My (un)Official Guide to Reading House of Leaves 🍂 📚

[@DRUCFR]

I read this book a few years ago RIGHT AFTER moving into a new house. There’s never a bad time to read this book but I highly recommend never right after moving in somewhere new 😂 it stays with you.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oh wow I can't even imagine how scary that must have been 😳

[@F_ERAL]

I still have dreams about my house that I lived in when I first read this book. Also I wouldn't recommend reading The Shining when working nights in an empty hotel in the middle of winter. 😅

[@godlessfornicater]

​@@F_ERALDid you do that also?? Hahaha😊

[@josieauthement9853]

My boyfriend got me this for Christmas. I just read the introduction and I’m hooked.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

It's a wild ride, buckle up! I hope you enjoy reading it :)

[@The_dreamlibrary]

I haven't read fiction for like 6-7 years now, I've been really only focused on non fiction for the "KNAWLEDGE." I recently decided to pick up fiction again to help me with a major creative project and literally heard about House of leaves for the first time today. I watched your breakdown of it and it hyped me up so much I am currently writing this comment from the Barnes and Noble parking lot with a brand new copy in hand 😂 I am extremely excited to break this open as a start to a new journey for myself and will be coming back to your guide a shit ton! Thanks for making great content and looking forward to seeing more!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I'm glad to hear my video helped get you excited for your first read of HoL! Can't wait to hear what you think about it!

[@NeonFrills]

(recent subscriber here) this video was so so helpful!! My wife has been slugging through reading House of Leaves, and me telling her that she can ignore Johnny if it means she can move through the rest of the book easier was a huge weight off her shoulders 😂

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Aw, hi!! That makes me so happy to hear!! Honestly, if it's the only thing holding her back from finishing it, it's worth skipping (and maybe reading more up on it after from a more accessible source to understand it better). I hope she finishes it and loves the story as much as I did!

[@nikita2900]

That’s what I’m doing. I’ll read Johnny after… lol anything so I can finish it! BTW the book is heavy to hold.

[@godlessfornicater]

You explain it really well. I'm glad I found your video, because as confusing as the book is, after I finished it I wanted to see what people said about it. I felt even more confused, like we read completely different books. I even wondered if different editions had different pages and passages in them. Some people saying they were afraid and couldn't sleep after reading, some people naming things I can't remember at all, wondering if I just glanced over it and missed it. Anyways. The whole time my head pounded, I needed to use multiple book marks to jump back and forth in the story and I kept complaining to my partner about it. He said if you're not enjoying it why are you still reading it. Which I had to explain I liked it and I was enjoying it, but it's sooo dense, both literally and figuratively. So yeah, I feel like we had a more similar experience and that is making me feel better and less crazy.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hey! So sorry for the late reply. I am so glad that you found my video helpful. That is always so great to hear when others have a similar experience. It's definitley a dense book to get through, but still fun for some reason, haha.

[@zoea6440]

I am 300 pages in . It is brilliant . I have cried laughed felt anxious and fear .

[@spidergumdrop1696]

I appreciate that I'm not the only one who runs into the wall of frustrated boredom. I've tried reading it three times in the past and am always super into it until I hit the chapter where it becomes pages and pages on the philosophic properties of light or something like that. Even on my second and third attempts, knowing that that part is coming and vowing to power through it, I've never made it past that point. I know there will be a fourth try soon and I really hope this is the one where I'll finish the whole book.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You are not alone!! That part is so frustrating and boring. Partially, because I think it's supposed to be! But it's... yeah. I wish you the best of luck completing it. Finishing it to the end in an accomplishment!

[@alyssaweaver202]

Thank you for this! I bought the book recently and have been waiting for fall to get into it, but I wanted to do some research (without spoilers) before reading so I don't get discouraged! You've made me so excited to read it! Diving in.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You're so welcome!! I hope you enjoy it :) You've got this.

