Episodes

  • Is Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai Really THAT Original?

    Is Helen DeWitt's The Last Samurai Really THAT Original?
    Feb 7 2025
    Helen DeWitt's debut novel "The Last Samurai" almost didn't get published, but since then has become a cult classic, and it also made the now infamous NYT 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list.In today's episode we break down the book, which we read for our January book club, and Andy gives us his feelings on finally reading a book written by a woman.Become part of our growing book community!patreon.com/LifeonBooksJoin the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more!https://linktw.in/BRYAnVhBooks mentioned in this episode:The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitthttps://amzn.to/4hsDhI6https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...Galapagos by Kurt Vonneguthttps://amzn.to/4hOqVdhhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780385...Mother Night by Kurt Vonneguthttps://amzn.to/40Lh5CmSlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonneguthttps://amzn.to/3CEfE0phttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780440...Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonneguthttps://amzn.to/41109cihttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780385...The Tunnel by William H. Gass2666 by Roberto Bolanohttps://amzn.to/3CuyE1rhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312...Between Parentheses by Roberto Bolanohttps://amzn.to/4k1ztjhhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811...The Romantic Dogs by Roberto Bolanohttps://amzn.to/4hJHfMyUnknown University by Roberto Bolanohttps://amzn.to/4jOlM76Something Happened by Joseph Hellerhttps://amzn.to/40Fnui8https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780684...Troll by Dave Fitzgeraldhttps://amzn.to/3CvVR3ahttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952...Red Sorghum by Mo Yanhttps://amzn.to/42LI5nDhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780140...The Invisibility Cloak by Ge Feihttps://amzn.to/4hfJjw1The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolanohttps://amzn.to/4aDElqdhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312...Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchonhttps://amzn.to/4hNGMsChttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143...Invisible Man by Ralph Ellisonhttps://amzn.to/415ibKDhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780679...Aputure Light Domehttps://amzn.to/3WptlGkRode Wireless Micshttps://amzn.to/3YpavBWShure SM7Bhttps://amzn.to/46vyQbk
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    53 mins
  • Read These Books If You Need a Laugh

    Read These Books If You Need a Laugh
    Jan 31 2025
    The world is in a crazy place right now, so to give you a bit of comedic relief, we've put together a list of our 10 favorite funny books. We hope that these books make you laugh as much as they did for us. Become part of our growing book community! patreon.com/LifeonBooks Join the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Want to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online: https://linktw.in/Zeolty Books mentioned in this episode: 1984 by George Orwell https://amzn.to/4gsEY7C Distant Star by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/4aDDE05 Amulet by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/42zB7lxhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250... The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/4aDElqdhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... The Romantic Dogs by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/3WEr8HW 2666 by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/3CkhKT7https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... The Tunnel by William H. Gass The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt https://amzn.to/4hsDhI6https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Something Happened by Joseph Heller https://amzn.to/4hUqWNdhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780684... Endurance by Alfred Lansing https://amzn.to/40EdLIThttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780465... The Invisibility Cloak by Ge Fei https://amzn.to/4hfJjw1 Peach Blossom Paradise by Ge Fei https://amzn.to/42C1N5uhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... Thank you for Smoking by Christopher Buckley https://amzn.to/4aVxMzL Pay as You Go by Eskor David Johnson https://amzn.to/3PXc4RXhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952... Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park https://amzn.to/40UTHDyhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780812... A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava https://amzn.to/3CuCl78https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780226... China Dream by Ma Jian https://amzn.to/40U55Qg A Bended Circuity by Robert S. Stickley Natural Causes by Nina Lykke https://amzn.to/4haDS1ghttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948... JR by William Gaddis https://amzn.to/40SRcBDhttps://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... White Noise by Don DeLillo https://amzn.to/3QhYBVj
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • The Publishers Fighting to Keep Literature Alive

