House of LeavesHouse 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
PiranesiGood to know
It needs the print edition: the typography is part of the story. It's long, demanding and unforgettable.
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.
Where it ranks
- #16 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #111 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #408 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #794 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Epic, Dark
If you like this, read next
The Green Mile
The Shadow of the Wind
Ninth House
Storm Front
The Library at Mount Char
A Discovery of WitchesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
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 #794 of the 2,816 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.