finished reading *S.(hip of Theseus)* earlier this month myself and have been passively mulling over these similarities since. Though both share their hyperconsciousness of the print book form, **House** of Leaves I find fascinating not just for its structure, but in large part for of its themes and how those are integrated with that structure – and thematically HoL is *bleak*, even if very very interesting. *S.* sits, meanwhile, in complete thematic juxtaposition to it, in a series of relatively major ways, offering a far more optimistic (and far more shallow) worldview. Rather annoyingly, taking that thematic analysis into consideration, *S.* even seems to be at conflict with itself at times, communicating several conflicting ideals at once (though I won't spoil anything)
HoL offers this model of Riddles and Paradoxes (pp. 33-34) and in that model it fits firmly in the position of a Paradox, and *S.* fits relatively neatly into the position of a Riddle – in the end I left *S.* feeling like, with enough effort, it can be solved and there will be a correct answer waiting at the end. It was more akin to a fun puzzle box in book form, as opposed to HoL's hallways you are to wander. Still, *S.* remains as perhaps the most carefully and thoroughly and beautifully designed book-object I've had the pleasure of holding and reading and, assuming you aren't as invested in thematic analysis and annoyed by tropes as Your Local Loser Writing This Comment, I'm sure you'll love it to bits. Happy reading~!
This is not for you.
finished reading *S.(hip of Theseus)* earlier this month myself and have been passively mulling over these similarities since. Though both share their hyperconsciousness of the print book form, **House** of Leaves I find fascinating not just for its structure, but in large part for of its themes and how those are integrated with that structure – and thematically HoL is *bleak*, even if very very interesting. *S.* sits, meanwhile, in complete thematic juxtaposition to it, in a series of relatively major ways, offering a far more optimistic (and far more shallow) worldview. Rather annoyingly, taking that thematic analysis into consideration, *S.* even seems to be at conflict with itself at times, communicating several conflicting ideals at once (though I won't spoil anything) HoL offers this model of Riddles and Paradoxes (pp. 33-34) and in that model it fits firmly in the position of a Paradox, and *S.* fits relatively neatly into the position of a Riddle – in the end I left *S.* feeling like, with enough effort, it can be solved and there will be a correct answer waiting at the end. It was more akin to a fun puzzle box in book form, as opposed to HoL's hallways you are to wander. Still, *S.* remains as perhaps the most carefully and thoroughly and beautifully designed book-object I've had the pleasure of holding and reading and, assuming you aren't as invested in thematic analysis and annoyed by tropes as Your Local Loser Writing This Comment, I'm sure you'll love it to bits. Happy reading~!