Elisabeth Jeremko

One of the most notable aspects of Chapters IX to XII in House of Leaves was the breakdown of so many aspects. Not only do the characters begin to break down, but the organization of the text itself. Endnotes start appearing in the top, reflecting backwards onto the other page. This reflection reminds me of binary opposition…I wonder if this concept will appear again. Also, the text becomes more sparatic and less conventional. Just as Reston gets "mal de mer", the reader is sent into a changing, wave-like fluctuation of how the text is layed out while turning each page. It is interesting when it is asked, "Can Navidson's house exist without the experience of itself?" (172). The reader can control the pace of the action on the pages where there are one lines. I became aware of how fast I was flipping through, taken in by the suspense of Reston and Navidson –the words themselves become the action, such as the bullet being fired.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Why does Danielewski wait only till now to really transform the text, taking more liberties with its actual organization?

2) Tom comes up and again and even has a short analysis of his story written…does Tom serve a purpose…perhaps as a contrast against Will, his brother?

3) Is there any significance to the name "The Atrocity" described by Johnny Truant?

4) When Tom says, "I'm coming in" what does he mean exactly? Has he been sucked into the psychological mind games of the labyrinth as well?