House of Leaves Ch XIII-XVI,

In these chapters a lot of things start important things start to show itself, the house and the people in who are affected by them beginning to become more tenses. The two children Chad and Daisy are seem drawing pictures of the house without doors or window, pushing Teppet Brookes is Chad's teacher to investigate. As she shows up she finds out what is happening. Navidson and Karen relationship has been the greatest but maybe Karen although she seems to be the other that giving Navidson the hard time about his Art, is the one that putting up with him. Kind of sad to see that near the end, as the story move on to a close there is sure to be more mystery.

The two children drawing are disturbing; do you think children have a kind of six senses?

Will Navidson ever realize what his wife has gone through for him?

Tom dies but how? In detail.

Darkness is one of the main themes in this book , what does it have to do with it exactly?

Does Johnny T have any kind of mental issues that we can pick up from this book?

Elisabeth Jeremko

For these chapters, my emotional responses to the characters' plights in the Navidson Record began shifting towards their personal demons, as opposed to the horror of the house itself. I found Holloway's story to be tragic,where his quest to rid himself of inadequacies became the ultimate (failed) test within the spiral staircase. I also began to feel more empathy for Karen. In the earlier chapters, I found Karen's behavior to be rather selfish and unsupportive of Navidson's need for his art. However, when the house began to collapse, I realized how much she had really been putting up with, and I was annoyed with Navidson that they let everything go that far. Although I was emotionally moved by the characters on a more psychological level, there were still aspects that kept these chapters horror-like. The visit of the schoolteacher, the disturbing pictures drawn by Chad and Daisy, and the house taking on a life of its own all kept the story creepy and hard to decipher. I am starting to get mildly vexed with Johnny Truant and his tangents. Earlier, I found his voice interesting and a nice disruption from the rest of the action. However, now I am starting to feel like he is in a state of stasis, where he repeats many of his psychological insecurities and fears over and over again. I would like to see something happen with him in the upcoming chapters. I think one of my favorite parts of the chapters were when different philosophers, scientists, and filmmakers commented about Karen and the house. I found this amusing, where it was guessed how different thinkers would ponder this mystery.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) Why was the minotaur parts of the Record striked out?

2) How does Tom die, exactly?

3) Is there any significance to Chad always going outside, and Daisy always staying in? Is it gender related symbolism?

4) Who could Delial be?

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?

Janie Cherestal

The story of the Navidson house gets more and more intriguing as I continue reading about it. I loved how Chapter XIII describes the madness of the bloody scene from the eyes of an innocent schoolteacher checking up on her students. I felt heartbroken when Tom was swallowed up by the house, for he had become my favorite character of the novel. I especially felt bad for Navidson, for any reader could see that he had emotionally reconnected to his brother. Some questions that crossed my mind while reading this segment of the novel were-
- What is the significance behind the fact that the furniture blockading the entrance to the hallway looked like a theater?
- Why does Karen accept the tapes of the house when it seems as though all she wanted throughout the novel was to get as far away from the house as possible?
- What is this “it” that Johnny is trying to lock out of his house?
- Does the fact that Zampano is blind relate in anyway to the theme of darkness and the unknown of the novel?

Kristy Medina

House Chapter 13-16

The quote talks about an "escape" however the footnotes makes it seem like there is no escape, however. It's even dark outside. Karen likes control which might be the complete opposite of Navidson- although Navidson wants control of the house. Reston hears a noise, he goes away then knocks from the door. Lights go off during a thunderstorm which is a typical plot scene in a horror story. The family is about to leave when Karen starts to scream and Navidson's true love for Karen shows. The love between the two seems to get more complicated and difficult throughout the novel but there is a love or connection is present. The darkness takes Tom at the end of chapter 13.

Psychology is again shown through when it is revealed that Karen was raped in a dark well when she was a teenager. The relationshp shows why she was so afraind of the house and kept to herself, and therefore hated it when Navidson persisted on going on his explorations. The weird relationship between Navidson and Karen grows apart and changes because of the house. Yet, they love eachother in an awkward, untraditional way. With their shady pasts and their kids, and their new experience at the house, the relationship might rekindle and become an actual relationship once again.

