I was reading this on a city bus back in 2001 and I got to the page that’s just a few bars of musical notation and the woman sitting next to me actually interrupted and said “Okay, what the *hell* are you reading?” 😂
@@TonyB2279so true! I was reading it at a cafe last month and I was annotating like mad and deep within the book that a man asked me what I was reading, I seemed intensely into it.
I remember buying this book way back in 2003-2004 and my daughter hated it. She even wrote a scathing letter to Dearest Johnny. And because of what she wrote in her letter, I've not read this book myself. I appreciate you suggesting reading it linear.
THANK YOU for putting my thoughts into words! Your interpretation of this reading experience and the decent into madness it can take you into is exactly what I experienced as well! I finished this book over a week ago and I’m still researching and trying to “figure it out” (I doubt I ever will)
You did such a good job of explaining the story all the layers of the book itself. I never know how to explain it! It’s in my head I understand but cannot seem to put it into words! Lol! I’m in the middle of reading it now. The thing that makes me creeped out is the unease, it’s uncomfortable the waking up lost not knowing what has happened, those instances. I put the book down and the darkness in my own home - like a childhood fear of the dark again
Based on your take, I’d highly recommend checking out The Raw Shark Texts if you haven’t already. The plot is solid but the reading experience itself is also unique and entrancing!
Chiming in WAY late because I was specifically searching for House of Leaves reviews/analysis and here came your channel (sadly now dormant, it seems). I swear I'm gonna read this one some day.
I think the horror from this book isn’t the content, it’s the alluring nature of its infinite ambiguity and how it evokes genuine paranoia. You really feel like you own a cursed stack of papers found etched in the walls of an insane asylum. The book is labyrinthian in nature and you in turn become Johnny, mimicking his obsession and note taking. That, to me is the genius of the book. It upends entirely the medium of literature.
Ahhh this kills me! Lol 😫 I have had House of Leaves on my list FOREVER! I need to read this ASAP! Thank you for this! Oh and I wonder if I am following you on your socials. If not I’m going to go so that now!
I am equally excited for this video as you are to read this!!!! the gate keeeping in horror in general?!?! that’s a convo, the “I don’t think you’ll understand it” type condescending tone some readers have is 🤮
I feel like the fact that it pulls you in only to jump to a new section would irritate me because I find even with different perspectives I’m always wanting to go back to the character I like the most
the resurgence of this book is making me want to read it again. I read it like 10 years ago and had a fairly neutral opinion on it and I think i didnt fully Understand it that now i want to read it again. silly me also decided to get rid of the book during one of my moves because "oh i'll never read that again" -_-
Oh no!! Haha to be quite honest I’m not sure if it’s something I’m going to want to reread anytime soon. I didn’t fully get it either but I kind of think that’s part of the point of the book maybe? It’s definitely why people are still so obsessed with it even like 20+ years later!
I’m not really interested in reading this book however I genuinely enjoyed seeing you read this and spiral lol 😂 ...and I definitely would like to see more videos like this! Would you ever read Infinite Jest? I’m too intimidated but you are obviously much more brave!
Haha I’m glad you enjoyed the chaos! And yes actually, I have infinite jest and it’s been on my radar for a while.... I might try to tackle it in May or June!
I picked up this book in B&N one day and flipped through it to see if I should purchase it. I decided against it because maybe it's too meta for me? Now I wanna try - haha!
Maybe the author adds all the academic opinions/references...so you the reader can add your own condensed sidenotes/opinions...for the next reader. Maybe this book was meant to be more of a shared experience.
You can listen to Haunted, an album by Poe, the authors sister for a bit more and check out The Pelican Black channel that has Johnny's videos. th-cam.com/channels/jibZQb3SJvlW48ZqCJiDsA.htmlfeatured This video speaks about them and the book in general which is pretty cool. th-cam.com/video/kfVztT3UeYw/w-d-xo.html
Why are women reviewing books on the floor? This is like the 4th channel I”ve come across where the content creator is a female and she’s literally on the floor, reviewing a book.
