Appendix E contains a collection of letters that Johnny s mom sent to him from the psycho ward if you read them at the correct time you ll be rewarded with a deeper understanding of the book as a whole. Plus, the letters themselves are particularly moving and provide some of the book s best moments. It s a mindfuck. It s also the genius of the book. The word house is always in blue, the index lists practically every word in the novel including insignificants like for and back .
Footnotes are beyond excessive, piling up at the bottom of virtually every page but for good reason.
The impression you get from the footnote element is organized chaos to the extreme. My patience for seeking out Paul is Dead clues has long since expired. I ll leave that one up to y all. The offbeat formatting may smack of gimmickry at first glance, but such is not the case. The shape, direction and flow of the words on each page force the reader to exist in the maze that s at the core of the novel.