Excellent Ergodics

Hello everyone, I’m Helen Schmidt! Together we’ll travel on enthusiastic voyages through books you may have never heard of and talk about why they’re essential for modern readers.

When we read for pleasure, it’s usually because we want a break from the stress of our responsibilities. However, sometimes working hard to read is worth it. Although most written works follow the standard beginning, middle and end format, a new genre of contemporary books called ergodic literature has begun to deviate from the norm and tell stories in unconventional formats. These books use the organization and presentation of the text to reflect the storyline, leading readers on a tumultuous journey that is more than scanning lines of text on a page.

Two books that have long been part of my personal favorite library are perfect examples of this unconventional formatting: Chuck Palahniuk’s "Invisible Monsters Remix" (1999) and Mark Danielewski’s "House of Leaves" (2000). "Invisible Monsters" has chapters that are completely out of order, and when readers reach the end of a chapter, they’re given instructions on where to head to next. Additionally, there are secret chapters contained within the main plotline, and they can only be pieced together while flipping through the pages. "House of Leaves" is even more disorganized, containing pages with text going in multiple directions and some pages with only 50 words printed in a spiral shape. I especially enjoy the pages that required me to hold the book upside-down in front of a mirror to decipher the words.

Palahniuk’s "Monsters" follows an unnamed, deformed protagonist as she employs the help of enigmatic companions to uncover the truth behind the accident that led to her disfiguration. Convinced she’ll never be accepted as a horribly mutilated member of society, she hides herself behind a veil, opening her eyes to a world where she is invisible to those around her. Due to the unpredictability of the chapter arrangement, "Monsters" gives the sensation of flipping through a magazine. It was originally published in chronological order because the publisher felt the disorganized arrangement Palahniuk wanted would be too unconventional for readers. It was later published how it was intended to be, and though I’ve only read the remixed version, I have no doubt that reading it in chronological order would be horribly boring. As readers flip through to find the next chapter, they’ll catch glimpses of words and wonder how those previews will fit into the story. The entire novel feels like a scavenger hunt, between following the clues to find a buried treasure in the plot and stumbling upon hidden gems within the secret chapters. I always feel the thrill of adventure when I pick it up again, because I know it’ll lead me on a chaotic hunt every time.

Mark Danielewski’s "House of Leaves" follows the Navidson family as they discover their house is slowly expanding from the inside, while the exterior remains normal. As Danielewski describes the family’s explorations through their house, the words on each page are arranged to mimic the descriptions they define. "House of Leaves" is a conservative reader’s nightmare; when I first tackled it, I had to take notes to keep track of the events and characters. It was a daunting task to finish the book, but when I did, I couldn’t help admiring Danielewski’s creativity and my perseverance. I had ridden a mental roller coaster at the hands of a paperback, and although I exited my seat shaky-legged and nauseous, I did ride it.

Even though ergodic books may not be for everyone, those willing to step outside of their comfort zones are rewarded with a story unlike any other. These books grab hold of the reader’s attention with their departure from standard formatting, and the end result is nothing short of a masterpiece.