Katherine Tesi

Although we have just begun to read this novel, within the first forty pages I can’t help but feel as though the narrator, Johnny, is anything but reliable. The book begins with Johnny’s introduction of how after researching Zampano’s writings of the “Navidson Record”, he finds that much of what is written about the movie, is false and based on a movie that doesn’t even exist. Johnny’s issues with drugs become apparent and his sanity can begin to be questioned. Zampano’s writings are dusted with the narration of Johnny’s daily life, which often include seemingly bizarre topics and stories. Upon reading most of Johnny’s tales and incidents, I cannot come to trust a word he writes. In reading Johnny’s accounts I can only think that he too has begun to falsify much of his stories, similar to Zampano.

Discussion Questions:
1. Why is the word “house” printed in blue?
2. How can the reader distinguish between the truth and lies within both Zampano’s and Johnny’s stories?
3. What is the significance of the way the children react to the new closet compared to the reaction of the adults?