    The Publishers Fighting to Keep Literature Alive
    Jan 17 2025
    Today on the Life on Books Podcast, we're talking about our favorite independent publishers! Use Code LIFE at Checkout at Open Letter Books to get 30% off your entire order now through the end of February, 2025! https://www.openletterbooks.org/ Join our book club on Patreon! www.patreon.com/lifeonbooks The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt https://amzn.to/40dmDW1 Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... The Tunnel by William H. Gass Ht tps://amzn.to/4jbnPBJ Distant Star by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/3C9kbI0 Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/3Pxsu3r Fury by Clyo Mendoza https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781644... Or https://amzn.to/40gE6Nb Anamnesis by Caroline McManus https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9798989... Or https://amzn.to/4ajg3Sa The Mystery.doc by Matthew McIntosh https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... Or https://amzn.to/3DUEedA Essays after 80 by Donald Hall https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780544... Or https://amzn.to/4fW18yN Endurance by Alfred Lansing https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780465... Or https://amzn.to/4ahnQjz Paranoia by Victor Martinovich https://amzn.to/42cnKru 1984 by George Orwell https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780451... Or https://amzn.to/4gTgJjK Death in Spring by Merce Rodereda https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940... Or https://amzn.to/4hjTbnW The Taker and Other Stories by Rubem Fonseca https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781934... Or https://amzn.to/3CdbUCK The Red Handler by Johan Harstad https://amzn.to/4gVCBLf The Brother by Rein Raud https://amzn.to/4jkQxAb Natural Causes by Nina Lykke https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948... Or https://amzn.to/3DSDTIo Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781948... Or https://amzn.to/4g3T4vV Love and Terror by William Herrick On the Edge of Reason by Miroslav Krleza https://amzn.to/42ct0ve Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/3WnNwoO Satantango by Laszlo Kraznahorkai
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • The Savage Detectives...Is the Hype Real?

    The Savage Detectives...Is the Hype Real?
    Jan 10 2025
    Roberto Bolano is one of Latin America's most heralded authors, and the Savage Detectives is possibly his most famous work. We recently finished reading The Savage Detectives as part of our online book club, and we've got some thoughts about this one. So buckle in, because for the first time ever, Andy and I are pretty split on how we felt about this book! Become part of our growing book community! patreon.com/LifeonBooks Join the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Books mentioned in this episode (purchases through these links help support the channel!) The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/428TxcP Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Last Evenings on Earth by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/4fMA30V Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/3Pxsu3r The Tunnel by William H. Gass https://amzn.to/4jbnPBJ The Savage Detectives Reread by David Kurnick https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780231... Or https://amzn.to/3C1DaUN The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt https://amzn.to/40dmDW1 Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... 2120 by George Wylesol https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781910... Or https://amzn.to/4fU2WIi Butter by Asako Yuzuki https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780063... Or https://amzn.to/40ruaSb Paranoia by Victor Martinovich https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780810... Or https://amzn.to/4h9i4CJ Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3Pu7WbX Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316... By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250... Or https://amzn.to/4fTXvcC Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Or https://amzn.to/4fT9XcH This video was created with: Sony A7IV https://amzn.to/3WGit8i Sigma 24-70 https://amzn.to/3yjDPis Aputure 300X https://amzn.to/4fnxwv0 Aputure Light Dome https://amzn.to/3WptlGk Rode Wireless Mics https://amzn.to/3YpavBW Shure SM7B https://amzn.to/46vyQbk
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    55 mins
  • Booktubers: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

    Booktubers: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know
    Jan 3 2025
    The Devil’s Chessboard by David Talbot https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780062... Or https://amzn.to/3PnAiVn At Night He Lifts Weights by Kang Young-sook https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781945... Or https://amzn.to/4a5DFtI Waiting for the Fear by Oguz Atay https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... Or https://amzn.to/4gC5wDX The Taker and Other Stories by Rubern Fonseca https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781934... Or https://amzn.to/40i3ALq In the Heart of the Heart of the Country by William H. Gass https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Or https://amzn.to/41RRs4W The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll by Alvaro Mutis https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780940... Or https://amzn.to/4a0dh4k Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316... Or https://amzn.to/3ZZreee The Mystery.Doc Matthew Macintosh https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... Or https://amzn.to/4gGSdm2 Yellowface by RF Kuang https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780063... Or https://amzn.to/4gWsGow Insurrecto by Gina Apostal https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781641... Or https://amzn.to/3DRj2Fe How to Hide an Empire by Daniel Immerwahr https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250... or https://amzn.to/3VXFUsT Laszlo Krasnahorkai https://amzn.to/3Plph6X The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781416... Or https://amzn.to/3PoZGK8 Samskara by Anantha Murthy https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Or https://amzn.to/4gYQ4Sb Funeral Nights by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781913... Or https://amzn.to/40gJhhb A Bended Circuity by Robert S. Stickley A Naked Singularity by Sergio De La Pava https://amzn.to/407mkfo Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Or https://amzn.to/4gY2FoW Human Acts by Han Kang
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    1 hr and 50 mins
  • The Books We're Looking Forward to in 2025

