Rating: 
Summary: Intense and Challenging
Review: This book is not for people who do not like to read. Period. Nor is it one for those who dislike challenges, either. But, for those who can penetrate its muddled format, this is one of the most absorbing, eerie books in recent years."House of Leaves" tells two tales, in a way. The primary is that of the Navidson family, who discover that the house they bought, to escape the pressures of city living, is more then they bargained for. The second is that of Johnny Truant, who discovers the account of the former, and how it affects him. The primary story is presented as "The Navidson Record," an essay based on the filmed record of a - well, phenomenal - house. This essay was supposedly written by old Zampano, after having seen the film. Problem is, Zampano was blind. Upon Zampono's death, Johnny truant takes on the task of pulling it all together, which is no small feat, considering the old man wrote it on anything he could get his hands on. What we read is Truant's final product, with his own story told in a series of footnotes. As written, there are long periods of footnotes, sometimes even footnoted themselves. Print goes in all directions on the page, intersecting and enmeshing with itself. There are even long periods with but one or two words per page. For those whose dedication is weak, this is a daunting task, and as if that weren't enough, there are even two appendices, and a collection of photographs. (Someone stop me if I've forgotten something.) All of this would mean nothing if the material were dull, though, and it is my pleasure to say that it is not. The two different tales play off wonderfully, with "The Navidson Record" a sweeping account of a fascinating, if not particularly frightening, story, and Truant himself telling of his increasingly more disturbing hallucinations and paranoia in a personal and gritty fashion. You may even learn a few things, as well. Included as a part of "TNR" are several more educational essays, including one on echoes, and another on Greek mythology. All in all, this book is well worth the money if you're a dedicated reader. If not, I would reccomend finding it at the local library before you make any final decisions.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Debut
Review: A riddle wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a puzzle. "House of Leaves" is creepy fun. Take your time and enjoy this one (you may have to), but it's time well-invested. I first saw bits and pieces of this book on the net, and couldn't wait for a fully bound volume. Danielewski fills pages with random notes, puzzles, backwards and upside-down print, poems, letters, photos and collages that all add up to a story about a man driven insane by the discovery of a monograph about a non-existant documentary, which just might have awakened an ambigously evil force. The characters are very real, the puzzles and notes fun to decipher and the obscure references fly faster than an episode of MST3K. It was refreshing to find that an experimental novel could be so much fun. I can't wait for Mr. Danielewski's next effort.
Rating: 
Summary: strange and engaging
Review: the only reason i read this book is because it is supposedly related to the album "Haunted" by Poe. i was very pleased when i found it to be an unusual, creative, and thrilling read. i won't bother describing it, because the plot is much too complicated. i'll just say that the book is written like an academic paper, complete with footnotes, which make it a bit difficult to read, as well as some unusual typesetting (some upside-down, sideways, diagonal, and backwards paragraphs). however, instead of ruining the book, these attributes only made it more realistic in a way. the book definitely spooked me. it's odd, because there isn't a 'bad guy' in the book. the only thing that comes close to being a bad guy is the house itself. but it did scare me. i had to sleep with the light on all week because of this book. the book also made me think, something i love about a book. it made me think, "what if i open the closet door and suddenly find a fifty foot hallway?" and the book almost makes me believe it could happen. overall, it's a great, thrilling read if you have a lot of time and don't mind some unusual attributes to the book.
Rating:
Summary: A Mindblower
Review: I bought this book after hearing some vague references to it being a paperback riddle, and...it is! The story is active on many different levels. There is the narrator (Johnny Truant) who finds a manuscript called The Navidson Record. This manuscript was written by an old blind man named Zampano, and is the description of an apparently nonexistent documentary that was filmed by Will Navidson, a professional photagrapher, that chronicles the strange dimensions of his new home. This second level, the story, is haunting and disquieting. As Navidson finds out more about his home, Truant reveals his thoughts on the story and his live through footnotes. Truant realizes that he is being driven mad by the story, but he must know what happens. The third level is that of the actual publishing company who publishes Truants edition of Zampano's work (It's this edition that we are supposedly reading). The company's editors make note along the way. This book requires thought, patience, and imagination, and it is the BEST thing I have read in years. An experiment that survives on sheer audacity and inventiveness, this is an astounding book. You may feel that you are quite similar to Truant. You can't think of anything but the Navidson Record (at least until you finish!). Underneath the neo-intellectualist style, the horror story elements, and the complex story web lies one of the most haunting dissections of human nature. Pretentious? Yes. Excellent? You betcha!
Rating:
Summary: This is more than it seems.