I just finished this book. Mostly. I still need to read the poems and I think I need to read all the seemingly unimportant lists. I feel like I need to read every single word and I could spend the rest of my life trying to figure this book out and never will.
I just love the format. So unique. So bizarre. I've never seen anything like it. Ever. Based on that alone it's my favorite - in format anyway. Bring a mirror while you read it - your gonna need it. ( Of course I'm not telling you why lol read it yourself 😂)
I stopped the video after 6 minutes because I want to know so little about the book before I buy it now. The way you’re talking about it in the first 6 minutes is how I’d try to describe Dan Simmons Carrion Comfort while wanting everyone to experience it with me.
So glad you enjoyed the book, i read it a few years ago & it's haunted me ever since. The parts of the book involving the explorations of that house, & Johnny Truants descent into madness was some of the most unnerving stuff I've ever read. The first night I started reading it I was alone in my house & everytime i put the book down to get some water or something, I would notice just how quiet my house was & would start feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Ooooh such a nice long vid on one of my favorite books! I read this in ‘19 and loved it soooo much. No one I know has read it and I didn’t dive down the rabbit hole much so I’ll have to message you on Goodreads with some spoiler-y thoughts and to see what you learned. 😅 I have his Familiar series, but his writing is such an experience I’m waiting to be in the right headspace for that.
I'm halfway through the book and if you want to understand some of its literary precedents look at Nabokov's Pale Fire and Pynchon's protagonists, in particular, Slothrop and Oedipa from Gravity's Rainbow and The Crying of Lot 49.
I also read multiple books at once. I try to stick to 8 - it's my favorite and lucky number. I also do crosswords and write my own stuff while I read. And I have my radio on or TH-cam videos on scary stuff lol my method is reading a paragraph at a time and if it goes longer than 5 lines and underline that word then get back to it later. I only do it to my own books lol 😂 also put a lil dash at the start of each paragraph I read so I'll know where I'm at. Once I know where I'm at I remember it. It's weird lol I also make lists. My mind is crazy lol so this book is right up my alley
I HATED reading this book, but I'm glad you loved it! It jumped too much between dry academia and interesting horror, and I struggled to find a balance between the two. I finally made it halfway through before I just got too bored to keep trying
I don't usually stop reading in the middle of a sentence, but I'll find the end of a paragraph to stop. I've never needed to get to the end of a chapter in order to put a book down
Yes I would def say they’re similar!! I think the overall points of the books are completely different but there is a lot of overlap in the way the stories are told and the overall atmosphere
I was reading this on a city bus back in 2001 and I got to the page that’s just a few bars of musical notation and the woman sitting next to me actually interrupted and said “Okay, what the *hell* are you reading?” 😂
This is hilarous 😂
And how did you answer?
The book reveals itself as the world's most elaborate conversation piece.
@@TonyB2279so true! I was reading it at a cafe last month and I was annotating like mad and deep within the book that a man asked me what I was reading, I seemed intensely into it.
I remember buying this book way back in 2003-2004 and my daughter hated it. She even wrote a scathing letter to Dearest Johnny. And because of what she wrote in her letter, I've not read this book myself. I appreciate you suggesting reading it linear.
YOUR HAIR I STILL CANNOT GET OVER HOW CUTE IT IS OMG
THANK YOU
THANK YOU for putting my thoughts into words! Your interpretation of this reading experience and the decent into madness it can take you into is exactly what I experienced as well! I finished this book over a week ago and I’m still researching and trying to “figure it out” (I doubt I ever will)
You did such a good job of explaining the story all the layers of the book itself. I never know how to explain it! It’s in my head I understand but cannot seem to put it into words! Lol! I’m in the middle of reading it now. The thing that makes me creeped out is the unease, it’s uncomfortable the waking up lost not knowing what has happened, those instances. I put the book down and the darkness in my own home - like a childhood fear of the dark again
Based on your take, I’d highly recommend checking out The Raw Shark Texts if you haven’t already. The plot is solid but the reading experience itself is also unique and entrancing!