    The Books We're Looking Forward to in 2025
    Dec 27 2024
    Make sure to drop your 2025 goals in the comments, and if you want to join a great community of readers, check us out on Patreon! patreon.com/LifeonBooks Books mentioned in this episode: The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Or https://amzn.to/3ZCszIO Last Evenings on Earth by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Or https://amzn.to/4gxwIDS The Stronghold by DIno Buzzati https://amzn.to/4gtUsZz Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781681... The Tartar Steppe by DIno Buzzati https://amzn.to/3VR9tN2 Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs https://amzn.to/3BMt8qm Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon https://amzn.to/3PeYpFE Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Nazi Literature in the Americas by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/41PVPNZ Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt https://amzn.to/4gBUPkX Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... The Chandelier by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/4gutlxL Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... The Besieged City by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/4iPPuYR Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... The Apple in the Dark by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/3BXDpQy Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/3ZSNXIX Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Breath of Life by Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/4gxjnvn Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Roberto Bolano 2666 https://amzn.to/3DGVsei Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/4fBoiKo Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250... Amulet by Roberto Bolano https://amzn.to/408fkjr Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781250... Babel by RF Kuang https://amzn.to/429ywyT Or
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • The BEST BOOKS of 2024...That We Read.

    The BEST BOOKS of 2024...That We Read.
    Dec 20 2024
    It's everyone's favorite time of year! In this episode, Andy and I will be breaking down our top 10 favorite books that we read all year. We both had so many great books to choose from, that it was difficult to decide, but we hope you enjoy the discussion! Join our book club! patreon.com/LifeonBooks Books mentioned in this episode The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Or https://amzn.to/3ZCszIO Insurrecto by Gina Apostal https://amzn.to/4gNfhiB Too Much of Life Clarice Lispector https://amzn.to/3ZINJ6V Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780811... Pachinko by Min Jin Lee https://amzn.to/401QDVN Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781455... Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams https://amzn.to/4gfIQJH Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781590... Human Acts by Han Kang https://amzn.to/3BsEYpL Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781101... The Case of Cem by Vera Mutafchieva https://amzn.to/3DlF1Em Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9789533... Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson https://amzn.to/401DFqW Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780307... The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati https://amzn.to/4iZK7Xh Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781841... Marshland by Otohiko Kaga https://amzn.to/4grYbai Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781628... The Anarchist Who Shared my Name by Pablo Martin Sanchez https://amzn.to/3ZLsQYP Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781941... Solenoid Mircea Cartarescu https://amzn.to/3VIN3NB Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781646... Blinding by Mircea Cartarescu https://amzn.to/3VOnRW1 Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3VNlQJK Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316... The instructions by Adam Levin https://amzn.to/402HbRZ Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781952... The Mezzanine by Nicholas Baker https://amzn.to/3BMWEMD Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780802... Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Or htt&
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Should You Read Infinite Jest?

    Should You Read Infinite Jest?
    Dec 13 2024
    Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace is one of the most controversial books of the last 50 years...but why? Some people call Infinite Jest a masterpiece, while other claim that David Foster Wallace is a talentless hack. Today on the Life on Books podcast, we tackle this all things Infinite Jest, what we like about the book, why so many people have such strong opinions about it, and we answer the question: should you read it? Become part of our growing book community! patreon.com/LifeonBooks Books mentioned in this episode Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3OIyo1m Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780316... The Tunnel by William H. Gass The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780312... Or https://amzn.to/3ZCszIO The Invented Part by Rodrigo Fresan https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781940... Or https://amzn.to/4fWCuyE Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell https://amzn.to/3BmiBlH Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780544... At Night He Lifts Weights by Kang Young-sook https://amzn.to/4iwe6pm Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781945... Rina by Kang Young-sook https://amzn.to/3Bzxa5h Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9781960... The Broom of the System by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/41xr3JA Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780143... Girl with Curious Hair by David Foster Wallace https://amzn.to/3ZOKagP Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780393... V by Thomas Pynchon https://amzn.to/3DgUZzC Or https://bookshop.org/a/103053/9780060... Join the Life on Books mailing list to stay up to date on all of our latest book giveaways, projects, and more! https://linktw.in/BRYAnVh Want to read one book from every country? Check out our resource online: https://linktw.in/Zeolty Want to know my all time favorite books? Click the link below! https://bookshop.org/shop/lifeonbooks Follow me on Instagram: / alifeonbooks Follow Andy on Instagram / metafictional.meathead This video was created with: Sony A7IV https://amzn.to/3WGit8i Sigma 24-70 https://amzn.to/3yjDPis Aputure 300X https://amzn.to/4fnxwv0 Aputure Light Dome https://amzn.to/3WptlGk Rode Wireless Mics https://amzn.to/3YpavBW Shure SM7B https://amzn.to/46vyQbk
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    1 hr and 7 mins