Acoustics of Non-Box Shape Rooms

Most published and internet commentaries on room acoustics related to loudspeaker applications (or mis-applications)deal with "the room" as an enclosed area (ex: 12x16x8). But most modern housing doesn't offer us rooms with such regular dimensions. Ceilings can be of wildly varying heights, and there are usually big chunks of open wall on one or more sides. Often these wall gaps open into adjacent rooms that are as big as or bigger than the intended primary listening room. These conditions raise questions about matching speakers and speaker placements with the room. For example, in an L-shaped enclosed area, is "the room" the vertical or horizontal segment of the L that you wish to consider as "the room," or do you need to consider both the horizontal and vertical segements of the L together as a whole? What tools are available to help us understand the acoustic workings of such a space?
If anyone knows of any books, articles, or other resources that deal with real-world spaces, please let me know. Everything I've ver seen just deals with simplistic cubic volumes -- not the irregular combinations of such volumes that we really live with. Or if you happen to be an expert in acoustic engineering, your personal observations would be just as welcome.
Thanks -- Brett