Mark Z. Danielewski

Mark Z. Danielewskis Roman "only revolutions" ist von sehr besonderer Art. Zwischen Sam und Hailey, zwei 16-jährigen Teenagern, entspinnt sich eine Liebesgeschichte, die durch 100 Jahre amerikanische Geschichte bis in die Zukunft hineinführt.

Das Außergewöhnliche daran ist, dass er von beiden Seiten gelesen werden kann. Das erdfarbene Cover folgt Haileys Perspektive, das blaue Sams. 

Nach jedem Kapitel kann man das Buch umdrehen und die Situation /Handlung aus der anderen Sicht lesen. Wenn man es häufig genug dreht, fügen sich die Puzzleteile zu einer großen Geschichte zusammen.

Der Text ist mit Buchstabenverzierungen und geheimnisvollen Anmerkungen angereichert. Am Rand gibt es auf jeder Seite Notizen und Daten zur Weltgeschichte, ob die immer stimmen, weiß ich nicht, manche scheinen auch ausgedacht. 

Dieses Buch ist ein Verwirrspiel, ein großes Rätsel, das viele kleine enthält. Aufregend und seltsam! 

Die Sprache ist manchmal sehr explizit sexuell, manchmal vulgär (für mich manchmal zu vulgär deshalb nur drei Sterne) und häufig mit seltsamen Worterfindungen und Reimen gespickt. 

Grandios ins Deutsche übersetzt von Nora Matocza und Gerhard Falkner. 

Eine klare Leseempfehlung für Menschen, die gerne Experimentelles lesen und neue Formate und Formen von Literatur entdecken mögen.

I purchased the book a couple of years ago but then it became a forgotten relic on my shelf. One reason I postponed reading the book surely was its weight and size. The large softcover feels wobbly and uncomfortable to handle, so each time I took it out of the shelf I only dusted it off and put it back again. Until now. Inspired by a reading challenge, I decided to finally read 'House of Leaves' and find out whether my instant attraction in the past was justified. Sadly, it was not.
I never felt a connection with this book, most of the time I only wished to get it over with so I could say I read it and sort it out. The book combines several story-lines and only one of them was interesting (therefore two stars) - the rest I could have done without and therefore skimmed through a great number of pages. While I understand the appeal the book's otherness may have on many readers I found it overdone, boring and mostly a waste of my time. But I'm glad I finally have it out of my way.

I purchased the book a couple of years ago but then it became a forgotten relic on my shelf. One reason I postponed reading the book surely was its weight and size. The large softcover feels wobbly and uncomfortable to handle, so each time I took it out of the shelf I only dusted it off and put it back again. Until now. Inspired by a reading challenge, I decided to finally read 'House of Leaves' and find out whether my instant attraction in the past was justified. Sadly, it was not.
I never felt a connection with this book, most of the time I only wished to get it over with so I could say I read it and sort it out. The book combines several story-lines and only one of them was interesting (therefore two stars) - the rest I could have done without and therefore skimmed through a great number of pages. While I understand the appeal the book's otherness may have on many readers I found it overdone, boring and mostly a waste of my time. But I'm glad I finally have it out of my way.