Only Revolutions: A Novel: Mark Z. Danielewski: 9780375713903: Amazon.com: Books

Amazon.com Review

Mark Danielewski's first novel House of Leaves is a cult-favorite--experimental horror fiction in a gorgeous (and newly remastered) full-color package. His new book Only Revolutions takes the experiment 10 steps further in a story about teenage lovers Hailey and Sam: the book is printed on two sides--one side tells the story from Hailey's point of view, flip it over and you get Sam's side (literally). We caught a glimpse inside the mind-bending new novel--take a look for yourself below.

Inside Only Revolutions


Hailey's Story	Covers	Sam's Story

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. A pastiche of Joyce and Beckett, with heapings of Derrida's Glas and Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 thrown in for good measure, Danielewski's follow-up to House of Leaves is a similarly dizzying tour of the modernist and postmodernist heights—and a similarly impressive tour de force. It comprises two monologues, one by Sam and one by Hailey, both "Allmighty sixteen and freeeeee," each narrating the same road trip, or set of neo-globo-revolutionary events—or a revolution's end: "Everyone loves the Dream but I kill it." Figuring out what's happening is a big part of reading the book. The verse-riffs narrations, endlessly alliterative and punning (like Joyce) and playfully, bleakly existential (like Beckett), begin at opposite ends of the book, upside down from one another, with each page divided and shared. Each gets 180 words per page, but in type that gets smaller as they get closer to their ends (Glas was more haphazard), so they each gets exactly half a page only at the midway point of the book: page 180—or half of a revolution of 360 degrees. A time line of world events, from November 22, 1863 ("the abolition of slavery"), to January 19, 2063 (blank, like everything from January 18, 2006, on), runs down the side of every page. The page numbers, when riffled flip-book style, revolve. The book's design is a marvel, and as a feat of Pynchonesque puzzlebookdom, it's magnificent. The book's difficulty, though, carries a self-consciousness that Joyce & Co. decidedly lack, and the jury will be out on whether the tricks are of the for-art's-sake variety or more like a terrific video game. (Sept. 5)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Pantheon; Reprint edition (July 10, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375713905
ISBN-13: 978-0375713903
Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 1 x 8.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars

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3.0 out of 5 stars

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“ If you've never read Danielewski, go get House of Leaves immediately. ” M. Inkster | 12 reviewers made a similar statement

“ By this, I do not mean to suggest that Danielewski's language is too difficult--far from it. ” Joseph Suglia | 12 reviewers made a similar statement

“ Everyone reads the book but I review it. ” Zappaphile | 7 reviewers made a similar statement

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 107 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Danielewski's Gadsby June 19, 2007

By doomsdayer520 HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

Old editions of the Guinness Book of World Records often noted a weird achievement in writing - a novel called "Gadsby" (Earnest V. Wright, 1939) that does not contain the letter E. This is known as a lipogram, or a work in which the writing is constrained by an enforced method. But would anyone remember "Gadsby" for its story? Or is that supposedly unique method its only memorable quality? This kind of incredulous infamy is likely to be the fate of this tome from Danielewski. Imagine that you have spent years working on your personal manifesto, and you expect everyone to be as excited about it as you are. But then you're devastated to find that your labor of love is only appreciated by half the people who read it, while the other half just DON'T GET IT or don't find your work to be as important as you think it is. Half of the reviews here offer ecstatic praise for Danielewski's unique visual and semantic methods of writing. But don't assume that the negative reviewers here simply DON'T GET IT. These are people who, like me, probably loved (and GOT) Danielewski's masterful "House of Leaves." But this book is much less likeable and is nowhere near as rewarding. The negative reviewers who appear that they DON'T GET IT actually have been given no reason to try to get it.

