I attempted to finish this book. Truly, I did. But I couldn’t even make it halfway through. I’ll still count it as read since I spent so much time on it (its freaking HUGE), and I am certain that I’ll never pick it up again. For me, in this case, it will count as read and done (and I can finally move on), thank you.

The core concept behind this book (that nothing is real) left me feeling disoriented and frustrated. While the narrative itself was fine, it was the constant barrage of fake footnotes and fake analysis that became exhausting to read and ultimately frustrated me. It felt like every time I turned a page, I was losing touch with any sense of truth or value of knowledge. Everything in this book, no matter how well-researched it seems, is fake. You begin to question every single word, and it really messed with my analytical mind as I tried to make sense of it. The problem is, there is no sense to be made. Nothing is real.

For me, reading is about expanding my knowledge, about feeling like I'm gaining something real and valuable in order to grow as a person or to at least have fun and feeling happy while reading it. But this book, with its deliberate blurring of reality, made me feel the exact opposite. Instead of deepening my understanding or offering any genuine takeaway, it only left me with a sense of confusion and frustration. I felt stupid, like I was failing to grasp something vital that everyone else seemed to understand. That’s not the kind of reading experience I crave.

I do enjoy reading fiction, don't get me wrong. I don’t only read non-fiction, but even with "regular" fiction, I feel like I'm gaining something. I get to see the world through someone else’s eyes, understand how they might handle a specific situation, or simply experience a harrowing event from their perspective. But a house that changes its dimensions? I couldn’t see how that would ever help me in a real-life situation, no matter how hard I tried. Then there is also the fact that it did not make me feel comfortable and happy but confused, frustrated and annoyed. I’m not sure if any of this makes sense to anyone, or if I’m just rambling to try and put my thoughts and feelings into words.

Now, I do want to acknowledge that this book is undeniably creative. The author's ingenuity is clear, and the concept is an intriguing exercise in avant-garde literature. It's a different kind of art, pushing boundaries and challenging norms. But for all its innovation, it simply wasn't the right fit for me and what I like about reading. The idea that nothing in the book was real, that everything was built on a foundation of falseness, made me feel like I was wasting my time. Instead of enjoying the journey, it gave me a headache.

This book will undoubtedly resonate with some readers who are open to abstract, boundary-pushing literature and I wish everyone, who dares to challenge themselves with this creative book, a good time (and good luck).