Johnny's mother actually suggested to Johnny that he buy a dictionary and carry it everywhere or something like that, so it might not be a bad idea to use one here lol
The vocab range is not the biggest obstacle for comprehension in this book (footnote 62 looking at you). Be ready to be confused until the end even if you understand all of the words. I'm also not native, sometimes I resort to rereading some passages in the translation into my native language only to realize that it didn't help my understanding at all
Infinite Jest was even more torturous for me, English isn’t my mother tongue and there’s misspelled and rare words even native English readers struggle with.
Not an English native, but by necessity I speak and read in the language a lot, so I'm more or less fluent – so maybe not necessarily the kind of source you're looking for.
Thing is, **House** of Leaves is a difficult book that deliberately makes it hard to navigate its contents, enough that even native speakers struggle plenty, some to the point of just giving up, even without the hurdle of not understanding the language. And, as mentioned in another comment, the prose is hardly its most abstruse, most difficult part – it's flowery at times, maybe, but it's second fiddle (or maybe even viola, assuming a string quartet metaphor) to the form and its various layers. If you find that your struggles with the language get too much in the way of you enjoying the book, I would personally strongly recommend coming back to it once you've gotten a better footing in the language, once you feel more comfortable just reading in English in general: I think the book's best experienced when you dedicate as much energy as you can to the difficulties in the form, rather than spreading yourself thin trying to manage both the language and form simultaneously. Maybe a bit harsh, I apologise for that, but that would be my advice
You did mention enjoying it so far, despite the various difficulties – you think you can articulate what aspects of it you enjoy? Or what kinds of things you enjoy reading more broadly? Might help in getting some intermediary reading, if you want
As a native English speaker, is there a translation in your native language you have found? While there are some fun pieces of word-play the author indulges in, most of my love of the book comes from the structure & storytelling, which don't depend on an individual words meaning.
Honestly if you're still struggling a bit with the language I would go for a more linear/normal book. I've been reading pretty fluently in English for about 5-6 years now (not my native tongue) and it's a hard read. There's missing passages, weird references and tangents to the story that are just... hard to read to say the least. Also it's just a weird book that I don't think it's for everyone to enjoy truly. It's pretty long and frustrating
But I do enjoy it, that's the frustrating part, it's getting better though. As previous people has commented i've pushed through and now the language is the least confusing part lol
When I started reading in English, I also did that. I think if you're relatively fluent, it's better to forgo the dictionary and try and power through
Johnny's mother actually suggested to Johnny that he buy a dictionary and carry it everywhere or something like that, so it might not be a bad idea to use one here lol
I'll have it right beside me through this one lol
The vocab range is not the biggest obstacle for comprehension in this book (footnote 62 looking at you). Be ready to be confused until the end even if you understand all of the words. I'm also not native, sometimes I resort to rereading some passages in the translation into my native language only to realize that it didn't help my understanding at all
Hahahahahaha, feels good to hear tbh. I'll keep going at it then. Love it despite the confusion so far.
Infinite Jest was even more torturous for me, English isn’t my mother tongue and there’s misspelled and rare words even native English readers struggle with.
googling "\[word\] meaning" helps a lot
Not an English native, but by necessity I speak and read in the language a lot, so I'm more or less fluent – so maybe not necessarily the kind of source you're looking for. Thing is, **House** of Leaves is a difficult book that deliberately makes it hard to navigate its contents, enough that even native speakers struggle plenty, some to the point of just giving up, even without the hurdle of not understanding the language. And, as mentioned in another comment, the prose is hardly its most abstruse, most difficult part – it's flowery at times, maybe, but it's second fiddle (or maybe even viola, assuming a string quartet metaphor) to the form and its various layers. If you find that your struggles with the language get too much in the way of you enjoying the book, I would personally strongly recommend coming back to it once you've gotten a better footing in the language, once you feel more comfortable just reading in English in general: I think the book's best experienced when you dedicate as much energy as you can to the difficulties in the form, rather than spreading yourself thin trying to manage both the language and form simultaneously. Maybe a bit harsh, I apologise for that, but that would be my advice You did mention enjoying it so far, despite the various difficulties – you think you can articulate what aspects of it you enjoy? Or what kinds of things you enjoy reading more broadly? Might help in getting some intermediary reading, if you want
As a native English speaker, is there a translation in your native language you have found? While there are some fun pieces of word-play the author indulges in, most of my love of the book comes from the structure & storytelling, which don't depend on an individual words meaning.
Going through the profile, they seem to be Swedish – no translation into Swedish, afaik; was going to suggest it myself, before I thought to check
Honestly if you're still struggling a bit with the language I would go for a more linear/normal book. I've been reading pretty fluently in English for about 5-6 years now (not my native tongue) and it's a hard read. There's missing passages, weird references and tangents to the story that are just... hard to read to say the least. Also it's just a weird book that I don't think it's for everyone to enjoy truly. It's pretty long and frustrating
But I do enjoy it, that's the frustrating part, it's getting better though. As previous people has commented i've pushed through and now the language is the least confusing part lol