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Adora
08-23-2007, 10:45 AM
So, I haven't read House of Leaves per-se. I kind of read a bit of it. Then decided I value sleep more than I value cult literature. I did get it cheap, though, and it's the full-colour illustrated edition, with lovely coloured words and printed polaroid/whatever appendices in the back.

But has anyone actually finished the book? Nobody I know has. They've either been too freaked-out or didn't get through it fast because it's so dense and had to give it back to their friend/family member/library nazy.

Bey, you of all people must have cracked this one, right?

For those who are wondering, House of Leaves is about a guy who haphazardly inherits a manuscript from a dead old crazy guy, and said manuscript is a theoretical work on a film. Said film is called The Navidson Record and is about a family living in a house that's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. It starts out in little ways (5/16ths of an inch, in fact) but grows to huge proportions until the house contains an entire infinite labyrinth that drives anyone who goes into it insane. Obviously, people go exploring.

I only got up to the part about echos and Karen screaming about the bookshelf until I had to put it back on my own shelf. I figure I'll be safe to read it on a plane at Christmas, but not whilst I reside within a house. It's like trying to read Poe whilst sitting in a high-roofed room filled with ravens and dusty old curtains.

And anyone who has read the book will get why I'm putting house in blue. Also, Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Leaves).

beyelzu
08-23-2007, 10:49 AM
not yet, a friend has a copy and she is supposed to lend it to me, but she hasnt come through yet.

ive been waiting forever too.

speaking of which i need to call sam tomorow and remind her to either finish the damn book or give up and loan it to me.

Adora
08-23-2007, 11:53 AM
I'd lend you my copy if it wouldn't take 3 months for it to reach you.

cappuccino
08-23-2007, 02:39 PM
I want the book now. I'll let you know if I survive till the end with my mind intact.

lisarea
08-23-2007, 04:47 PM
I read the whole thing, but it was a long time ago.

Do I win something?

beyelzu
08-23-2007, 04:52 PM
I'd lend you my copy if it wouldn't take 3 months for it to reach you.

:tmgrin:

thank you, the sad thing is that might be faster than waiting on sam.


i might have to buy the damn thing.

Ensign Steve
08-24-2007, 01:03 AM
I read the whole thing, but it was a long time ago.

Oh, is that what happened to you?

Adam
08-24-2007, 02:07 AM
I've read the whole thing, and loved it. I actually started a reread maybe a year or so ago, but it takes too long to get through it, flipping back and forth and reading footnotes and endnotes and shit, and I was antsy to get to the new books in my queue, so I dropped it.

lisarea
08-24-2007, 02:45 AM
I read the whole thing, but it was a long time ago.

Oh, is that what happened to you?

I'm going to hit the thanks button because you paid attention to me, but just so you know: I am going to do it all stabby and angry-like.

beyelzu
08-24-2007, 02:49 AM
but isnt that how you do everything?

Ensign Steve
08-24-2007, 02:51 AM
Nah, just her haircuts.

curses
08-24-2007, 02:57 AM
I've read the whole thing, and loved it. I actually started a reread maybe a year or so ago, but it takes too long to get through it, flipping back and forth and reading footnotes and endnotes and shit, and I was antsy to get to the new books in my queue, so I dropped it.

:hypno: You want to mail it to me so I can read it.

Edit: Never mind, my local liberry has it, but I'm second in the queue for it.

Adam
08-24-2007, 08:44 PM
Strange...I had a mysterious urge to mail a book for some reason, and then it went away... :confused:

Beleth
08-24-2007, 11:14 PM
I read it a while ago too, like within a year of when it was first published. And yes, I read it in my house, but it didn't freak me out, because my house is not a house. Plus, books don't tend to scare me, even when the books are about scary things.

The concept of a tri-layered story (Truant's, Zampano's, and of course Navidson's) was intriguing, but wore a bit thin near the end. I remember getting to the part where each page had, alongside the actual story, a little square of text that was just a list of building materials, and thinking "I feel like I've entered the Cheese Shop Sketch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_Shop_sketch#Cheeses)".

Coincidentally enough I've had about a tenth of a mind to read it again lately, if for no other reason but to refresh my memory of it.