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

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