Questions:
- Why did it take them so long to leave the house?
-What does the last sentence mean in Chapter 13, about "finding his mother?"

Michael Lampasona

More and more is being learned (or assumed) about the house, with the author going off on some psychological tangents. These tangents are either told in the form of cited sources, or in a more casual (at times hard to follow) way by Johnny Truant. We get to know that Navidson escapes the hallway to return to Karen and the children, however the same cannot be said for Holloway, who is essentially driven mad by the house. Characters are having trouble leaving the house, as it becomes evident that the mysterious labyrinth is not the only thing going on with this house. Eventually, we reach the point where Karen is showing off the film, and questions arise about its nature.

Johnny Truant continues to go mad and his life appears to be falling apart, and the Navidson Record appears to be responsible (at least in his head). More references were made to the Minotaur, and how that can be symbolized by the house. These chapters were interesting, however I did not like the portions of missing text, due to "burn marks" or "ink blotches."

So, here are my discussion questions...

1. How real are Johnny's problems, and does he have an underlying psychological problem?
2. Is there a reason for the house's behavior (why has it gotten more severe)?
3. What are the purpose of the missing information with brackets?

Julie Morvitz

I thought it was very interesting how the reader went from thinking that one brother was going to die (Navidson) to thinking the other was going to die (Tom).  I wasn’t sure Navidson would die even when Tom had left him in the hallway, though.  I still wasn’t sure he was completely gone even after he had been gone for a few days.  When he emerged, I thought the danger was gone because no one would attempt the dangerous hallway again.  My thoughts were disproven when Tom was suddenly eaten by the house while trying to escape.  When Navidson’s family tried to leave the house, it basically tried to engulf them.  I liked how the house took pieces of the people who tried to explore it by taking bits of their clothing, and then when they tried to escape, it literally tried to swallow them up.  

            I also liked the different opinions on the movie.  Some of them made no sense, and others assumed that Karen was just lonely so she made up this story, which apparently symbolized loneliness.  I also thought it was very funny that Hunter S. Thompson thought Karen had taken drugs before she made this film, because that’s how the story seems to an outsider.

 Discussion Questions

1. Why didn’t Karen tell her viewers that the film was real?

2. Does Navidson plan on joining his family in New York?           

3.  Why does Delial affect Navidson so much?

4. Do you think the house is a portal into another dimension?

Katherine Tesi

A relationship between Johnny and Zampano begins to develop within this section of the reading, at least in the mind of Johnny. He begins to relate very strongly to Zampano’s writings and feels an overwhelming desire to “finish what he had started”. Johnny installs multiple locks on his doors and purchases guns for protection. He even turns down an invitation from Thumper for dinner. The Johnny that currently narrates the book is obviously not the same Johnny as the reader saw at the books beginning.
Wax, Reston, Tom and an already deceased Jed, return from the hallway without Navidson. After a few more days, Navidson returns one evening, limping. Holloway’s tapes are revealed and we are told that he committed suicide while in the house. Karen is more ready than ever to leave Virginia and go back to New York with the kids. One night as they are all packing, the house begins to collapse. All the walls begin to blacken, windows disappear and the house seems to be becoming like the hallway. Navidson returns to the collapsing house to save Karen and Tom sacrifices himself to save Daisy. Karen returns to New York and Navidson promises to meet her soon, where she makes a short film of the Navidson Record. She shows her film to many others for criticisms and opinions. It is also revealed to the reader that Delial could be the name of a Sudanese child once photographed by Navidson. Possibly the most interesting detail revealed however, is the fact that the wall samples taken from within the labyrinth prove to be ranging in age from a few years old to millions of years old; some older than the earth itself.

1. Has Karen too become more obsessed with the house?
2. Why do the children seem so uninterested in the happenings of the house?
3. Why does the house have such a different relationship with adults, children and animals?

