Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

155 reviews

giggles692's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is probably one of the most challenging books I've ever read - I probably picked it up and started it 5 times across 10 years before finally getting through it all. Literary wise it's a thrill - keeping track of the the characters in all their timelines and perspectives was a challenge, and I loved the way the book showed all the different ways the house affected folks. Definitely recommend! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder

togglesmcbobbins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

A decension into madness and a beautiful example of the experimental reading experience. This was really three stories in 1 book, though the core story of Navidson and the various explorations of the House was my favorite. It is truly a unique reading experience! I wish more books had fun publishing like this one!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse and Mental illness

cryosphinx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I didn't get too much of the 'horror' aspect that some people experienced. There is some upsetting moments but nothing that kept me from sleeping at night. It's convoluted, a maze of a book but SHUT UP JOHNNY it delivered on what I think it set out to do. No other book as a subreddit of people constantly having to check with others "Hey, is this a misprint? Does anyone else have this in their edition?" and that's kind of special. But I can also totally see how it's not for everyone (This is not for you). But it's like playing a puzzle game in book form and finding that the journey is better than the destination. But what puzzles are actually puzzles or just things to drive you nuts? That's sort of the point. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal death

Minor: Death of parent

mattyb2851's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you are a fan of existential, cosmic horror, stories about love (and can it prevail?), textbooks, unreliable narration, and exploring the strengths of printed media, the do I have a book for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement

Moderate: Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Addiction, Suicide, and Chronic illness

nerdkitten's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Drug use, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, Gun violence, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Addiction, Excrement, Sexual assault, Body horror, Child death, Gaslighting, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Misogyny, Ableism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Abortion, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Incest, Racism, Suicide attempt, War, and Vomit

briannafenty's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Gun violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual assault

singerscientist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Drug abuse, Forced institutionalization, Suicide, Animal death, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Child death

jacobalenciaga's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

fucking fantastic. not perfect, but fantastic. way deeper than just something to read. i don't think i will read any sci-fi/horror book in the future without thinking of this. ending was a bit weak and there are a few moments where it reads like its up its own ass, but i loved it overall

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Confinement

Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Death, Blood, and Violence

Minor: Child death, Cancer, and Rape

lordcafeine's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Was it an easy read? Totally not
Was it good? I don't know
Will it stick with me forever? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Sexual content, Animal death, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Rape, and Drug abuse

book__reader's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I did find parts to be a bit iffy especially if it was from

Johnny’s perspective

But otherwise, this is like nothing I’ve read before. The writing was incredible, and the main story, I really couldn’t put the book down unless I had too!! This will be probably a book I come back to often.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Drug use