[@WellTraveledBooks]

I bought this book when it first came out and attempted to read it but wasn't in the right headspace. I ended up giving it away years later and after hearing this video I regret it! I am glad to hear you enjoyed it! I can imagine with all the online commentary too it makes it even more interesting =)

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oh nooo! Honestly, I get it. I actually heard about this book in middle school from a friend and was freaked out (and obv not ready to take on this book lol). But it lingered with me for years, so finishing this was a huge bucket list moment for me. I hope ever you ever find you want to read it, and do, you’ll enjoy it!

[@konstantina_xrst]

I started reading this book back in november and I felt so confused and discouraged that I put it down and kind of forgot about it for a couple of months. I recently had this urge to pick it back up and try to enjoy it without worrying about not understanding certain things and how to read this book. Easier said than done. I'm so glad I found your video! You did the best job to explain it without spoiling and ruining all the fun! You really helped me and motivated me to keep going. Thank you, thank you thank you! I cannot thank you enough!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I'm so glad that you found my video helpful for your HOL journey! I hope you find enjoyment in this next read through. You've got this!!!

[@iipriorii]

I love when they begin to traverse the spiral staircase omg, sexiest wordage ever. It's funny because I began to almost feel the book has more within it than its capable of holding, especially when one takes in to acct, how footnotes work. Doors, more doors, leading to more hallways. If you are person with what people call: "ADD" this is your book. Get lost within the house, because it knows you're studying it. It is Schrodinger's cat, it's, temples build upon ruins of fallen empires, trails of scarred hearts and rusted trust, constant echoes that synchronize with the sounds of the creaking house, or was it all your notes within, and yu constantly shuffling through endless endless endless ♾️

[@vk56722]

A family member gifted this and it just seemed really confusing at first, watching ur video really helped me understand how to go about this and im ready to try again, thanks😄

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I'm glad that you found it helpful as you take on the journey of this book. I wish you the best of luck!

[@PoorPersonsBookReviewer]

Great video. I just finished the book, tried to make my own video and failed miserably trying to express just how crazy this book is. You’re very coherent for such a hectic book glad I found your channel

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Thank you so much, that is very kind of you to say. I'm glad that you were able to relate to my thoughts. I'm happy you found me!

[@keiththorpe9571]

So, kinda like "Ulysses" in its inscrutability...but even more opaque. Got it.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hahaha, you've got it! But totally worth the read.

[@iipriorii]

I found reading it, following the path Danielewski sorta nudges the reader to take, second time.... I did front to back to see how it was, then youre mind will most likely explode when you see the symbolic hologram that this book is. Errors compensated by use of information theory.

[@neurassini]

@iipriorii what do you mean?

[@coryc1904]

​Salad, word, salad, shoes, words, fountain, nothing, redacted, salad word.​@@neurassini

[@emmaohlsson7964]

Just started to read this book and I’m currently on page 24, so far I’m not to confused. I love that this book takes your mind on a trip, you really need to think

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Yess!! That was the reason I picked it up in the first place myself. I hope you enjoy it!

[@lizziestyles7574]

I know I'm a year late to the party but my copy just arrived in the post today and I knew the format was intense but I flipped through and Christ. The format is intense. Wasn't sure quite where to begin and this video was a massive help in knowing how to get stuck into this. I'm equipped with my highlighters and ready to jump in the deep end 🥴

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

I'm so glad that you found my video helpful. I love hearing about others diving into this book for the first time. Best of luck to you! I'd love to know your thoughts when you finish it.

[@eindbaa5281]

I really enjoyed Johnny's parts. It's a nice break from the dry academic style that some of the Navidson Record has. Also, don't be discouraged, it's not an easy read, but it's not as dense as it seems. Take away the formatting on the text and the index and you have maybe 50% or less of what would otherwise be around 700 pages. Also, this book has pictures and that's just awesome. I never considered reading it other than in a conventional way, reading the foot notes as well along the way. It's definitely doable.

[@virgo_vampire]

ohhhh my goodness thank you so much for this guide. i've started, tried, and failed-to-launch on this book like 3 times before giving up, hopefully this will make the 4th attempt a little easier!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You can do it! The pride in finishing the book will be worth it.

[@MYSTIC5925]

plan on reading this at the start of 2024, thank you so much for making this video!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy reading it!

