The House Summary

The section titled "The House" begins with "The Golden Monica," which describes the phenomenon of an intruder into an American home who kills himself in the presence of the family. He ties up the family with wire or rope and forces them to watch as he commits suicide, usually with a lotion, although he may also use a pistol or knife. He lies there until one of the family members escapes, who is always accused of murder and confesses to it. The act is called a monica because the hostages are forced to watch it, and the event leaves a long-standing scar.

The Enemy in House Culture refers to a practice called house burial that began around 1979 in the Southwest. It involves covering shelters with seeds and baking them in steam that the author contends has been fossilized by the sun...