Alyson Bernero

These chapters were definitely my favorite of the book so far. The hallway has taken its first life and everyone was waiting around for the return of Navidson. Karen is so caught up in everything going on she begins to neglect the children who are very unhappy and crying out for attention and help. The fear of the hallway has definitely taken its toll of everyone. When Navidson finally does return it is clear he is completely changed. Against everyone's wishes he ventures back into the hallway and this time becomes disoriented and cannot find his way out. When he finally attempts to escape the house he only becomes even more lost. At this point I am very interested in whats going on with this house and the hallway. I have a feeling Navidson is going to die, but I can't even imagine what his death would do to an already fragile Karen. Everything is spinning out of control in these later chapters of the book. Its very clear by now that Johnny has gotten way too involved in everything going on around him and is in the middle of going crazy. He lost his job, his house and his sanity and is now a mission to find the home he's read so much about.

Why doesn't Lude get help for Johnny?
When will Karen realize she can't stand by Navidson's actions anymore?
Will Johnny realize that he's going to drive himself mad before its too late?
Will Navidson survive his adventures?

Natalya Gornopolskaya

This story grows more tragic as the pages turn. Navidson has left his family behind to go back into the house that killed his brother. The reason as to why he went back is not known for sure, though there are three scholarly theories that discuss the reasons in academic detail. I think the reason he went back was to restore the calm back to the house; just as his presence caused chaos to ensue, it also created the reverse effect. Whether Exploration # 5 occurred before, soon or after Karen returns to the house, is unclear. However, it is apparent that the house has become less threatening, being that there is no more crawl space between the two bedrooms, and the dark hallways seem to have evolved into a harmless white closet. The love letter Navidson writes to Karen in his drunken stupor is very heartfelt and insightful. It even makes me wonder whether he eventually does go back to Karen, since he did truly care for her. As Karen has moved back into the house she keeps busy by writing a journal and trying to remain in high spirits in hopes for Navidson’s safe return. She calls out to him at times, making it unclear whether it is her mental state that’s waning or whether it’s actually happening. One day she discovers Navidson’s equipment has appeared inside the children’s bedroom. The chapter closes as the walls behind her engulf into blackness. At this point Will Navidson has got some questionable morals in terms of his returning to the house. He takes with him enough supplies to last two weeks, though he ends up staying there for much longer. As Navidson explores the house he appears to have found the edge, which only leads into complete darkness. Navidson decides to turn back, though he is now disoriented and appears to be either falling or walking on air and every which way he goes leads him downhill. He is badly injured, out of supplies and crawling through crammed spaces. Suddenly he sees a window which he climbs out of, finding nothing of interest, only to appear even more lost. Navidson is dying, time is fleeting and the situation looks very morose. I am hoping he survives through this somehow. Johnny Truant has pawned his mother’s locket, been evicted from his apartment and continues on his downward spiral. Lude has been badly hurt by Kyrie’s rich fiancé, and plans to sue him for a lot of money. Johnny says goodbye to all who he knows as he plans to move to Virginia to search for the house on Ash Tree Lane.

Questions:

