“I tried House of Leaves and just couldn’t get into it” is far more respectable than “it’s pretentious and I won’t read it”
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I’m not even exaggerating when I say it took me several weeks and ~120 pages until I actually felt intrinsically motivated to get through it. The barrier of entry is incredibly high unless you’re in a book club that’s currently reading it, love semiotics, or are insane/full of spite.
jul 17, 2025, 5:37 pm • 1 0 • view
I am, regretfully, a postmodernist in some ways and so HoL is hands down one of my favorite novels ever. I could rave about it forever! That said, you’re right: it’s a book that is doing things drastically different for specific reasons, and those differences require you to meet it where it is
jul 17, 2025, 5:55 pm • 1 0 • view
It’s definitely a great story and I loved it by the end! It’s definitely unlike anything I’ve read before and expanded my idea of what a novel can be. If I could describe the book without spoiling any of the actual content I’d call it an exercise in delayed gratification.
jul 17, 2025, 5:59 pm • 1 0 • view