[@The_Last_Question]

This was my first back to reading after high school I enjoyed it took me about two weeks to get to the pelican letters, as I followed the footnotes to the letters in the appendixes.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Ooh! That's so cool. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@banzorban]

in my opinion, the whole labyrinth complex in the house is an allegory for the infinity of the human brain and the impossibility to investigate and explain it

[@AnalogDave]

This is a good video. I read this book when it came out. I felt the same way you did while reading it. Back then there was a HoL forum that had all the content you were mentioning was in reddit. It was great that I had a friend reading it at the same time. We would discuss how we interpreted it as we went along.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Sorry my reply is so late, but this is so cool! I wish I had been around during the forum days. There is still a lot of discussion happening on Reddit though which has been interesting to read through!

[@anamendes7547]

i'm nervous because i'm going to read this in english and i'm not native, so it will be interesting

[@erinsteffens974]

This was fascinating omg. I dont think i could take on this kind of homework, at least not anytime soon lol. It sounds so clever though!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Omg Erin, I would DIE to know your thoughts on this book if you ever took the dive.

[@erinsteffens974]

@@EmilyReadsBooks one day I could lol. It sounds like a psychological thriller from how you describe it

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

@@erinsteffens974 it definitely is!

[@typeonereader]

I am so torn on whether I want to read this or not aha, but this was helpful thank you!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

It's definitely unique!! Definitely worth the time if you have it

[@StevenErnest]

Excellent discussion. I found it a hard read, a bit pretentious and postmodern, but I also enjoyed the puzzle. If you like difficult books, I recommend "Dhalgren," by Samuel R Delaney. It really divided the SF community, though I would not put it in that genre. Published in 1975.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hahaha I can definitely see where the pretentiousness comes from. I can certainly feel that way. I think if you lean into it, it isn't so bothersome (for myself at least). Thank you for the rec! I'll be sure to check it out :)

[@JennLeeFoster]

I read this book right after it came out. If you want another layer. Listen to his sister’s song Haunted - by Poe. Anne Decatur Danielewski. This won’t make sense unless you’ve read the book.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

This is an amazing suggestion! I heard a bit about this before. Super cool!

[@marniekilbourne608]

I'm picturing Bradley Cooper's character in "Silver Linings Playbook" yeeting that book straight out the window!

[@avalonaudiovisual]

Please don't set up the expectation that readers won't understand everything because you didn't, it takes work, active participation, creativity and multiple reads, but everything is in the pages and can be taken in as a complete narrative with no unanswered queries 🙂

[@BookTubewithAmy]

I am re-reading in October and I can't wait.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Really?! Omg I must know your thoughts!!!

[@josephkyle1557]

"this book is hard to read" and somewhere, David Foster Wallace is smirking.

[@tungstensmum1491]

I can't wait to read this. I put it on my TBR for next month and it is on its way to me now. I don't normally make notes when I read but I think I will be making notes on this book. Getting my tab post its ready! (also, excited to have found your channel! You've got a new subscriber.)

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oh wow, hii!! And welcome! This comment brought the biggest smile to my face 😊 I definitely recommend taking notes and marking stuff as you go!! For me, that is half the fun of this book. Feel free to update me as you read it! Wishing you the best of luck as you dive into this monster!

[@gnarcky6ix6]

Did you finish it?

[@tungstensmum1491]

@@gnarcky6ix6 I had it on my TBR for October last year but only got a few pages in due to a reading slump and life stuff. Excited to get back in to it this year when I’m in the right mood.

[@gnarcky6ix6]

@@tungstensmum1491 I totally get that. Was jw because Its been really hard for me stick with it. I bought it about 4 years ago and I start it about once a year but keep falling off. Just started it for the 4th time a week go and I'm reading really slowly but also really enjoying it this time around. Who knows if I'll ever finish it though

[@tungstensmum1491]

@@gnarcky6ix6 I think this will be a “slow and steady” read for me - start early in the year and try to do 20 pages a day or something like that. If I pepper in enough other items I think it will be good, but 2022 was a tough year and I couldn’t handle anything that needed any real thought in the later part of the year. Would like to star again in Feb and take my time. Good luck!

