Honestly it was exhausting in a very rewarding way. I feel like I missed so much but idk . After reading the letters from his mother, which made me uncontrollably sob by the way, I realized there was probably a lot going on between the lines that I was not picking up on

Still when moments presented itself that looked to be some sort of encryption, I wasn’t able to crack anything

I don’t wanna spoil anything for myself by reading up internet analyses and stuff… I will probably reread one day or very slowly over time and see what I can come up with

But I read this in the midst of a reading drought and am sitting here in a state of utter perplexity but also contentment. What a beautifully written piece of work that is mystifying and yet insanely human… there are some moments of language in these pages that kissed me with the force of true love.

I think we are all stuck in our houses of leaves, I know I am. But I think I know now how to navigate this labyrinth a little better

And do people really care what happens to Johnny? It’s funny that’s a lasting curiosity readers have… I think Johnny is gonna be all right… a man and a dog without a house but in that sense the world is his home, he never had one to begin with for too long.

I thought for sure Navidson was dead. And maybe he did die. Maybe the Navidson Karen holds and rescues is a new one, reborn somehow from that star he faded into oblivion with.

I came in not knowing what to expect- expecting a lot more trauma and fear. And there were some fearful moments. But at the heart of it, it was those cathartic moments of joy that moved me more than anything. Johnny finally meeting his mom. Tom and Navidson rekindling their brotherhood. Karen and Navy finally riding off into the sunset together…

None of what I say or think matters but i want to throw it into the void anyway to fulfill and possibly release these feelings building up in me from this book. Like Karen working on her post-house projects. But i like this feeling I’m left with, so I won’t say too much more