House of Leaves
Score Modern
What it's about
Johnny Truant finds a manuscript by a dead blind man, Zampanò, analyzing a documentary that may not exist: The Navidson Record, about a family whose house is bigger on the inside than the outside, with a dark hallway that keeps growing. As Johnny annotates the manuscript, it begins to consume him. The story unfolds through footnotes, appendices and text that twists across the page.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read and has a huge cult following. It's one of the strangest and most frightening novels ever made, and reading it is an experience in itself.
You'll love it if you liked
The Haunting of Hill House, The Shining or Piranesi
Good to know
It needs the print edition: the typography is part of the story. It's long, demanding and unforgettable.
Quick answers
Is House of Leaves worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read and has a huge cult following. It ranks #796 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is House of Leaves about?
Johnny Truant finds a manuscript by a dead blind man, Zampanò, analyzing a documentary that may not exist: The Navidson Record, about a family whose house is bigger on the inside than the outside, with a dark hallway that keeps growing. As Johnny annotates the manuscript, it begins to consume him. The story unfolds through footnotes, appendices and text that twists across the page.
How long does it take to read House of Leaves?
About 18 hours (709 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after House of Leaves?
If you liked it, try The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, The Shining by Stephen King or Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On the BBC's The Big Read list.
Where it ranks
- #16 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #113 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #410 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #796 of the 2,819 books we rank
On the lists
- BBC's The Big Read
Reads as
Gripping, Epic, Dark