[@kimmiller4269]

I found the word fountain on the pages it lists in the Index. Otherwise, great analysis!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Ah cool! Thank you for sharing!

[@Hidinginyourcupboard]

Really helpful, thanks 🙏

[@moxie9695]

Glad to know theres a Strat for reading house of leaves

[@craigm461]

I have started this book countless times over a decade and never finished it. It just sits there mocking me.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You are not alone! I first saw this book I think when I was in middle school, and took me until I was 23 to get the nerve to try it. I say dive in and give it a shot! You might love it :)

[@Waigwe_Nyoike]

😅😅😅😅

[@SirEdgard1013]

Huh, I found it really enjoyable, not hard to read at all, and I'm not smart. Maybe the more comfortable you are with being confused the easier ti will be to read :P

[@zacharytrosch3406]

I somehow missed the footnote sending me to the Whalestoe Letters on my first run. I feel like I missed out by just happening upon them.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

That's okay! I really believe there is no right or wrong way to read this book. It just means going back you get to experience it a new way (if you desire)!

[@CeeBee781]

Any other ladies struggling with the lack of female representation in this book…. I’m halfway through it, and the choice to exclude a single female character who isn’t an amalgamation of stereotypes or a one-dimensional one-liner (“The happiest place on earth”, “She wanted a guy higher on the food chain”, “The girls ran giggling into the night”, etc) feels almost defiant. I mean… Navidson’s wife is an ex-model who it’s strongly implied stopped being an interesting individual when she hit puberty and became beautiful… Other than this huge gripe I have, I’m thoroughly enjoying the book. Thanks for the video!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

If this book has one major drawback (other than how hard it is to read sometimes lol) it's this. I think for me, I knew there wasn't going to be any good female representation so I just reconciled it from the beginning. I ended up really liking Navidson's wife, but she does fall extremely flat a lot. At the end of the day, I knew that wasn't the story being told, and decided to "look past it" if you wanna even call it that lol. You're so right tho 😭

[@CeeBee781]

I’m trying to do the same thing and reconcile this. I guess I’m annoyed that in this day and age, male authors still don’t feel the need to represent women and write for them, too, by fully realizing the women in their writing. I don’t think there’s a good excuse. I promised myself that when I’m done with this and 100 Years of Solitude, I’m reading a book written by a woman.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

100%. It's ridiculous tbh that we still have to fight for a molecule of sustenance in some books. I usually have to go back and forth and choose wisely 😂 it's the same after I read Stephen King. I've got some great recs for books by women depending on the genres you love! Just lmk and I can send you some.

[@CeeBee781]

Absolutely I will take some suggestions! I love Donna Tartt and Jane Hamilton and Joyce Carol Oates and Margaret Atwood. Always looking for great female writers. I currently have the Dutch House waiting in my Audible que. The only thing I’ve read by Ann Patchett is Bel Canto and I loved it so I’m looking forward to listening to that Please send me recs! I love literary fiction, historical fiction, suspense, horror, and mystery. Not a huge fan of romance.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

@@CeeBee781 are you into books that are a bit messed up? Because I've been into Japanese literature lately and there's an author, Sayaka Murata who writes some really intriguing (but wild) stories. They're also fairly short, so if you end up picking one up and you don't like it, they aren't a huge commitment. Octavia Butler also has some amazing stuff I've been dying to get my hands on. Parable of the Sower is supposed to be incredible and very poingnant for the times we currently live in. Because you like Donna Tartt I would suggest Leigh Bardugo as an author you might like! Similar themes and atmospheres. You might also likes "if we were villains" because it's very similar to The Secret History. I'll try and think of some more, but this might get you in the right direction!

[@issuesboy]

If you liked house of leaves, check out Dhalgren by Samuel Delaney.