That's because this story accomplishes very little, other than the creative non-linear methods. Of course, Danielewski has concocted a storytelling schema that is truly unique, and I can appreciate the mechanical focus on the numbers 180 and 360, and the running theme of revolutions in the book's graphical layout. You may even dig the main premise about the literally timeless and ageless road trip, while Danielewski's creative language constructions and period slang can be quite likeable. But where does this story go beyond its contribution to the book's visual and mechanical methods? Hence, this will likely be remembered as Danielewski's Gadsby - a book that's unique for reasons other than a memorable story, empathetic characters, or insightful themes. Plus, you really have to wonder about a book in which the publisher has to suggest HOW to read it. Most of us would rather spend our time on books where the publisher doesn't have to tell you to simply start on page 1 and read forward to the end. [~doomsdayer520~]

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92 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Only revolving September 12, 2006

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Mark Z. Danielewski stunned readers with his debut, "House of Leaves," a bizarre down-the-rabbit-hole tale of madness, surreality and a house where space is unending.

Now six years later, Danielewski has produced his follow-up -- the equally strange, scintillating road-trip novel "Only Revolutions." The format is mind-bending, the characters equally strange -- and Danielewski hasn't lost his touch for the compelling, poignant, the postmodern, and the post-weird.

Hailey and Sam are a pair of eternal teenagers, apparently untouched by time either physically or psychologically ("We're always sixteen!"). They careen through much of American history -- past and present -- in a changing fleet of cars, touching down in various important places and times.

But though they have no responsibilities, Hailey and Sam are not free of cares. As they run through the US, they seem to be enmeshed in the goings-on of wars, parties, exploration and social revolution (the Civil War). Will they escape the oppressive THEM pursuing them, or lose what is most important to them?

For a cult author, there's always a question about whether they can stay fresh and cutting-edge. Fortunately, Danielewski has outrun that particular concern. "Only Revolutions" is written in the same surreal freestyle as "House of Leaves," but the author never forgets to include the story as well.

And as the Escherian plot unwinds ("unfolds" just doesn't fit), it becomes obvious that this is actually two stories: a love story, and a sort of American allegory. They are rebels and free spirits, running up against bizarre characters -- like the multi-military Creep -- who seem symbolic of the nastier sides of our society. Hailey and Sam are the ones who represent the better side of the country.

Danielewski is still fascinated by places/people where time and space are warped. That includes the entire book -- every page. Each page has a scramble of quotes and text on its sides. There is vivid abstract poetry, blank pages (the future), geometric plotting, shrinking pages, mysterious side-notes submitted by Danielewski's fans...

... and oh yeah, you can flip the book upside down and read the two different "sides" of the story. One is Hailey, one is Sam. They are compared to legendary lovers like Tristan and Isolde, Romeo and Juliet, but that's not too far off. Their love evolves as they do, and by the end they are more endearing if less vibrant than at the start of their story.

"Only Revolutions" is both a work of postmodern art and an endearing novel, and while it's hard work to follow Hailey and Sam to the end of their journey, it's worth the trip. Absolutely brilliant.

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69 of 89 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I had...such high hopes December 1, 2006

By Travis Pelt

Format:Hardcover

Mark, did you start to believe your own hype? Did you feel compelled to venture further out than House of Leaves? Did you just start with a really bad idea and stay the course?

I've come to feel Only Revulsion for this beast.

I can't tell what happened here, but this is book is a mess. I honestly couldn't finish this thing because I felt that, somewhere, Danielewski was having a laugh at his readers' expense. Lemme give you some background.

Danielewski wrote House of Leaves, one of the most complex and multi-layered novels I've read. And even better, it had a unique and well spun tale in it (several infact, like Russian Dolls, but the House is the main one.) I loved this book. The author even made the book's physical layout as complex and involoved as the story was. At first, the House's layout looked like a gimmick, but no; it actually enhanced th quality of the tale.

Since then he's published a spin off novel and now.... this beast.

As I said, the reason the layout in House of Leaves was not a gimmick is because it actually enhanced the tale. In this book, you have sprawling chaos up one side of the page and down the other, literaly. The tale... a sort of eternal love tale begins in this crazed stream of conciousness that is accented my enlarging and shifting fonts; when you finish with the point of view of one character, you flip the book over and begin reading from the other's perspective. The layout here is a gimmick.

