Tuesday, March 4, 2008

"House of Leaves"

Okay this is the book. The first book since I was maybe ten years old that scared me. I mean really scared me. The protagonist in the story is a young man named Johnny. As he reads Zampano's work he finds himself having horrific visions and hallucinations. He picks up a case of agoraphobia, and begins to lose his mind.
The night before last, I slept a fitful sleep. I was in and out of consciousness. But the odd thing was that all night long I was wandering those endless and ever changing hallways of the house on Ash Tree Lane. When I would rise out of sleep it was more like I floated to the top of sleep. As if slumber was a liquid that I bobbed in and out of all night. But when I "woke" up, I was still in a dream state. Still wandering lost in those dark hallways. Then I would come full enough awake to go pee or roll over then fall back asleep and back into the Navidson house.
The book has gotten into me. Reading Zampano's labyrinthine work has begun to effect me as it has Johnny. Or am I making something out of thin air?
That is horror. To be able to create an experience in me that the character in the book is having, or something similar. My God what genius. If anyone reads this and can suggest any other books of such incredible skill please post them. "House of Leaves" is a work of fucking genius. READ IT if you haven't already. If you have, tell me about your experience?