House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski
28 people recommended it in 18 threads, 2007–2025.
2 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
I'm still not sure what the book is, but it's certainly a stroke of genius.
you can't beat a mind-bending horror like that. I live for this stuff.
I felt like I understood and identified with it a great deal more.
this one just split open my brain in an irreversible way, sort of like how you hear people describe certain drugs.
What literature should be. Innovative both in design and in prose. It's very long but you can finish it in a maddening evening, it's hilarious, it's terrifying.
Will feel like a completely fresh take on narrative form.
You must use a physical book, it's full of typographical and color changes to impress context different then just the words.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 3 recommendations
- Ask YC: favorite books 2007 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately? 2023 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books. 2009 · 2 recommendations
- Books I Loved Reading in 2024 2025 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading, since when? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the best unknown books you have read? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book have you re-read recently? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2015? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What Books Are You Reading? 2014 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books are you reading 2011 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009? 2010 · 1 recommendation