1. Why does Johnny want to find the house?

2. Did Navidson take death into consideration before re-entering the house?

3. Has Karen gone mad with her love for Navidson?

4. Will Johnny and Thumper ever be together?

5. Is Johnny seriously leaving his life behind, never to return?

Emily Skahill

This plot is getting old. At first I was all but jumping out of my seat in terror of what was going to happen. Considering Zampano would always tell us something was coming. Personally, I think it’s much scarier to know something is coming and continually guess what it is, than to actually know what it is and have it be some something stereotypical of a horror movie. Ok, there’s a crazy labyrinth in the house with corridors just appearing. So? You take your family, move out of the house, and far away from that house. But not the Navidson’s of course not, because there would be no story and no supposed film if they got scared and ran away. So the house begins to lash out at them, okay. Move out! ok they finally try but the house decides to try to eat them? it serves them right for being so stupid in the first place! The house was probably built on an Indian burial ground or another cliché area. This makes me wonder if the children know their parents are insane and if they themselves are okay with the excavation of their own house. A few chapters earlier Zampano said the children spent most of their time outside. Is it really just because their parents neglect them? The saddest part for me is that I can identify with Truant, the disgusting raunchy man terrified to breathe. However it isn’t actually Zampano’s writing of the Navidson Record that scares him, it’s Zampano’s life. He was curious about the man’s death, found a book about a film that never existed, and let his imagination take him away. I have a tendency to do this. But even so, my imagination would never take me that far out of reality. i would never go seek out a house that i'm not sure even exists. There is something mentally wrong with every single character and author in House of leaves, isn't there? Everyone had problems growing up why does the house personify them? Will the readers ever find out why the house came to be this way? 

Robert Stevens

Now the story is getting interesting. At this point the authorities have become involved over the shooting of Wax and Jed's murder... they are so perplexed by the idea of the house that they come and go in quite a hurry. Evetually it is revealed that Holloway committed suicide inside the laybrinth.
The house is also flexing its muscles, as it now has the ability to shape-shift beyond the confines of the Laybrinth. This is the final straw for all concerned, and they finally leave the house. The remainder of the story focuses on the aftermath and recollections. Several celebreties give their take on the film. Karen's infidelities are also explored in more detail, as well as her new found emotional independence from Will. Will himself has also become more distant and isolated, unwilling to associate with Karen and most other people. We also finally find out who Delial is.

Johnny Truant is further slipping into madness as well. He has sealed off his apartment from the outside world, most of his utilites have been shut off, and he is facing eviction. He is so consumed at this point that even Thumper dosen't have an effect on him. What happened to him is exactly what happend to Zampano (although I'm not sure if Zampano kept a .45 a .357 and a Weatherbee 300 mag rifle around to maintain "some kind of fucking control")

Kristin Todd

Chapters 13-16

These chapters of the novel showed the mystery progressing.  I found it shocking that Navidson was able to make it out of the labyrinth, but at the same time if he did not, the novel would have had to end.  I thought that the parts of Karen's life towards the end helped calm down the story and make it less frightening because it showed an actual person in life rather than just focusing on the labyrinth the whole time.  I was startled when the house started lashing out against the Navidson's and the others because I thought it only had power inside the labyrinth, not on the whole house.  I am looking forward to reading about the repercussions of Navidson's decision to go back to the house instead of staying in New York with Karen and the kids.

Discussion Questions:

1.  What's going to happen to the Navidson family now that Will left New York for Virginia?

2.  How is it possible that the house reacted like it did?

3.  What is going on with Johnny?  Why is the novel affecting him like it is?

Natalya Gornopolskaya

Within these next few chapters I cannot help but become consumed within this story. I am bombarded with emotions of shock, disbelief, grief, terror, confusion and puzzlement. As Navidson becomes lost within the shifting natures of the house, there is chaos erupting outside of the darkness. As the other men escape they are badly hurt, Jed is pronounced dead and all are overwhelmed and worried for Navidson. About four days pass until Navidson finally emerges from the depths of the hallways. Everyone is overcome with emotion at his return. Karen, who has found some degree of her own independence during Navy’s disappearance immediately prompts everyone to move out. As the packing is progressing, with all sorts of work to be done, the house inexplicably begins to collapse. Navidson is able to heroically save Karen, Reston, Chad and Daisy, but not his twin brother Tom. Tom is tragically lost to the house as he sinks, along with the walls into the depths of the dark hallways. The aftermath of these extreme circumstances serve as the groundwork for the remainder of this book. It is revealed that Holloway committed suicide as a result of his deep rooted feelings of inadequacy. Karen has moved herself and the kids to New York, where she has or hasn’t been having multiple affairs. Navidson takes his leave from Karen and the children in order to gather Tom’s things from the house. He says he’ll be gone a few days, but in fact ends up staying for several months. In Virginia, Navidson and Reston conduct several studies on the remnants of the house, as they try to find explanation for the horrors they suffered. Karen conducts her own labor of love by editing the video clips sent by Navidson into a short film that receives mixed reviews by several esteemed critics. She also makes her own film “for the one who she loves”, in it are several clips , photos and relics of Will Navidson. It is through the making of this film that Karen desires a reconciliation between her and Navidson. When it comes to Johhny Truant, we see him in a very self deteriorating condition. He no longer goes out, eats well or pays the bills. He simply stays at home under dimly lit candles, trying to compile all of Zampanò’s research. In a way he has become Zampanò, as he no longer values human contact, not even a call from Thumper. Johnny’s unbridled obsession with his work has made him increasingly paranoid, to the point at which he buys many destructive weapons for protection.

