November 2010
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Style, structure, and "endless snarls of words" --
[More on House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski — because I’m resigned that I need more than one post to process this creature. The first part of this ongoing series talks about initial impressions and first encounters with the book.]
In his introduction, Johnny Truant describes The Navidson Record, the manuscript of his friend’s dead neighbor Zampanò, as thus:
Endless snarls of words,...
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Two Short Stories and a Painting
I’ve been extremely busy the last couple of months (what with moving to another country and school) so I’m not currently reading House of Leaves (I promise to make up for it by reading the next book we pick and being a particularly productive poster then). However, when I read the novel last year I enjoyed the hints and references to Borges and I thought that if people who are still...
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DEAR READ HARD!:
So, we’ve been having an influx of members, even though it’s not so evident, based on the frequency of member posting. I thought it was best to make a post to ask who among you are still reading with us.
I’m on a generally slow path, reading about 10% or so of the book. So far, I really like it, I just haven’t found the time to really sit down and absorb it (as it is the...
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“Strangely enough, by the time Karen reaches Navidson in the foyer, she has quite...”
– House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski.
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First encounter[s] with HOUSE OF LEAVES by Mark Z....
Hello, all. I’ve read this book, and think it’s Teh Awesomez. I’ve done a dissection-worship / groan-squeal over at my book blog, but I am reposting them here because, well, the book is Teh Awesomez. So. Here:
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I have been both relentlessly interested and [innately] skeptical of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. Since April, I’ve been drawn to this book in...
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October 2010
39 posts
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“Women have curious ways of hurting someone else. They hurt themselves instead;...”
– The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (page 282)
Finally finished reading the book. You should totally finish it. I loved it.
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“How could I have been so ignorant? she thinks. So stupid, so unseeing, so given...”
– Margaret Atwood, the Blind Assassin (page 632). Yes - I finished it, last night. And I thought it was a really good read. The writing is remarkable and I loved Laura, she’s wonderful. I really can’t say much more really, that would give too much away. Which would be a shame.
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Some thoughts and a push for those who are...
Dear ReadHard,
It is quite hard to sit with this book. I read most of your posts and nodded my head because the content didn’t seem to live up to the blurb and those awesome lines in the beginning where Atwood strings the words ‘shipwrecks’ ‘romance’ ‘jungles’ ‘tropical islands’ ‘mountains’ ‘space’ together. I’m...
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The Blind Assassin, page 517
“Laura will have money, when she’s twenty-one,” I said. “Not enough,” said Winifred. “Maybe it will be enough for Laura. Maybe she just wants to lead her own life,” I said. “Her own life!” said Winifred. “Just think what she’d do with it!”
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What would this go under...thoughts? reveiw?
I’ll go with thoughts, since I never actually finished the book. I’ll be frank with this: I joined this club because I’m dyslexic and really need something that will encourage me to try to read more. I like reading, it’s just really hard for me to get through books that I don’t really love. This tumblr is great, I really appreciate what you guys’ve done, and...
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“You have a lot of friends, she says.
Not a lot, he says. You don’t need...”
– The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Page 109.
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“Fuck vegetarians - “All Gods are canrivorous” - Laura Chase.”
– The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Page 84
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Atwood, you are such a chore --
sashawantsmore:
I’ve never been inclined to read this book — hell, I’ve never been inclined to read Atwood. But now is as good a time as any, I guess. And, well, reading The Blind Assassin, I’m very much aware of how masterful the crafting is: A narrative within a novel within the actual novel. A sci-fi tale within a love story within a family saga. It’s admirable, even awe-inspiring.
...
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Cat here, joined as soon as I learned such a book club existed (although in truth, Carina forced me). First bookface - taken before I left with featured book to get some much needed pampering. I started reading as soon as I bought the last copy in the bookstore (whew!) and I’m enjoying so far.
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“Even if love was underneath it all, there was a great deal piled on top, and...”
– From The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.
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“Why is it we want so badly to memorialize ourselves? Even while we’re...”
– From The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.
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“The real name of the city was erased from memory by the conquerors, and this is...”
– The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Page 11-12.
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“But some people can’t tell where it hurts. They can’t calm down....”
– The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. Page 2.
shakemytomb-deactivated20101125 asked: hey, do you have a goodreads account?
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Weekly Update!
(No, not really, but I do have a question.)
I’m about seventy pages into the book (I know, slowpoke), but I was just wondering, for the people that have been able to read fairly into the book: which part are you more interested?
“The Blind Assassin” is often described as having a novel-within-a-novel, and while I do enjoy the voice of Iris, I think I’m more attached to the sci-fi story...
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“Nevertheless she feels that the two of them are alone; as if the apple tree...”
– The Blind Assassin, Margaret Atwood
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My copy
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“What is the real breath of a man — the breathing out or the breathing in?”
– The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood
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“Then a few months ago I found myself talking to the tree. An entire...”
– Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
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“I could not see Juli coated in powder. Okay, maybe gunpowder, but the white...”
– Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
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September 2010
4 posts
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