As far as I know, there are two ways through the book: one is to focus mostly on the main text and get through it, and the other is to follow all of the footnotes and appendix notes. I’ve only done the latter, so feel free to listen to other voices if that won’t work for you.

The book is a labyrinth, but it’s not cruel. As you go through these meandering paths through the footnotes and appendices, if you follow the instructions in the order in which they are given, the book will always lead you back to the place you were. Initially, I had like three bookmarks and was trying to keep my place in all the places, but it’s actually unnecessary. Once I started trusting the process, it was a lot easier to read.

It also helped me to think of the core story (the House from the title) by thinking about the Blair Witch Project. This just helped me to conceptualize the sort of “found footage” of the narrative.

I don’t know if this would help you, but I read a copy of my grandfathers “The Worst Hard Time” after he passed, and I kept a running list of all the questions I wished I could ask him. It kind of felt like I was reading it with him, if that makes sense. Could you keep a list of all the things you’re finding confusing or difficult about the book, or things you enjoy, as though you were going to do a thorough book club with your mom afterwards? It might help you get through it, but I could also see it being pretty rough.