Questions:

1. Is Johnny’s behavior rationally cautious?

2. Will we ever hear an explanation for why the house collapsed or how it came to exist?

3. Why did Navidson leave Karen?

4. Have the children been psychologically traumatized?

5. Will Johnny ever return to normal, will anyone ever help him?

Victoria Gornopolskaya

These next 4 chapters focus on what is going on after the characters escape the house. Navidson, Karen, Reston, and the children have made it out of the house but that does not mean they are necessarily safe. Tom unfortunately died within the house when he went in to get Daisy. Although the family made it out together, Karen and Navidson separated. Karen and the kids went to stay with Karen’s mother while Navidson stayed alone; alone with his obsession over the house. Karen made a short film about their experience and had quite a few people watch it and comment it. We learned more about Karen's life and about how her dad raped her and her sister as children, forcing one to stay in a well. This explains Karen's claustrophobia and certainly justifies it. We also learn Karen had an affair at some point while she was with Navidson. It is clear that Karen constantly seeks attention from males to resolve some sort of insecurity she has. It seems as though all the characters in the book are dealing with insecurities in unhealthy ways. We also learn about Johnny Truant's mother who he seems to have loved and cared for very deeply. She wore a locket with a letter from him inside it, implying that she felt the same. These few chapters have not been as exciting as the previous ones. I am wondering what the rest of the book is about if the family has supposedly left the house.
Questions:
What is the significance of Johnny's mother's locket? What did the letter say?
Did the house cause Navidson psychological damage?
Will Johnny Truant ever get his normal life back?

Carly Cooper

These chapters were not as interesting as the others; I was especially bored with the chapter about the responses to Karen’s film. One interesting thing that the author did was overlap the teacher’s story with Navidson’s story. I thought that was an interesting way to show both points of view. I feel like Karen’s characters is growing on my a bit, to hear about her life after leaving the house and Navidson’s life after leaving the house makes me have sympathy for her and think that he is selfish and a little crazy. While they both clearly have psychological problems it is confusing now what is happening to their relationship
One question I have is about all these people who responded to Karen’s short film, they seem to all be hitting on her, even the women, I was wondering what the significance of that was?
Another question is about Navidson, where is he? What is he doing or trying to discover? Why doesn’t he return to his family? My last question is regarding Johnny, what is wrong with him? His story has become much less interesting as his psychological states get more sever. What is wrong with him? How has this story changed him so drastically?

John Bonhomme Jr.

Chapters thirteen to sixteen where very confusing. The plot was very rushed and the nonsense was drawn out to create a highlighter affect on the nonsense. This made no sense to me what so ever. Why would you want the reader to lose focus of the plot and focus on the stuff that has nothing to do with the book itself? This makes me think that the author wants us to see past the plot and start making connections with the things that don't seem important. As this came into focus for me, I realized that the nonsense is there to create comparisons. The reason why Danielewski uses these unrelated plot stories is to provide some clarity to whats going on. Johnny Truant seems to be starting to turn his life around. The more the book progresses the more we find out about his past. His life story reveals why his life is so messed up now.
Questions
Is Karen intentionally getting fame off the house footage?
Why the heck would Will go back to the house and leave his family?
Does Karen still love Will?