[progmetaldev]

When I was younger, I went into some places that I shouldn't have (legally). For myself, something scarier is walking through offices and tunnels that look completely deserted, and then coming upon an office or room where it's clear someone has recently been there. Whether it was someone homeless looking for a place to stay, or an employee that's still on the payroll, both would freak me out far more than a completely empty space.

I started House of Leaves a couple times, but I always end up spending more time online than reading fiction. I need to actually sit down and read it. I used to read lots of fiction before my addiction to technology. Every five years or so, I go back and read Herman Hesse's Steppenwolf, but it's a fairly small book to get through. I bought the House of Leaves version that has color coding and bizarre layout (not sure if that was always in every version). I suppose I spend enough time watching horror movies and playing odd games that I could afford the time to read House of Leaves.

I do watch a lot of amateur found footage films on YouTube, along with analog horror. I remember when Blair Witch Project first came out, and it reminded me of strange dreams and nightmares I've had, and I think that's part of where the attraction to liminal spaces comes from. It's something humans can relate to, but it's harder to put a specific label on the feeling you get when consuming this type of content.

[whateveracct]

House of Leaves is meant to be read with the weird layout and coloring (e.g. the word "house" always in blue)

It's a fun book! I first read it as a kid at my grandparents little condo in Mexico. I read some on the plane there and back, but the most scared I got was when I read one particular scene alone at night in the kitchen when everyone was asleep. I think it's the only time my heart rate has ever truly jumped like that reading a book.

[progmetaldev]

My book states that the coloring is in the newest version. I suppose I should go back and take a look at the copyright, in case it is the newest, but is fairly old.

I enjoy the general feeling of the book, like claustrophobia inside something that grows infinitely. That's the best way I can describe it, but I haven't gotten more than a quarter of the way through. I do need to go back and fully read it.