Recs if you like Cain's Jawbone...

Books that play with the "book" as a medium or are otherwise self-reflexive/meta.

My current criteria for this list are (1) does the book highlight its own textuality consistently or (2) do the metafictional elements add significantly to the themes explored or (3) does the book's use of discourse and form (e.g., narrative situation, layout) significantly differ from the norm?

Make sure to comment your suggestions with a small explanation even if you're not 100 % sure if they fit!

I’ve seen lists, but not one strictly about Ergodic/odd formatting where it’s vital to read the e/physical because of the formatting and/or text —non inclusive of illustrated versions, and just adding non-vital images, etc.

These are the books where if you don’t read the physical (maybe the ebook) you’re MISSING something VITAL to the experience.

I often read audiobooks and don’t know I’m missing out 🫠

PLS recommend W/ explanation (& avoid spoilers) & feel free to argue cases!!

Examples & notes in comments!!!

Books that ignore the traditional way of telling a story. These books tell their stories in unexpected ways, through letters, transcripts, diaries, documents, text messages, or unconventional layouts.

A list of ergodic books I've come across through time. Those books that go beyond words on a page and contain special elements and features that make reading a whole new experience!

Ergodic literature is a term coined by Espen J. Aarseth in his 1997 book Cybertext—Perspectives on Ergodic Literature to describe literature in which nontrivial effort is required for the reader to traverse the text.

Books that are not conventional; whether ergodic, esoteric, weird, before-its-time, fever-dreamy, or any combination of these

a collection of books that say “buh-bye” to the traditional format of a novel and instead use unusual/unconventional formating

"ergodic literature is a mode of textual organization in which nontrivial effort is required for the reader to traverse the text, beyond ordinary eye movement or turning pages." - espen j. aarseth

books with unique formatting, books you can play like a game, books you need to take apart and put back together again, stories-within-stories, books containing found documents and ephemera, etc.

while i haven't read all of these books, these are some that i'd love to read and that very much give me that kind of thriller, paranormal, sinister vibes that the famed podcast had! for those who also like podcasts like "lore" and "noble blood"

Crosswords, Murdles, Murdoku, etc.

Books that require things such as solving puzzles, flipping through pages out of order, or handling physical objects-just to traverse and construct the text. Books that transform reading from a passive viewing experience into an interactive one.