Our Biggest GREEN FLAGS in Books

[@melissaabrego1884]

Right now my green flags are books that I wouldn’t typically read since I’m a typical sci fi/fantasy girly 😂. Which is why I’m watching your content because almost all of the books you guys talk about are not typically the types of books that I look for

[@barabbas89]

Love the works in translation green flag! I did not venture outside of works written in English often until I started watching you guys, and since then I have purchased and read much more translated works. It has been eye opening and exciting. New Directions, Open Letter, Deep Vellum, never would’ve known about these publishers without you gents so many thanks ❤

[@Lifeonbooks]

Love to hear that

[@philstrand]

Andy’s reading taste might be best summed up as philosophical fiction: those works that require or encourage one to think about and grapple with various ideas and themes and whose charms are not easily summarized in a brief synopsis. Looking at a list of philosophical novels on Goodreads, I realized that I probably want to read most if not all of them and there were several hundred titles listed. A broad genre that encompasses works from so many other genres, but it does seem to fit the bill for the kind of books I get the most out of.

[@netSurfer-fp6do]

Hi guys! If you like italian lit, I would recommend "if on a winter's night a traveller" by italo calvino (or anything by him really, but this one is very strange and meta, maybe experimental? idk). Anyways, I love your pod, it's a calming experience in this hyper-stimulating world. Keep it up!

[@kurtfox4944]

so, about Andy's green flag of "suffering and tragedy" ... reminds me of the first sentence of Anna Karenina "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." ― Leo Tolstoy If it is a romantasy, which kinda implies a happy ending, then they are all the same. It's the "unhappy" ones that are different and interesting.

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

I love everything about your channel. In recent years I have read or reread British Classics, and at 78 I was introduced to Thomas Pynchon's Infinite Jest, and now I have discovered so much great stuff through your channel. I am so grateful for your chats introducing me to so many fascinating, and intellectually challenging book. Thank you so much.

[@Lifeonbooks]

Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for watching!

[@cindyrosen8170]

Just came across your channel and absolutely love you guys! This is exactly the type of conversations that provide the best insights.

[@Lifeonbooks]

Thank you!

[@Lmaoh5150]

Do you guys have a video including your favorite small publishers? And if not, might we see an episode on that in the future? Trying to find small publishers to keep tabs on for modern stuff that might not get much support

[@benjamineastman9429]

You can take all the characters out of Infinite Jest and you would still have Wallace's essay on TV (E Unibus Pluram) at least!

[@jackwalter5970]

My Greenies are books that concern Ancient Rome, Tudor or Elizabethan England, or Japan. I also take references from great BookTubers like you guys very seriously. Thanks!

[@ryananditon]

I did The Tunnel as my first Gass - I can guess that it was much more difficult because of that, but it was certainly consumable in it's own way. Definitely looking forward to more of his work!

[@FrostytheAwesome]

A green flag is a book that takes place in a setting (time and or location) I haven't read about before. I was really excited to read Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi because I hadn't read a book that took place in Ghana before. It was an incredible read, and I felt like I learned something about a culture/history that I wouldn't have known otherwise. My last read was Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Somehow I managed to predict this one winning the Booker Prize, because I suggested it for my book club for our November read when the theme was "2024 Critic's Choice Award", and it was only shortlisted when we were planning out our selections. I have some critiques of the book but I think it's a worthwhile read. Just curious, since you mention books about suffering being a green flag (it's a green flag for me too, honestly): I remember a previous episode where you briefly mentioned not thinking highly of A Little Life, a book that's known for being "torture porn". I have no desire to read that one myself, but I'm wondering, where do you draw the line between suffering that makes good reading, and what makes bad reading or is in poor taste? Might be a good episode topic, honestly.

[@athousandgreatbooks]

My main green flag: Quality of prose. Better if it inclines towards being more descriptive and introspective. Doesn't have to be, but there needs to be an internal logic and consistency to the tone.

[@mileseramosroman2387]

Books set in situations where I ask myself “What would I do in that scenario?” are a big green flag. It’s entertaining and it might give me a little bit more of an understanding of my values in the process.

[@kerncarter]

Yes to all the green flags, especially the "can't really explain it" one. Like how do you explain A Brief History of Seven Killings.

[@Gigi-nc4vc]

Books about being chronically online… for some reason I love how that’s explored in books. Always feels like a fever dream. I’m not sure how well they’ll age since they tend to capture social media trends that fade quickly, but it usually works very well for me. I bought a copy of Troll because Andy keeps hyping it up!

[@Lifeonbooks]

Interesting...any particular favorites with that as a theme?

[@jameshumphries7272]

​@@LifeonbooksI really enjoyed I Hate the Internet by Jarrett Kobek. Marc Nash gave it high praise if that makes a difference. 😉

[@randywanamaker8453]

A great translated work is the Austrian book "The Wall" by Marlen Haushofer. Written in post-war, Cold-War-era West Germany. If you like dystopian fiction this is a great read. A story about feminism and finding a simple life in an increasingly-destructive modern world. I forget who translated it but it was the 2022 publication. Also, it's like 260 pages or something.

[@Etherchannel]

Andy won't reach that upper level of book snobbery until he reads Joseph McElroy. He needs to up his game and spend $200 on a copy of Lookout Cartridge.

[@Lifeonbooks]

😂😂😂

[@Metafictional.meathead]

What if I told you I snagged a beat up first edition of Lookout Cartridge for $8 at a used bookstore?