Nian Liu

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski Chapters XIII-XVI

These three chapters settle close to the end of the story explaining different perspectives of critics and psychiatrists on the characters in the Navidson Record. On chapter thirteen, it was mostly about side comments on the Hi-8 tapes/story and it also provided us behind the scenes on the Holloway Tape. In the story the house begins to devour Holloway as he lingers alone in the darkness, the room filled with his own sorrow, fear, and hopelessness. As for Johnny Traunt in this chapter, he finds himself obsessed exactly the way Navidson was obsessed with the Hallway. He continues to talk about things that were happening then later not happening and how the thought of the darkness consuming everything makes him wake up with cold sweats every night. As for the relationship between Karen and Will Navidson in the three chapters, their love and tolerance for each other start to deterioate. As for Jed, Wax, Reston, Tom and Navidson, they all ultimately escape the hallway but Jed couldn't make it. Holloway suicides with the pull of his rifle to his chest, and the story seems to have ascended from its climax. But very surprised I didn't know that the situation would be even worst than it already is, the house begins to devour the Navidson family along with Tom and sadly he sacrifices himself in order to save Daisy. The Navidson family escaped the haunting house but Will and Karen found it impossible to get back. What I enjoyed the most was the part in the story where the scientists explained to the guys how the hallway materials were either from another dimension, extrateresstrial or just a "persistent presence of schizophrenia plaguing the human race."

1) Could the missing pages in the book explain things that aren't already mentioned in the book?
2) Will there be a happy ever after in this story or would this book remain a dark mystery leaving readers in an overflow of questions.
3) What will happen to the kids Chad and Daisy now that they have escaped, will they continue to be drawing pictures of dark rooms and will they ever be normal again?