**Page count is actually 285, but in typical Danielewski meta-fiction style, the pages involve lots of white space, illustrations and sparse word counts. I think 30 pages is a more realistic portrayal of the depth of information to be read here.

A ghost/horror story in the form of an elaborately illustrated novella using color-coded quote marks to indicate speakers and told by 5 people that begin/end/continue each other’s sentences. The “experimental” format is all fine and dandy, but really takes a backseat to the story itself. Like Danielewski’s House of Leaves, a creepy, oddball tale captures your attention and the format gimmicks only reinforce the strangeness that permeates throughout. I know there was an intense amount of work that went into constructing such a piece, but it was hard to appreciate. Nevertheless, the story was short and entertaining – about a sword that always cuts, but shows no wound until the victim turns 50 years old. The setting is a 50th birthday party that includes a mysterious storyteller, orphan children, a seamstress and the birthday girl that had an affair with the seamstress’s husband.