Photo: Ben Goldstein/Studio D

House of Leaves
By Mark Z. Danielewski

Johnny Truant, an obsessive artist working in an L.A. tattoo parlor, discovers a mysterious manuscript called "The Navidson Record," a photojournalist's account of a home that defies the laws of physics. Part horror flick, part love story, this expansive and ambitious tome, initially released over the Internet, weaves together extensive footnotes and semiotic ramblings. "This is a novel," says Franco. "But it's also inspired by film, scholarship, and digital media. I'm drawn to all media and genres that are looking for new ways of expression."

Franco's next pick: Jesus' Son by Denis Johnson