39 pages • 1 hour read
Lost in the Funhouse
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
203
Novel • Fiction
Ocean City, Maryland • 1940s
1968
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth is a collection of self-reflexive stories that call attention to narrative artifice, blending personal tales with epic and mythological elements. Notable stories include "Night-Sea Journey," narrated by a spermatozoon; "Echo," exploring self through monophonic tape; and "Lost in the Funhouse," where teenage Ambrose navigates a funhouse mirror maze, symbolizing a larger quest for identity and narrative experimentation.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Challenging
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
6,550 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth is praised for its inventive narrative techniques and metafictional elements that challenge traditional storytelling. Critics commend Barth's clever use of language and structural experimentation. However, some find the text overly complex and self-indulgent, potentially alienating readers seeking a straightforward narrative.
Who Should Read Lost in the Funhouse?
Readers who revel in metafiction and experimental narratives will delight in John Barth's Lost in the Funhouse. Fans of Italo Calvino's If on a Winter's Night a Traveler or Jorge Luis Borges' Labyrinths will appreciate the blend of self-referential storytelling and playful structure. Suitable for those who enjoy intellectually stimulating, avant-garde fiction.
6,550 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Menelaiad
Menelaiad
Menelaiad is a reimagined figure from the Odyssey, portraying Menelaus' experiences and interactions, including recounting the pursuit of Helen with Odysseus’ children visiting to hear his story.
Anonymiad
Anonymiad
Anonymiad is a minstrel character elevated from minor status in the Odyssey to a significant role, chosen by Agamemnon to spy on Clytemnestra, while exploring themes of identity and storytelling.
203
Novel • Fiction
Ocean City, Maryland • 1940s
1968
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.