Whalestoe Letters by Mark Z. Danielewski
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Book Reviews of Whalestoe Letters
Book Review: Whalestoe Letters
Summary: 4 Stars
I love this. Not only are the original letters from House of Leaves included, but new ones are added giving better background and understanding of the House of Leaves character. A very good investment, glad it was made into a seperate book.Book Review: The Whalestone Letters
Summary: 4 Stars
An awesome complimentary to House of Leaves. This book really helps you to get inside of Johnny's head and know why he is the way he is... if that makes sense. If you have read House and need more, try this out.Book Review: Great addition
Summary: 4 Stars
This book makes for a great addition to any Mark Danielewski collection. I do feel however that these letters should have been included in House of LeavesBook Review: a mystery within an enigma
Summary: 3 Stars
House of Leaves is such an all encompassing and accomplished affair that this reads like a Cliff Notes version, which somehow detracts from the power and mystery of HOL. While it makes sense that a publisher would want to maximize its investment in an author, it appears to be a disingenuous move for an author who clings to notions of artistic idealism (at a talk in Dallas he said he would not allow HOL to be turned into a movie). Now I hear from a popular website that a forthcoming book is imminent (of course this could just be a rumor akin to one about the house!) And I'll admit in fairness to Mark D.: I'm an author who contradicts himself quite a bit!
What's wrong with him releasing another book? you may ask. Well, nothing, unless you consider the same talk in Dallas (which happened back around 2001/2, I believe, in which he said that it would be about ten years before another book appeared from him (implying that it is a marathon-like process to do a book)*. So the rumors and apparent contradictions mirror the labyrinthine corridors of "the house" - making this author not only one of the most successful of our generation, but a seeming master at marketing; and revealing that reality mirrors fiction (and both can be crazy and chaotic). One thing's for sure: HOL is a remarkable artistic and commercial accomplishment. Also, Haunted is a really rockin' disc!
The legend of HOL continues with the spirit of both Poes hauntingly humming in the background...and no valuable footnotes anywhere to be seen.
*footnote 1a. Bowie claimed many years ago that he was swearing off the classics; but aren't we glad that he lied?
Book Review: Instead of II-E
Summary: 3 Stars
Rather than reading Appendix II-E of House of Leaves and then reading Whalestoe Letters, you might as well read the latter instead of the former.The major difference is that, where II-E shows a fairly linear descent from sanity to insanity, WL provides a more complex story, showing that Pelafina had earlier episodes of madness than II-E lets on.
In and of itself, WL doesn't really do much, but it does flush out the story of House of Leaves a bit.