate to see that happen though. Danielewski's novel is such a wonder.
Book Review: A Heavy Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I work in law enforcement and first heard of this book while doing a death investigation of a teenage boy who grusomely committed suicide. I was told he had been paranoid after reading this book, describing it as the most horrifying thing he had ever read. Clearly I had to find out why, so I bought it, read it, and honestly, I'm not sure why it made him so upset. HOL is an excellent book that challenges your mind and makes you think, but I didn't find it as "scary" as so many others have described it. Like many have stated before, it's a slow read and many pages take two or three reads to understand what the author is talking about. I'd only recommend the book to those who are willing to take the time and have patience with the it.