First HOL-version

[Bok]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone knows if the first publication of house of leaves is still available somewhere on the internet, or still in someones possession.

And no: I don't mean the complete version of HOL, but the "preview-version" that could be downloaded (in .pdf format) somewhere in 1997. It contained approx. the first 30 pages of the printed version.

Jorrit

[ June 11, 2001: Message edited by: Bok ]

[Cole]

Hi! I'm not sure if it is or not. If you're just wanting to see what all the book is about - try just glancing through the first few pages at a B&N or something of the like. I'm working on getting some webspace to store some the Exploration MP3s - so hopefully that will give you the push to take the leap as well. images/smiles/icon_smile.gif
-Cole

[MicheleVR5]

Jorrit's from NL...I don't think they have B&N there images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

We're looking for the real first edition, published by Circle Round A Stone. You can see the title page in Johnny's diary. Mark supposedly lost this version in one of the three G3 Macs he killed while writing the book.

Jorrit, you e-mailed me about a translated version...is house blue?

[Sintina]

I wonder how Navidson got his hands on that
copy of the book?!!!?!

He'd be reading about himself! Wouldn't that drive him a little crazy?! Just a little....

Wait... now it's driving ME crazy too!

[Bok]

I have the first published version, you know, the hardcover version, and also a paperback version.

The version I was talking about contains the first two chapthers I think. I gave it to my brother a few years ago, but he probably lost it when he moved to another <font color="blue">house</font>. The reason I'm interested in this, is because I'd like to know if Mark this version is entirely used in the printed version, or if there were some changes. And of course some healthy curiosity.

About the translated version: I haven't been to a book shop yet, but I'm sure the same typographic are present. By the way, the translation is called: "Het kaarten<font color="blue">huis</font>" (The house of cards)

Jorrit

[OriginalIdea]

I wanted to add more to what Sintina said, about Navidson reading House of Leaves, and according to the book itself, Chapter XXI was the added chapter; that XX is part of the original work, all of it (according to sugggested chapter titles by Zampanò) is part of the original work. Perhaps the House of Leaves Navidson is reading isn't the same House of Leaves we're reading.
This book is about a film that doesn't exist. Within the film is a man reading a book (which would, likewise, not exist). It's either the impossibility of Navidson reading our House of Leaves or the labrynth of interpretable meaning behind him reading another book of the same title, added to the fact at what the entire compliation has been referred to as (House of Leaves) with respect to what Navidson himself was reading.
Of course, it could all be represented by the title itself in a way that's a little too simple--and somehow true to form for all the other hidden meaning--for the book. What do you build a house with? Wood. Certainly not leaves.
Or, something a little different: Bok informs us that in Eindhoven, the book is called Het kaartenHuis (The House of Cards.)
This brings a slightly different way of looking at it. What do we all know about a house of cards? The slightest disturbance causes them to fall apart. They can only be looked at, not probed. If we take the book as such, then it shouldn't be analyzed; if it is, it'll just fall apart, it won't stand up to the scrutiny. In turn, nothing in here should be taken seriously, pondered, or even remarked upon. Where I'm going with this is here: If that last sentence were all-inclusive, then the very title of the book should be ignored as well; the title doesn't actually mean anything. Which would seem to negate everything I've just said about what the title implies for the rest of the book and how we should look at it.
Here: I'm reminded of Chapter IX and it's looping labrynth of footnotes.
Also: a sentence I'm sure quite a number of people has heard: "Everything I say is a lie; including this sentence." If you haven't heard that before, then here's another toy. ;)
We keep trying to analyze this damned book and find all the meanings inside it, but maybe Navidson accidentally had it right: Maybe we should all just be burning the thing. lol