House of Leaves — Quotes & Commentary

Brief, fair-use excerpts from House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski with contextual notes that link to themes, entities, and reading tactics. Each excerpt is short and accompanied by commentary—useful for study and discussion.

Themes hub Layout & typography Study & annotation guide Reading order Buy House of Leaves

Fair-use approach

Scope: Excerpts here are intentionally brief and paired with commentary for criticism, analysis, and teaching. All rights remain with their respective copyright holder (Pantheon/author).
Guideline for submissions: Keep excerpts under ~25 words, add page/edition if possible, and include a theme tag (e.g., MED media & truth, LBR labyrinth).

Featured excerpts

“This is not for you.” — opening injunction; sets a defiant, self-reflexive frame
UNR Unreliable narration Layout & typography

A meta-warning that turns the reader into a participant. It signals gatekeeping, contested access, and primes us to question every citation and bracket that follows.

“[Insert short excerpt ≤ 25 words]” — context/voice here (Zampanò / Johnny / footage)
MED Media & truth The Navidson Record

Commentary: What is shown versus said; how editing, transcripts, and [sic] shape credibility. Include edition/page if available.

“[Insert short corridor/measurement excerpt ≤ 25 words]” — labyrinth scene cue
LBR Labyrinth & Minotaur The House

Commentary: Distances, turns, and mapping. Note how the line length/columns on the printed page may mimic motion.

“[Insert brief Pelafina line ≤ 25 words]” — epistolary voice
HOM Home & intimacy The Whalestoe Letters

Commentary: Letters add history and emotional pressure; compare phrasing against Johnny’s footnotes for echoes and gaps.

“[Insert bracketed variant / strikethrough fragment ≤ 20 words]” — editorial tension
UNR Unreliable narration Layout cues

Commentary: Brackets/variants visualize debate or suppression; record both readings in study notes.

Browse excerpts by theme

Labyrinth & Minotaur (LBR)

Corridor turns, centers that recede, sound and temperature cues.

Theme page The House

Media, truth, evidence (MED)

Footage vs. transcript; edits as arguments; [sic] and provenance.

Theme page The Navidson Record

Home, intimacy, alienation (HOM)

Domestic distance, letters, and tonal drift across rooms.

Theme page Letters guide

How to cite an excerpt

  1. Quote ≤ ~25 words; add speaker/layer if known (e.g., Zampanò, Johnny, footage).
  2. List edition and page when available (Hardcover/Paperback differ).
  3. Add a theme tag (LBR / MED / HOM / UNR) and one-sentence commentary.
Edition notes Annotation method Glossary

Quotes — FAQ

Why are excerpts so short?

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To respect fair use and keep the focus on analysis. For full context, buy or borrow a copy and use our study method.

Which edition should I cite?

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Include the exact edition (hardcover or paperback) because pagination can differ. See format comparison.

Can I submit a favorite line?

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Yes—keep it brief, add edition/page, and a one-sentence note on why it matters. We’ll tag it to a theme and entity.

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