[@ericakennedy9258]

I had a man tell me that the reason I didn’t understand the book was because I wasn’t smart enough and I could immediately tell that a lot of long time fans can be super pretentious about it

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Oof. I'm so sorry that happened to you! What the hell is wrong with some people? This book is SUPPOSED to be confusing. Hell, I'm not even sure I understood half of it sometimes. Sometimes I hate fandoms about these kinds of things. If you ever have questions or wanna chat about the book, let me know!

[@ericakennedy9258]

@@EmilyReadsBooks thank you so much! really appreciate the advice you gave on how to tackle the book. books like this tend to either draw out the best or worst in people

[@ericakennedy9258]

@@EmilyReadsBooksmy only concern is i know the book can be kind of meandering because that’s the whole point, but i have to worst attention span and memory so i think i might have to get some sticky notes to annotate before i tackle this beast

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

@@ericakennedy9258 I feel that. Johnny's text is brutal to get through very often for this exact reason. I think taking your time and making notes (like you suggested) will be your best way through. And realize that the confusion and anxiety and frustration is all curated as part of the reading experience. You've got this!

[@thebibookboy794]

Aaaaaaand now I have to read this

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Correct.

[@samleonard2557]

Frustrating and unsatisfying in the best way possible. I loved this book. Easily in my top ten.

[@lobajackson5495]

I I would really like to know the ISBN, please.

[@tarinvernon7007]

I got this book in English which is not my native language. I am a bit afraid.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

You've got this! The reddit group for HoL is super helpful (and you'll probably find some people who DO speak your native language and can help). Happy reading, and good luck!

[@sterlingcampbell2116]

I ordered the book and received it today. I have to say I'm disappointed to find out it's more of a love story than horror. Furthermore, so far the book reads like the most boring description of a documentary that you can possibly imagine. Your video was well done, don't get me wrong

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

No worries! I think it's odd that they frame it so much as a horror. I would say it's a psychological thriller/horror at best. While it doesn't focus entirely on the love story, that is a big element of it. It gets better as you go along, but it can definitely be a slog! I hope you end up enjoying it, and if you don't, I hope you are able to DNF it before it's a big waste of your time haha.

[@cat.book.nook.]

This book is on my TBR but I'm not sure I have enough brainpower for it 😅

[@dotsy8027]

Heyo! Just a few questions... I really like to read books, but the problem is that I'm very slow, and I sometimes need to read pages again to really understand what they are about. I've heard a lot of people say House of Leaves is very difficult to read, but the book is so interesting that I really want to read it. Do you think it's possible for a person whose native language isn't English and maybe has dyslexia to understand the book and enjoy it? Also, thanks for your video! It really hypes my interest for the book. Also another belgian here!

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

Hi there! I am so sorry for my delayed response to your comment! I think that this would be very difficult to read, especially if not in your native language. Oftentimes the author doddles on about nonsense and it is confusing even for native English speakers. I am 99% sure the book has been translated to Dutch/French so you might have good luck reading it that way if it's available! Omg nice to see another Belgian on the interwebs :)

[@dotsy8027]

@@EmilyReadsBooks im from the dutch side! Ill try to find a translation, thank you for the recommendation

[@johnrushman1586]

I listened to the book. It would have been scarier if it wasnt so confusing.

[@iipriorii]

I could talk for hours about this

[@marniekilbourne608]

Convoluted and pretensions seems to sum up this book. Rather like a not so fun Choose Your Own Adventure but you won't understand what is going on no matter what you do.

[@iipriorii]

I hoarded your comment section.... Sorry. Again. I really think Johnny is the only person that's real. On the border/ descent to true madness.

[@EmilyReadsBooks]

No worries! I'm glad that you felt compelled to share. Johnny to me also seems like the only 'real' character. I suppose when I eventually reread it I will have to see if it feels different. I wanted Zampano to be real, but I feel that Johnny being the true author of everything makes the most sense.

[@iipriorii]

Did she just say Ergotic Literature..? Holy broken snow shoes... I think my brain just broke. Don't see very many females that nerd out quite as far as I tend... You're a badass.

[@pattayaesl7128]

Emily is low key super cute

[@melvinastewart3723]

Get to the point!

[@nickthechick4346]

She’s so bad omg