Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

I'm a firm follower of Danielewski ever since i read 'house of leaves'. I have yet to get my hands on the ever-elusive 'fifty year sword', but i have read 'only revolutions' which is just as awesome as his debut novel.

Here is a very rare writer. Someone who tries to twist and break the boundaries of writing with every novel he writes.

Who else likes his style here?

i am sooo going to read his books and get back to you :) he sounds awesome!

Knarik wrote: "I took the House of Leaves from the library, but then had to give it back, without reading more than 50 pages or so. However, I couldn't decide after that 50 pages if I like his book or not. Can yo..."

It took me a couple tries to get into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down.

Knarik wrote: "I took the House of Leaves from the library, but then had to give it back, without reading more than 50 pages or so. However, I couldn't decide after that 50 pages if I like his book or not. Can yo..."

Yes, it's definitely worth sticking to it. It's an amazing read, a true mind-bender. Once you read it through fully the first time, I recommend you do a bit of reserach on the internet about it. There are hidden codes in the book that tell you more about the characters/ their own respective stories.

It's astonishing how much detail Danielewski managed to pack into this novel. You feel like you are in a labyrinth constructed by Borges. All his books are like that: intricate networks of multiple narratives.

If you get a chance to get your hands on his rare English language version of The Fifty Year Sword, give me a shout out :)

Zee wrote: "Knarik wrote: "I took the House of Leaves from the library, but then had to give it back, without reading more than 50 pages or so. However, I couldn't decide after that 50 pages if I like his book..."

I didn't know there were hidden codes in the book! (Although I'm not surprised). I'll have to do some research.

I absolutely loved House of Leaves. What an experience! I saw a number of negative reviews that said they read the book front to back, not bothering to flip back to the appendices or read the footnotes. In my opinion, the only way to experience the book is to read it in the exact way the author intended. My husband got a kick out of watching me read it too, what with all of the upside down book turning and mirror reading.

I've read "house of leaves" after being recommended on a forum about paranormal; it was more difficult for me to read it because I read it on my laptop , so I had to choose between turning my computer or myself. All in all it proved to worth the effort. Truly hallucinating.

I loved House of Leaves & it's one time I think it was definitely easier to read the paper version! It was a great experience and I like your description of it, Ana-Maria, as "truly hallucinating." It was indeed.

I agree with Marie too. Even Stephen King doesn't always scare me but House of Leaves had me freaking the fuck out. Like couldn't put it down because then I'd start thinking about the closet opening up into some weird passageway and shit.
What is Only Revolutions about?? I'll have to try and get ahold of that one too.

I really like House of Leaves, for the most part. I did find it creepy, which is great, as I am not easily creeped. I liked the hidden codes and messages, though some were too obvious and most of them meaningless, they kept me entertained.
I haven't been able to find anything else by him, though. I'll have to try an ILL.

Even though I usually hate scary or creepy books, I loved Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves. I loved the writing, I enjoyed the turning of the book around-it's as though there was just enough physical activity, to keep me from being too creeped out!

I didn't find HOUSE OF LEAVES to be particularly mind-bending, or even particularly interesting. It seemed to be trying way too hard to be way too clever, with all the typographic gimmicks.

I think it may be "gimmicky" now. But when it came out in 2000, even for only 11 years ago, there wasn't much like that out there. I read it when it first came out, not knowing anything about it, with no expectations, so I think it had more of an impact on me. But then typographic gimmicks sort of became conventional, so I may not have thought it as cool if I read it now either.

Even if it were gimmicky, I'd have to say it works. And I don't know at what point exactly I got hooked, it was that gradual. I was not interested, not so interested, not very interested, not.....hooked!

I'm currently 400 pages into House of Leaves and despite my initial misgivings when I first received this book I have to admit that I am a big fan of this. I'm reading the second-colour version (the one without the Braille or colour plates). Did anyone ever manage to get hold of a the full colour version with Braille? Did it make a difference?

I remember when this book first came out. I was excited. I loved the idea that he tied in concepts from his sisters (Poe) latest album. He even read excerpts during one of her concerts, which was super cool. I loved the way they meshed their music, storytelling and odd family upbringing into a fantastic live performance.

Maybe it was a case of high expectations, but I found the novel to be pretentious, experimental drivel. Now that I have a higher tolerance for that sort of thing, maybe I should give it a another go.

Well I just finished this book today and normally I'd been on a roof top shouting "arty toss" into a Megaphone but I actually really enjoyed this and all it had to offer.