(no subject)

[vivien]

Well, I finished House of Leaves.

I am sad to say I didn't care for it that much.
As a work of art, the book was very cool. I have a feeling that it was very much a collaborative experience, what with the Poe album and the visual art in the appendices. I think that those who were part of it might have gotten it in a way a casual reader can not.

I am not unhappy that I read it, I am just kind of "meh" about it.

As a story, there was no connection to the characters for me, and that's what I like best when I read. I understand that that disconnection might have been the intent, but it just didn't work for me. I was more interested in the first part of the book as the story of the house begins to unfold. There were some genuine creepy moments, and the characters were more interesting. Later I just kept thinking what a kickass scary story it could have been had Stephen King written it.

As it was, I kept waiting for the hints that had been alluded to about the labyrinth and minotaur to come to a more obvious point - maybe it did and I just missed it. There was a lot of "oh dear god, more footnotes that must contain Meaning and Codes that I don't have time or energy to figure out" for me, I will admit.

But again, visually and as an experiment in how to use layout to convey meaning, it was a cool construct. Just not a good story, for me.

So, I think I shall go re-read Pet Semetery next, because that is the story I kept comparing the Navidson's story too. I will be much more satisifed by it.

Comments

[agonistes]

Yep. Halfway through, and I'm also kind of left cold by it. I'm not creeped out, the footnotes piss me off, and...yeah.

Fascinating structurally, but it's one of those novels that seems to be good mostly if you're going to write a paper on it.

[vivien]

the footnotes piss me off

Yup, that's it right there. *giggles*

[ms-ntropy.livejournal.com]

More style than substance, that's what I got out of it.
Of course I did have the privildge of reading a "pre-read" copy of the book. It came with notes in the margins with all the solutions to the puzzles.

[vivien]

See, if I were in college and had time to solve the puzzles, I'd have liked it more, I think. Now it's just like "Dear God, I only have 30 minutes to read tonight JUST TELL THE STORY WAAAAH!" :P

[ms-ntropy.livejournal.com]

HAH! Yeah that sounds about right. We were fresh out of college when that book became the "Book Club" selection for that month.

Personally? I didn't care much for Johnny. I wanted more about Navidson.

Though let's be honest here, the only smart one in the book is the cat.

[vivien]

Ahahaha, yes. *snugs*

I was also disappointed that the kids were given such short shrift. I'd have liked more from their perspective, too, especially after the escape from the house. I mean, my god... poor kids. And then they just get sent to grandma's.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

I felt that way about the Minotaur, too.

Actually, have you read Stephen King's Rose Madder? That's what all the Minotaur stuff reminded me of. But I didn't get an obvious meaning out of it. Just that the Minotaur could have represented Johnny, perhaps. Or, who the hell knows.

I actually adored it, but I got annoyed with the footnotes at times, too. I'm not totally sure I got all of the puzzles. I know his mother's letter at the end where you had to read all the letters pissed me off and I read the first paragraph and the last and whatever weird crap was going on in the middle with the random caps, I didn't actually decipher. All I really needed to know was: she was as batshit as her son.

[vivien]

Oooh, yes - Rose Madder did the Labyrinth thing much better, too. :-P

I know, I looked at that coded letter and said "Oh man. I just don't have time for this." Siiigh.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the gist of it was that she thought the attendents were sneaking in at night and raping her, I guess?

It came across as batshittery. I don't think we were supposed to believe it happened. I do wish I'd had time to work out the middle section of it, but yeah... no. I have ADD tendencies on a good day. And when I was reading, I was usually trying to wind down and relax.

It would be VERY cool to read as part of a reading group, or as an assignment, or something, though. I could write a paper on it! I like it, as far as that goes. Just not as a fun book.

[jezrana.livejournal.com]

I will readily admit, I was occasionally tempted to throw the book when I'd turn the page and see another epic footnote. Was also hoping for more than we ever got with the , but I have some thoughts about that, and the way the Report worked on Zampano and Johnny's minds, that makes the lack of point seem a bit less disappointing. I need to actually write the post I've been meaning to write since finishing.

Anyway. I did end up feeling very connected to the characters (I actually broke down a little when Navidson sees the light at the end, because I was so damn sure the house was just gonna take him, and then it let him go), and now I'm intruiged as to what would lead to me feeling that connection and you not. (I'm also pondering my having a vested interest in it due to plot might have affected my reading of it, but I think a lot of my reactions would have been the same either way).

And as much as the crazy twisty formatting fascinated me, I think I might have enjoyed it better as a straight presentation of the Navidson story, with the analysis/eventual craziness and breakdowns from Zampano and Johnny in seperate sections.

[vivien]

I think I might have enjoyed it better as a straight presentation of the Navidson story, with the analysis/eventual craziness and breakdowns from Zampano and Johnny in seperate sections.

I think that's a key point - I didn't enjoy it, and usually when I read, I read for the sheer joy of submerging myself in a different world for a little while. I couldn't do that with this book.

[bcgphoenix]

Yeah. I loved it, and I still got fed up with Johnny's footnotes in many spots. (Like Jez, though, I didn't have a lot of difficulty connecting to the characters, and...I don't know if it's because I'm easily scared or what, but I definitely had one night where I jolted awake when the house started creaking.)

[vivien]

My terror thresholds are waaaay higher than most. As might be evidenced from my thinking the Gentlemen are cute and funny.

I really wish I could have liked it more, and as I said, I liked the concept and the house itself was fascinating.

It just wasn't my cuppa.

[winding_path]

Hee. You're doing better than I am. I can't even build up enough interest to be curious about it.