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

(Getty Series) Galeano discusses journalism, testimony, folklore and history-writing.  He shows how each reveals a facet of the life of the writer-revolutionary.

(Getty Series) Galeano discusses journalism, testimony, folklore and history-writing. He shows how each reveals a facet of the life of the writer-revolutionary.

Eduardo Galeano

(Getty Series) The author talks about the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution and her quest to discover a way to write truthfully about Mao's China.

Anchee Min

(Getty Series) A conversation about "Them;" and "Us.;"  Allison and Sarris talk about illegitimacy and the status of the "outsider;" in both American culture and autobiographical writing.

(Getty Series) A conversation about "Them;" and "Us.;" Allison and Sarris talk about illegitimacy and the status of the "outsider;" in both American culture and autobiographical writing.

Greg Sarris & Dorothy Allison

History, imagination and memory: Allende states that she does not make a distinction between reality and imagination and then discusses their fusion in her work. (Getty Series)

History, imagination and memory: Allende states that she does not make a distinction between reality and imagination and then discusses their fusion in her work. (Getty Series)

History, imagination and memory: Allende states that she does not make a distinction between reality and imagination and then discusses their fusion in her work. (Getty Series)

Isabel Allende

(Getty Series)Troupe, who co-authored the controversial, award-winning autobiography of Miles Davis, speaks about the process of inhabiting another person's memories.  He explores music as a structuring principle of memory and reveals the musical origins of his own poetry.

(Getty Series)Troupe, who co-authored the controversial, award-winning autobiography of Miles Davis, speaks about the process of inhabiting another person's memories. He explores music as a structuring principle of memory and reveals the musical origins of his own poetry.

Quincy Troupe

(Getty Series) Cisneros describes an autobiographical childhood incident and demonstrates how she transformed it into her most popular short story, "Eleven.;"

Sandra Cisneros

The Matisse Stories 
Author A.S. Byatt defends art-for-art's-sake against the incursions of multi-cultural politics.

The Matisse Stories Author A.S. Byatt defends art-for-art's-sake against the incursions of multi-cultural politics.

The Matisse Stories 
Author A.S. Byatt defends art-for-art's-sake against the incursions of multi-cultural politics.

A. S. Byatt

Dreaming A nuts-and-bolts conversation about truth-telling and family history.

Carolyn See

Trinity Fields A conversation about secrets--political, personal and spiritual--and how they drive a story.

Bradford Morrow

Wonder Boys
 
Young Michael Chabon discusses his feelings about the blocked, frustrated writers and editors who people his new novel...

Wonder Boys Young Michael Chabon discusses his feelings about the blocked, frustrated writers and editors who people his new novel...

Wonder Boys
&nbsp;
Young Michael Chabon discusses his feelings about the blocked, frustrated writers and editors who people his new novel...

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