Chiming in WAY late because I was specifically searching for House of Leaves reviews/analysis and here came your channel (sadly now dormant, it seems).
I swear I'm gonna read this one some day.
I think the horror from this book isn’t the content, it’s the alluring nature of its infinite ambiguity and how it evokes genuine paranoia. You really feel like you own a cursed stack of papers found etched in the walls of an insane asylum. The book is labyrinthian in nature and you in turn become Johnny, mimicking his obsession and note taking. That, to me is the genius of the book. It upends entirely the medium of literature.
Could you be any more pretentious? jfc
Ahhh this kills me! Lol 😫
I have had House of Leaves on my list FOREVER! I need to read this ASAP! Thank you for this! Oh and I wonder if I am following you on your socials. If not I’m going to go so that now!
Oh you just said “less is more” and that’s in the book. You’ve gone down the deep dark rabbit hole and Johnny left his mark.
i'm sooo excited for this vlog!! i've been on page 13 in this book since mid-March lmao
Haha relatable😂 but once I got into it I couldn’t stop!!
I am equally excited for this video as you are to read this!!!! the gate keeeping in horror in general?!?! that’s a convo, the “I don’t think you’ll understand it” type condescending tone some readers have is 🤮
all of these fonts and formats are INTIMIDATING
Not the dogs I can’t do itt
I feel like the fact that it pulls you in only to jump to a new section would irritate me because I find even with different perspectives I’m always wanting to go back to the character I like the most
That is definitely one of the main complaints people have with the book. But you never knowwww you might like it.......
I’m so excited for this video
This book scares me
OMG YOUR NEW FAV WHAT
I love hearing people talk about books they love omg
I love that too!! It makes me so excited to read more
Caroline this haircut was MADE FOR YOUUU
thank youuuuuu💕❤️❤️❤️
Please check out Danielewski's sister Poe's album Haunted as it is the missing piece to understanding the meaning of House of Leaves
I came for the book review but stayed for your haircut! omg so cute, I'm going to copy your hair if you don't mind LOL
I’m reading this now:) and I’m enjoying it as well. Thank you for the video.
the resurgence of this book is making me want to read it again. I read it like 10 years ago and had a fairly neutral opinion on it and I think i didnt fully Understand it that now i want to read it again. silly me also decided to get rid of the book during one of my moves because "oh i'll never read that again" -_-
Oh no!! Haha to be quite honest I’m not sure if it’s something I’m going to want to reread anytime soon. I didn’t fully get it either but I kind of think that’s part of the point of the book maybe? It’s definitely why people are still so obsessed with it even like 20+ years later!
I’m not really interested in reading this book however I genuinely enjoyed seeing you read this and spiral lol 😂
...and I definitely would like to see more videos like this! Would you ever read Infinite Jest? I’m too intimidated but you are obviously much more brave!
Haha I’m glad you enjoyed the chaos! And yes actually, I have infinite jest and it’s been on my radar for a while.... I might try to tackle it in May or June!
I picked up this book in B&N one day and flipped through it to see if I should purchase it. I decided against it because maybe it's too meta for me? Now I wanna try - haha!
I am ready for this major motion picture
i feel like every book i've read recently mentions the story of the minotaur so now i need to pick up house of leaves
literally night film was too heavy for me to hold up too lmao my wrists got sore reading it
oh noooo caroline's gonna get a book hangover!!
seriously so insightful u are so smart and this was great !!
Yes to the book hangover😩 and thank you so much Brynnan that is so sweet!!
Maybe the author adds all the academic opinions/references...so you the reader can add your own condensed sidenotes/opinions...for the next reader. Maybe this book was meant to be more of a shared experience.
Wait I didn’t read a part about a dog except the dog chasing the cat I’m so confused I’m reading this right now
Yep, there is a graphic pekinese dog death scene.
@@carolinejohnson3483 ooo just got to it. It almost made me puke too.
😭😭😭
I was and still am so disturbed by this part.
