Longtime friend and editor of Bookworm, Alan Howard, returns to host this episode, the last of 10 shows to journey through Bookworm’s 33 years and offer a retrospective look at Michael’s accomplishments on behalf of writers and readers. For decades Michael has read almost all of a writer’s work, not just the book which has been most recently published. Howard has watched writers glow as they realize that they’ve been seriously witnessed by the ultimate Bookworm. All of the writers on today’s show have become friends of Michael’s and of Bookworm. We’ll hear from rock band Sparks (brothers Ron and Russell Mael), Art Spiegelman, Françoise Mouly, Ann Beattie, Susan Sontag, and Dennis Cooper.

Longtime friend and editor of Bookworm, Alan Howard, returns to host this episode, the last of 10 shows to journey through Bookworm’s 33 years and offer a retrospective look at Michael’s accomplishments on behalf of writers and readers. For decades Michael has read almost all of a writer’s work, not just the book which has been most recently published. Howard has watched writers glow as they realize that they’ve been seriously witnessed by the ultimate Bookworm. All of the writers on today’s show have become friends of Michael’s and of Bookworm. We’ll hear from rock band Sparks (brothers Ron and Russell Mael), Art Spiegelman, Françoise Mouly, Ann Beattie, Susan Sontag, and Dennis Cooper.

Longtime friend and editor of Bookworm, Alan Howard, returns to host this episode, the last of 10 shows to journey through Bookworm’s 33 years and offer a retrospective look at Michael’s accomplishments on behalf of writers and readers. For decades Michael has read almost all of a writer’s work, not just the book which has been most recently published. Howard has watched writers glow as they realize that they’ve been seriously witnessed by the ultimate Bookworm. All of the&nbsp;writers on today’s show have become friends of Michael’s and of Bookworm. We’ll hear from rock band Sparks (brothers Ron and Russell Mael), Art Spiegelman, Françoise Mouly, Ann Beattie, Susan Sontag, and Dennis Cooper.

Friends of Michael

Acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist <a href="https://www.taolin.us">Tao Lin</a> (“Taipei,” “Shoplifting from American Apparel”) speaks about growing as a writer, and growing his idea of himself in a book, including his latest, “<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547887/leave-society-by-tao-lin/">Leave Society</a>,” about the blurred lines between life and fiction.

Acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist Tao Lin (“Taipei,” “Shoplifting from American Apparel”) speaks about growing as a writer, and growing his idea of himself in a book, including his latest, “Leave Society,” about the blurred lines between life and fiction.

Acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist <a href="https://www.taolin.us" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tao Lin</a> (“Taipei,” “Shoplifting from American Apparel”) speaks about growing as a writer, and growing his idea of himself in a book, including his latest, “<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/547887/leave-society-by-tao-lin/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Leave Society</a>,” about the blurred lines between life and fiction.&nbsp;

Tao Lin’s ‘Leave Society’ shifts the author’s perspective to love and kindness

Author Zac Smith speaks about the extreme juxtaposition of the very short, dense, and clipped stories in his new book, “Everything is Totally Fine.” He says that by removing a lot of exposition, he was able to create intense emotions in a small space. His energetic and thoughtful stories of absurdity and minutiae are things that could not be said any other way, and usually don’t get said. Plus, special guest Tao Lin explains why “Everything is Totally Fine” inspired him to reopen his <a href="http://muumuuhouse.com/about.html">Muumuu House</a> imprint after it was closed for more than ten years.

Author Zac Smith speaks about the extreme juxtaposition of the very short, dense, and clipped stories in his new book, “Everything is Totally Fine.” He says that by removing a lot of exposition, he was able to create intense emotions in a small space. His energetic and thoughtful stories of absurdity and minutiae are things that could not be said any other way, and usually don’t get said. Plus, special guest Tao Lin explains why “Everything is Totally Fine” inspired him to reopen his Muumuu House imprint after it was closed for more than ten years.

Author Zac Smith speaks about the extreme juxtaposition of the very short, dense, and clipped stories in his new book, “Everything is Totally Fine.” He says that by removing a lot of exposition, he was able to create intense emotions in a small space. His energetic and thoughtful stories of absurdity and minutiae are things that could not be said any other way, and usually don’t get said. Plus, special guest Tao Lin explains why “Everything is Totally Fine” inspired him to reopen his <a href="http://muumuuhouse.com/about.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">Muumuu House</a> imprint after it was closed for more than ten years.

Zac Smith’s ‘Everything is Totally Fine,’ the book that reopened Tao Lin’s Muumuu House

Mark Twain The Oxford Mark Twain (Oxford University Press) In honor of the publication of a twenty-nine volume set of Twain, Leslie Fiedler, Charles Johnson and the set's editor, Shelley Fisher Fishkin join in a roundtable celebration of the American Shakespeare.

Mark Twain

On a luxury cruise or at a state fair, David Foster Wallace is an ideal reporter on the disintegration of the Actual.

On a luxury cruise or at a state fair, David Foster Wallace is an ideal reporter on the disintegration of the Actual.

David Foster Wallace: A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again

Literary Presses Serious literature faces a double crisis: the disappearance of funding and the indifference of mainstream publishing. A coalition of literary presses springs to the rescue!

Literary Presses

Alan Warner Morvern Caller (Anchor) A member of the New Scottish Renaissance talks about the literary nature of the movement, as opposed to the drugs, the raves and the trainspotting reported in the media.

Alan Warner

Francine Prose began her career in the magical-realist mode. Now her books are
cynical and dark. In Guided Tours of Hell she tells why.

Francine Prose began her career in the magical-realist mode. Now her books are cynical and dark. In Guided Tours of Hell she tells why.

Francine Prose: Guided Tours of Hell

Le Divorce
 (Dutton)
In this satire of American behavior abroad, Diane Johnson exhibits a lethal distaste for innocence.

Le Divorce (Dutton) In this satire of American behavior abroad, Diane Johnson exhibits a lethal distaste for innocence.

Diane Johnson

Closing the Circle A show about an implausible miracle -- a link between art and commerce. Closing the Circle is an Oulipean tale of air travel. With funds earned by the book,  Mitch Sisskind is developing a radio station devoted entirely to literature.

Closing the Circle A show about an implausible miracle -- a link between art and commerce. Closing the Circle is an Oulipean tale of air travel. With funds earned by the book, Mitch Sisskind is developing a radio station devoted entirely to literature.

Mitch Sisskind

Melanie Rae Thon First, Body (Houghton Mifflin) Thon has been chosen as one of the top American writers under forty. A discussion of her stories as a confluence of realistic prose and expressionistic poetry.

Melanie Rae Thon

Jamaica Kincaid, who grew up in poverty on Antigua, discusses the cultural contradictions of late capitalism and her ambivalent acceptance of American wealth.

Jamaica Kincaid, who grew up in poverty on Antigua, discusses the cultural contradictions of late capitalism and her ambivalent acceptance of American wealth.

Jamaica Kincaid: The Autobiography of My Mother

The servant-girl novel, that staple of Victorian fiction, is reinvented by Atwood in her most compelling novel to date, "Alias Grace."

The servant-girl novel, that staple of Victorian fiction, is reinvented by Atwood in her most compelling novel to date, "Alias Grace."

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