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bookishdea's review
1.0
This book was on my Nook, and when I started it, I had no idea what it was. It wasn't until a few chapters in that I realized that this was the weirdish horror novel I had gotten a while ago.
I also read this book while taking the bus home from work -- after working an eight hour shift and getting off at 7am. So yes, not optimal reading conditions.
I am really not a fan of post-modernist literature. Actually, I despite it with a passion, and the last piece of post-modernist literature I unfortunately read was Douglas Copland's Coma Girl and I ended up throwing it halfway across the room into a wall.
It really depends on my mood, but different writing styles besides your basic paragraphs can really annoy me as well.
Also, apparently I'm not a huge fan of speculative fiction. And I know that I am quite wary of horror.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
I finished the book. But I was left just as confused as I was when I started it. There was nothing really horrifying about the book. I just found it really strange. And no, I didn't like the book. It didn't send me into a rage (seriously, what was up with Coma Girl, that was like the most pointless book I've ever read...post-modernism is why I dropped out of my lit-based American Studies program*). I'm sure for the right reader, this book is excellent. But unfortunately, I am not that reader. This isn't a YA paranormal romance with vampires/werewolves/whatever that makes me scream about the way it's upholding the rape culture and romanticizing abusive partners. No, this book was simply a book that I should never have picked up because it's not a genre I like, it's not a style I like, and it really requires more thought than reading when you're half-asleep.
If you like post-modernism, different kinds of writing styles, or want a new face in the horror genre (that is a different kind of creepy), I recommend this book to you.
If you don't want any of that...stay away. You'll probably just end up confused.
*well, not the only reason. But my professors ADORED post-modernist lit and I despise it and unfortunately the program that advertised both literary AND cultural AND historical aspects of the US turned out to be an extremely post-modernist literature based program. So yeah. Not the only reason, but a big one.
I also read this book while taking the bus home from work -- after working an eight hour shift and getting off at 7am. So yes, not optimal reading conditions.
I am really not a fan of post-modernist literature. Actually, I despite it with a passion, and the last piece of post-modernist literature I unfortunately read was Douglas Copland's Coma Girl and I ended up throwing it halfway across the room into a wall.
It really depends on my mood, but different writing styles besides your basic paragraphs can really annoy me as well.
Also, apparently I'm not a huge fan of speculative fiction. And I know that I am quite wary of horror.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
I finished the book. But I was left just as confused as I was when I started it. There was nothing really horrifying about the book. I just found it really strange. And no, I didn't like the book. It didn't send me into a rage (seriously, what was up with Coma Girl, that was like the most pointless book I've ever read...post-modernism is why I dropped out of my lit-based American Studies program*). I'm sure for the right reader, this book is excellent. But unfortunately, I am not that reader. This isn't a YA paranormal romance with vampires/werewolves/whatever that makes me scream about the way it's upholding the rape culture and romanticizing abusive partners. No, this book was simply a book that I should never have picked up because it's not a genre I like, it's not a style I like, and it really requires more thought than reading when you're half-asleep.
If you like post-modernism, different kinds of writing styles, or want a new face in the horror genre (that is a different kind of creepy), I recommend this book to you.
If you don't want any of that...stay away. You'll probably just end up confused.
*well, not the only reason. But my professors ADORED post-modernist lit and I despise it and unfortunately the program that advertised both literary AND cultural AND historical aspects of the US turned out to be an extremely post-modernist literature based program. So yeah. Not the only reason, but a big one.
daneekasghost's review
4.0
4+ stars. Dreamy and disturbing - it brings to mind both the desolation and hopelessness of Butler's 'Scorch Atlas' (which I found really really interesting) and Danielewski's 'House of Leaves'. The themes are very different than 'House', but the malevolent house at the center of this one is perhaps more off-putting (which is no mean feat).
Very well done (again). I'll continue to read whatever Butler puts out.
Very well done (again). I'll continue to read whatever Butler puts out.
szalent's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chase's review
3.0
It was creepy and satisfying, as strange as that sounds. It reminded me vaguely of Coraline, which had a similar air of sinister surreality. A very interesting read.
guilhermet's review
3.0
What Eraserhead did for having a child, this does for owning a house. Basically House of Leaves stripped of pretensions of continuity or internal coherence.
Kind of peters out at the end a bit; scenes start repeating themselves and the plot kinda coasts into a stop rather than reaching anywhere in particular.
Kind of peters out at the end a bit; scenes start repeating themselves and the plot kinda coasts into a stop rather than reaching anywhere in particular.
aspeed's review
4.0
A bizarre book, almost impossible to describe. Perhaps the most surreal horror novel I've ever read. Well written enough that I didn't mind the fact that it had no real ending. (Which was the point ..?)
luiscorrea's review
2.0
In the middle of yet another box opening up with hairy insects pouring out and calling the nameless characters, I thought about how I would receive the book were it just called a poem, but then I thought, besides the surreal imagery and the occasionally interesting formatting there's very little that compelled me. Call me a traditionalist, but if I'm not going to get some plot, I at least want some solid character, and if that's all out of the question, at least give me some interesting language. I won't doubt that Butler's part of something big in the current literary scene, but it's just not to my tastes.
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