You can listen to Haunted, an album by Poe, the authors sister for a bit more and check out The Pelican Black channel that has Johnny's videos. th-cam.com/channels/jibZQb3SJvlW48ZqCJiDsA.htmlfeatured
This video speaks about them and the book in general which is pretty cool.
th-cam.com/video/kfVztT3UeYw/w-d-xo.html
Why are women reviewing books on the floor? This is like the 4th channel I”ve come across where the content creator is a female and she’s literally on the floor, reviewing a book.
I just finished this book. Mostly. I still need to read the poems and I think I need to read all the seemingly unimportant lists. I feel like I need to read every single word and I could spend the rest of my life trying to figure this book out and never will.
I just love the format. So unique. So bizarre. I've never seen anything like it. Ever. Based on that alone it's my favorite - in format anyway. Bring a mirror while you read it - your gonna need it. ( Of course I'm not telling you why lol read it yourself 😂)
I stopped the video after 6 minutes because I want to know so little about the book before I buy it now. The way you’re talking about it in the first 6 minutes is how I’d try to describe Dan Simmons Carrion Comfort while wanting everyone to experience it with me.
So glad you enjoyed the book, i read it a few years ago & it's haunted me ever since. The parts of the book involving the explorations of that house, & Johnny Truants descent into madness was some of the most unnerving stuff I've ever read. The first night I started reading it I was alone in my house & everytime i put the book down to get some water or something, I would notice just how quiet my house was & would start feeling extremely uncomfortable.
I'm worried about reading this if people say they don't get it? LOL
Ooooh such a nice long vid on one of my favorite books! I read this in ‘19 and loved it soooo much. No one I know has read it and I didn’t dive down the rabbit hole much so I’ll have to message you on Goodreads with some spoiler-y thoughts and to see what you learned. 😅 I have his Familiar series, but his writing is such an experience I’m waiting to be in the right headspace for that.
I want to dive into the familiar series now but I think I’m going to take a little break first🤪
Most EXCELLENT video!!!
Thank you.
YESSS! I had the option to read it in college but chose the book S instead. This is on my list, but still intimidated!!
I want to read S now so bad!! It looks so cool
@@carolinejohnson3483 I think you’ll love it if you loved HOL! 🙌🏼
I'm halfway through the book and if you want to understand some of its literary precedents look at Nabokov's Pale Fire and Pynchon's protagonists, in particular, Slothrop and Oedipa from Gravity's Rainbow and The Crying of Lot 49.
I also read multiple books at once. I try to stick to 8 - it's my favorite and lucky number. I also do crosswords and write my own stuff while I read. And I have my radio on or TH-cam videos on scary stuff lol my method is reading a paragraph at a time and if it goes longer than 5 lines and underline that word then get back to it later. I only do it to my own books lol 😂 also put a lil dash at the start of each paragraph I read so I'll know where I'm at. Once I know where I'm at I remember it. It's weird lol I also make lists. My mind is crazy lol so this book is right up my alley
Wow i am so curious about this book, can't wait to have it in my collection. Oh can i dat that your hair is so absofuckinglutely beautifull?
Parent)he)se(e)s.
That is all.
I HATED reading this book, but I'm glad you loved it! It jumped too much between dry academia and interesting horror, and I struggled to find a balance between the two. I finally made it halfway through before I just got too bored to keep trying
I don't usually stop reading in the middle of a sentence, but I'll find the end of a paragraph to stop. I've never needed to get to the end of a chapter in order to put a book down
I definitely see where you’re coming from there. It’s so polarizing but I think that’s part of what makes it so interesting to discuss!
new all time favorite book!!! omg!! i will be trying to get my hands on it immediately bc when care says jump i jump!!
i love anti-gatekeeping care you tell them fools that books are for everyone who's interested in them!!! 🥺
i've always kind of associated this book in my head with night film for some reason? are they similar in any way? lmao
passionate, excited care makes me so happy 🥺
Yes I would def say they’re similar!! I think the overall points of the books are completely different but there is a lot of overlap in the way the stories are told and the overall atmosphere