Review: This first novel by Mark Danielewski is a wonder of nature; much like the house it describes. After reading the story of The Navidson Record, the saga of Johnny Truant,and the incomplete information on Zampano, I was frightened to death. This is not a horror story. This is not dark fiction. This is not about deep, dark creatures that live in houses. This is a story of the human mind, of human love, and of human dysfunction. In this book, there are dull spots and tedious passages, but rather than bogging the storyline down, the spots of tedium serve to pace the book correctly. These are necessary to gauge the growing phenomenon that takes on a life of it's own within the book; that is, the terror of the Unknown taking root in your own house. The gimmicks within the book (the swirling layout, the appendices, the colored words) are necessary to the storyline as well. Whereas in most books I despise gimmicks, Danielewski (and/or the editors) uses them wisely and effectively, adding to the atmosphere of the book rather than detracting. This is a brilliant first book that literally kept me awake for days. I'm still wary of closets, I'm still affected by tattoo artists, and I'm still convinced that a low growl rolls through my apartment from time to time. However, I'm afraid of dark spaces and changing hallways; specifically my own.
Rating:
Summary: I am the sole architect. I built the shadows here.
Review: Mark Z. Danielewski's first novel is the nightmares you've had since before you can remember. It's what might be under your bed or peering in your windows as you're reading this. If you weren't paranoid before, you will be when you get done... in short, this may be the best book I've ever read. Stories are layered throughout the book -- the sad tale of Johnny Truant, tattoo-shop counter boy, losing his mind, just like his mother; the tragic tale of Zampano, a blind man, who is driven to write a book; the touching story of Will Navidson's struggle with his family and a darkness he can't rid himself of. Little mysteries abound -- who is Delial? Why does Johnny speak so strangely of his mother? What is happening in the house on Ash Tree Lane? All of these hide the real mystery at the core of the novel: why do we fear what we fear, and what is fear? The novel is structured with the frame of Johnny Truant's story around Zampano's story, which is around Navidson's story, which is about the movie Navidson made. This structure is strengthened when Danielewski's novel is viewed in light of the related work, his sister Poe's CD Haunted. The two works, while differing wildly, sprung from the same source, and their themes and vocabularies intertwine, drawing the reader deeper into both Poe's and Danielewski's work. Of course, this wouldn't work if Danielewski didn't leave that door to the five and a half minute hallway open behind him... This book has changed me. It dragged me through the little piece of hell everyone carries around, and it left its mark on me. Because I made it through (and it is a long journey that can certainly be hard, with all the footnotes and strange print, with the pain of watching everything unfold as it certainly must), I have a clearer idea of what and why I fear. I'm much more careful about locking my door at night. And I never leave a light on.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting, creative
Review: The plot of this story happens in several layers. On one level is Johnny Truant who is investigating the strange death of an old man by reading the papers he left behind. On another level, in those papers, is the story of a filmmaker who lives in a strange house that is bigger on the inside than the outside. In some ways, the book feels the same as the house, much bigger on the inside than the oustide. The author plays with language and every preconception about how a book should be laid out, and oddly, instead of being annoying, these oddly laid out pages and strange fonts contribute to the feel of the novel, drawing you further into the different stories. This is not a quick read and I can't recommend something this dense to people who are looking for something they can pick up and throwaway in an afternoon, however, for people who are looking for something new and completely original, this is the book for you. It is sometimes haunting, sometimes touching, and always interesting; equal parts ghost story and drama. I was amazed by this book and often felt that there was some puzzle imbedded somewhere in it that I was supposed to figure out. Fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Not what you think...
Review: The main crux of this book won't be found in the Navidson record. In face, the "main" story of this book is written in a achedemic style that's rather dry, the horror elements rather dull. What really shines in this book is not what's in the main text, but what's slowly growing in the footnotes left by Jonny Truant. These footnotes, along with the letters from his mother, are the real gem of this book. It's here were the true horror is found; not the horror of some strange house and the people that live there; but the horror of mental illness. Here you watch Truant's obsession over the papers by Zapano slowly decline into madness. One suggestion is not to ignore the appendix containing the letters from Truant - there's a hint of something sinster in the background. Take the time to decypher them - it adds needed depth and history to the Truant character. If I were read this book again, I'd skim over the main text and concentrate more on what's happening in the footnotes.
Rating: 
Summary: This is not for anyone!
Review: Holy Logorrhea, Batman! This twaddle is vacuous navel-gazing disguised as the latest in postmodern brilliance. Is it possible to give a negative number of stars to a review? Brain-suckingly vapid! I'll take Stephen King ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
Rating:
Summary: It's worth the time
Review: This book is amazing - and apparently you either love this book or you hate it. I enjoyed the fact that you are tossed from story line to story line. It was like reading 4 stories at once. I also enjoyed his visual writing style. It was very poetic and it also gives the reader a lost feeling. I would recomend it to people who enjoy the Griffen and Sabine books. It's written in much the same feel.
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