It is a gimmick because not only does the layout fail to improve the text, it renders what is already Near Incomprehensible into A Damned Mess of Words.

I'm trying to find more to write but... look I'm sorry to write this but if you liked House of Leaves or enjoy a well wrought tale please back away from the Revolutions.

Why is it getting so many positive reviews? Dear reader, I have several theories. Maybe they were impressed by the layout. Maybe they had a brain seziure and now like this sorta verbal mess. My guess though is, much like myslef, they were truly won over by House of Leaves and try to redeem this mess as much as they can. I did my best to like this book too. But reality stepped in.

By the by, despite this book being a catastrophe of words, I'm still waiting and hoping for his next.

(And no Mark, even a soundtrack by Poe will not help this heap.)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Have not read it all the way through yet!!!!

Having 2 children really cuts into my reading time. This is yet another wonder of Mark Z. Danielewski tho. I am always amazed by his writings. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Heather O

5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book Twice

My first time through this book, I may have been too awestruck by the creativity and talent that it took to write it to truly grasp the metaphorical meaning behind everything. Read more

Published 1 month ago by cj

3.0 out of 5 stars It doesnt seem new

I ordered this book a couple days ago and the shipping was extremely fast, which was awesome. However, I did order a new copy, but the condition of the book when I received it... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Daisy

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than House of Leaves. I don't understand the negative reviews.

A few years back, someone had suggested I read House of Leaves. I liked it a lot so I got this... novel... I don't even know if that's the right thing to call this book. Read more

Published 13 months ago by L. D. Robwell

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to read but worth it.

I had a hard time getting into this book when I originally picked it up. I was confused and couldn't understand how to read it. Read more

Published 15 months ago by J. Massiet

5.0 out of 5 stars An Epic Poem Told from Two Perspectives

This book is not to be compared with House of Leaves; they are entirely separate. The biggest complaint I hear is that the language is hard to understand, but that's because... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Kent Kiser

1.0 out of 5 stars You were NOT there.

Randomness! Word salads! Stream of consciousness! Everyone reads the book but I review it. Second novel and oh so preeeeeeetentious! Read more

Published 23 months ago by Zappaphile

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Read, Hard to Review

This is a very tough book to read and then review. But read and reviewed as a poem better two young people, it is outstanding. Read more

Published 23 months ago by J. Smallridge

1.0 out of 5 stars A review by Dr. Joseph Suglia

A review by Dr. Joseph Suglia

The mystery of all mysteries surrounds Mark Z. Danielewski's ONLY REVOLUTIONS (2006): Someone actually thought that this endless circuit of... Read more

Published on April 21, 2011 by Joseph Suglia

1.0 out of 5 stars Pompous, artsy , indulgent junk

I loved Danielewski's "House of Leaves" - one of my top 5 books of all time. Fun, scary, original, and challenging in the most entertaining way. Read more

Published on February 14, 2011 by Acid

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Topic	From this Discussion
frustrated beyond belief	I managed to finish it but found it very unrewarding. I loved the many-layered structure of House of Leaves and participated quite a bit in the online forums working on all the codes and puzzles it contained. I also really enjoy difficult writing styles, but this is just masturbatory. Just one... Read more Feb 28, 2008 by David L. Jezek \| See all 5 posts
house of leaves	are you kidding, the the plot form HoL goes deeper than you must realize. i suggest reading it through again. you will always find something new. Sep 12, 2006 by Robert Hoffman \| See all 6 posts
House of Pretention	Johnny... Don't be a hero! Sure, 'mindbogglingly brilliant' is an over-the-top opinion but so is yours; "most god(-)awful writer..." is just as humorous and erroneous. You contradict yourself / injure your credibility with each sentence and waste your time taking pot-shots when you... Read more Sep 2, 2006 by sixtension \| See all 5 posts
stupid idiot	It probably wasn't deliberate. The site only allows for one posting, but when the site is on the fritz, it will post the same one over and over. Sep 22, 2006 by EAS \| See all 2 posts
can't wait	read borges if hol is completely like nothing you've ever read Aug 15, 2006 by nik \| See all 2 posts