I’ll be reeling from this one for a long time. This could very well be in my top 5 favorite games of all time.
Tag Archives House of Leaves
I was tagged by MartheBozart to do this 10 Influential Books tag. The basic idea is that I choose 10 books that have been influential to me in some way. I decided to group my 10 selections into books that influenced me as 1) a reader, 2) a writer, and 3) a...well, this tier is miscellaneous.
I don't generally make a video about a book before I've finished reading the book. But in the case of S by J.J Abrams and Doug Dorst I felt compelled to offer a few thoughts and reactions because not since Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves have I been so taken by a new way of storytelling.
I anticipate some reactions to this video book review will be negative. Of those negative reviews, I anticipate 3 response types: Hatred from those that haven’t read the book, but simply want to defend Mark Z. Danielewski (I understand this feeling, believe me; and despite how I feel about The Fifty Year Sword, I will continue to defend Danielewski, even if only for his potential; House of Leaves remains one of my favorite novels of all time) Hatred from those who have read the book, and claim that I’m simply too dumb to “get it” (again, I understand this feeling and am willing to embrace this possibility) Hatred from those who have read it and claim to like it. It’s this last group that I’m most interested in. Those of you in this last group, please, please, please help me understand what I must have missed. I want to like…
Easter Eggs, you know, those hidden references in movies, books, websites, and more that aren't necessary but are damn fun in a treasure hunt sort of way. I planted a few (13 to be exact) in my newest novel, I Didn't Mean to be Kevin, not on the assumption that some reader would be thrilled by a find in one of my books, but because the concept actually worked well with the theme of the novel. The theme being that people need validation. Jackson, the narrator, validates himself as a person by telling crazy stories to strangers. I, as an author, validate myself by telling you about all the cool books I've read. Two down, eleven to go. After watching, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated on new videos
Rules are important, especially rules that govern how to write effective prose. But, in the hands of masters, those rules can be broken to great effect. I this, this newest episode of The World's First Author Video Blog, I examine how three well-known books--Brett Easton Ellis' American Psycho, Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, and Jose Saramago's Blindness--break basic writing rules, but do so successfully. After watching, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay updated on new videos