8 thoughts on The Last Samurai by Helen Dewitt (unspoiled)

[@bjminton2698]

I'm very glad that you enjoyed the book. It sounds a bit like going to a mensa meeting... 🙂 Thank you for the review!

[@Shellyish]

Mensa! Ha!

[@crypsid]

My favourite novel! So nice to see that you also enjoyed it. I agree that the "gimmicks" she's using throughout don't feel extraneous at all, unlike so many other postmodern books. The readability is also real, I think I inhaled it in a day or two because it was so hard to stop reading it.

[@Shellyish]

So readable. I loved it!

[@jonnyss1]

my favorite novel as well. yes, i didn't get it on the first pass. made sense only on the second reading. i like your point that the genius men he seeks out as possible fathers haven't (all) ended up kind/happy/fulfilled, so intelligence and education aren't everything.

[@kellyjhardesty2987]

Thank you for this review, Shelly! I would never have picked this up from the title and now I'm VERY intrigued and really want to give it a try. Two questions: -- Do you think it would work as an audio book? -- And have you read 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders? Because your description of 'The Last Samuri' kept making me think of the Saunders book: Very unique and very hard to describe, as well as excellent -- plus that it makes you keep thinking about it more and more.

[@Shellyish]

You are so welcome! Actually, they've never made "The Last Samurai" into an audiobook though I think it could work. I have yet to read Saunders, but I've heard great things about his writing.

[@ES_LA969]

The Paris Review has a brief KZbin video entitled 'Helen DeWitt's First Time' in which DeWitt reveals her inspiration for The Last Samurai and the difficulties she had in publishing it. It's not easy being a genius. (I'd include the link, but it seems that's frowned upon.)

[@Shellyish]

That's for letting me know! I'll check it out!

[@ariannefowler455]

I only got 50-60 pages in and threw the book across the room. 🤣It was not for me. I love hearing people talk about it though because I keep thinking if I hear more I might understand it better.

[@Shellyish]

Ha! I understand the first several dozen pages had me scratching my head as well.

[@starlasell5698]

I took a moment from your video and watched the official trailer for The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, and it looks nothing like you're describing the book. It looks like a violent war story? Is this book about war?

[@Shellyish]

No, the book isn’t about war in the least. So weird.

[@starlasell5698]

@@Shellyish Good to know! Thank you for the great review!

[@multismashify]

The Tom Cruise movie is not an adaptation of Helen DeWitt's book. They have nothing to do with each other. The fact that they have the same name is purely coincidental.

[@Shellyish]

I found that out only after the fact. Thanks for letting me know.

[@chromesthesia]

I love this book. Especially if i think of it as an autistic mother trying to relate to her equally autistic but genius son. Also Seven Samurai is a good movie. Tho Ran is possibly better? This book makes me wish I was better at learning languages. I'm still working on Japanese.

[@Shellyish]

I love this book as well!

[@spikedaniels1528]

* Hello again Shelly, I very much enjoy your full length book reviews. Good content and great presentation - I’ll be back for more of this! ~Spike 🥸 .

[@Shellyish]

Awe! Thank you so much!