Rating: 
Summary: Amaze(ing)
Review: I have difficulty sleeping. I'm terrified of my closet and of my dorm's hallways. My roomate is indulging me by not forcing me to douse the lights even at three a.m. And yet, I'm still happy I read this book. It changed my life.I am the first to admit that I am not the most well-read, wise, or educated reader who has reviewed this book. I am an undergraduate majoring in English who for the most part dislikes critical theory and so has little to say about the book's references to such things as Freud and the Uncanny, Derrida, Structuralism and the like. The only thing I can say about allegations of Danielewski's usage of these things to seem 'artsy' is that I think this is an unfair criticism. Danielewski, in my opinion, not only understands the big and often tedious ideas he uses, but uses them to aid his story telling while simultaneously exposing the stupidity behind them |(the faux-Paglia and Derrida interviews, for example, were hillarious because they showed really how inadequate, full of themselves and unoriginal critics and philosophers really are). House of Leaves is a monster of a book which defies classification, shatters genres, and, unlike most novels on the market today, takes bold chances in its explorations of love and human relationships. What more can any reader ask for?
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Best Books Written
Review: Danielewski took 10 years to write this book and he made SURE that 90% of his readers will shiver. Try reading this at 3 am, when everyone else is alseep, snuggled under your bedcovers. It's amazing how he creates such lively and different characters, from Navidson to Zampano to even Truant's mad mother Pelafina. Since then people have came up with hundreds of radical theories on the book itself (find some at [URL]). Then there's the atmosphere the book creates. It practically draws you in the pages and you end up flipping back and forth between them with all kinds of revelations. The radical layout of the book itself, the different sections... puts all other books to shame. It makes that journey into the House a LoT more interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Genuinely creepy
Review: I picked up this book because the plot sounded too wonderfully creepy to resist - a photographer who moves his family into a house which is somehow larger on the inside than on the outside. Flipping through the pages, I started to get a little exasperated at all the typical po-mo gimmicks - pages you have to flip to read, pages with one letter on them, pages with little red boxes listing architectural details, pages of footnotes that don't exist. With some reservation, I bought it anyway, and I'm glad I did. Underneath all the narrative layering is one of the spookiest haunted house stories I've ever read - maybe even because of the narrative layering. We're told that the structural impossibilities of the House On Ash Tree Lane are recorded on a video that may not exist, written in a review by an author who might have made it up, retold (presumably to Danielewski) by a guy who might be insane. Okay. If you want to read this book with the intent to gain insight into the complex world of narrative, go right ahead. Me, I wanted to get scared sh--less. The great thing about this book is that it can work on both levels. Admittedly, I grew tired pretty quickly of the 'Johnny Truant' parts and began to skim over them to get to the meat of the story, namely the Zampano account of the Navidson Record. Who cares if the whole thing might be made up? It's a hella scary read. Danielewsky (the real author) has a gift for embuing words with a certain eerie significance so that when you see them written on a page, you feel a little shiver. He transforms ordinary words (most notably, 'house') and twists it into something odd, menacing, frightening. Same with 'Delial'. As the record reaches towards the end, the tension builds up in each word until just seeing it printed makes you want to scream. Similiarly, I found the loooooong list of architectural features that were missing from each dark room that wasn't supposed to be there hideously scary. There's something about the intricate detail, even the odd juxtaposition of the letters themselves, that works to convey the horrible wrongness of these rooms existing. Very effective. For a few weeks after I had finished the book I couldn't even look into a dark room. 4 stars because I did skip over the Johnny Truant story.
Rating:
Summary: Twisted tale within twisted text will leave you on edge...
Review: I still check behind me sometimes, even when I know there is no one there and I still find myself looking into a shadow in the corner of a room and wondering how deep it really is. You will know why after you read this marvelous work. Danielewski's tale leaves you so scared but yet doesn't allow you to look away. A true delight for anyone looking for a book to leave them breathless and questioning reality. Oh man, I want more. This book is like heroin and a true adrenaline starter. Currently on my third read of the book and now writing notes in the margins. Hope I don't get drawn into it too much...
Rating: 
Summary: ok,alright,not bad,ambivilance,middle
Review: so this book is really well written in parts, and its nice, fun all that makes you flip back and forth like dfw which is annoying cause you need two or three bookmarks, but thats ok, cause usually the writing is ok, basically if you like, well, you know youll like this book if youre buying it so reading reviews is pointless, i just beleive that people who are really impressed with this book haven't read much, like i mean much of the book is just like other books, like pale fire, or the third policeman or even borges, heck the whole minotaur thing and labryinths hmmm where'd he get that idea, and yeah you need to read the third policeman right now if you like this book, but who cares if the ideas arent his its still well written and kinda fun kinda annoying so middle , three stars not bad but to be honest i wish id spent my time reading something else like, if i was gonna read something for fun i just wish it woulda paid off.oh well, tough luck.
Rating:
Summary: Challenging read with a great payoff
Review: There are books you read and immediately forget. And there are books you read and know you'll always carry with you--"On the Road", "Heart of Darkness", "Cannery Row", and now, "House of Leaves." Danielewski's genius is his deft mix of great storytelling, insightful emotional reckoning, and playful word games. He's obviously a great lover of words, and of the "form = content" critical literary stance. By arranging his book the way he did, he literally forces the reader through a parallel journey with the book's characters. The comparison of this book to "Blair Witch" is understandable, but, utlimately, it's a comparison that doesn't do justice to "House". "Blair" was a fun gimmick. "House of Leaves" is a sincerely creepy journey through the unkown and unknowable, and, to the sensitive reader, will allow for a lifetime of exploration of exactly what the book forces you to explore--space; the space around you, and the space within you. You can't read the book without examining your own interior spaces, and this seems to be a major part of Danielewski's plan. Read this book. Tell your friends.
Rating:
Summary: scary house
Review: Awsome book (house). Works on many levels. What's the connection between levels? That's for you to decide.
Try reading this one when you've just moved into a new house like I did. This is a good one for insomniacs.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Vision
Review: Anyone who doesn't like this book is too stupid to understand it.
Rating:
Summary: Annoying but Interesting
Review: Much of what supposedly makes this novel experimental merely detracts from the reading experience. The footnotes, in and of themselves, are not too bad. But footnotes leading to footnotes, the upside down text, the text boxes within text, the one word per page pages, all get tedious and annoying after a while. On the flip side, the story line involving the Navidson Record and the house is fascinating and kept me reading despite the B.S. The sub-plot taking place in the footnotes, involving Johnny Truant, is less successful, as it constantly gets bogged down in self-pity, women, alcohol and drugs (don't let your sons grow up to be cowboys). But still, there is some good stuff. Johnny's past comes through subtlety and manages to build on the "is any of this real" theme flowing through the book. Also, The Whalestoe Letters, found in the appendix, are fascinating and quite moving. When all is said and done: Gravity's Rainbow it isn't (despite the glowing reviews on the cover). But still, an interesting read.
Rating:
Summary: truly a great read...
Review: ...i'm astounded that a small minority find this book at all contrived and meaningless. Chock full of coded messages, endless word puzzles and interesting word placement this book will truly entertain. the story within the story within the story will keep you guessing and rereading to make sure you really got it all....then you realize that there is still more to figure out. HOL is a sheer delight to read. do yourself a favor and read this book.
| 
