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

The Fran Lebowitz Reader On American humor: James Thurber, Robert Benchley, Dawn Powell--plus a digression on humorists who write children---s books.

Fran Lebowitz

A discussion of autobiography: Doris Lessing on self, memory and history.

A discussion of autobiography: Doris Lessing on self, memory and history.

Doris Lessing: Under My Skin

Knowing When to Stop A demanding conversation with a modern composer about setting poetry to music, featuring a love duet with text by Frank O---Hara.

Ned Rorem

Closing Time Has Yossarian sold out?  Can a sequel to Catch-22 be written?  How does Heller feel about the fate of his later novels?

Closing Time Has Yossarian sold out? Can a sequel to Catch-22 be written? How does Heller feel about the fate of his later novels?

Joseph Heller

A conversation about personal voice, sexuality and the New York school of poetry.

Eileen Myles: Chelsea Girls

Corelli's Mandolin 
A discussion about having it both ways: How Louis de Bernières maintains the passion of the traditional novel while exploring the complexities of post-modernism...

Corelli's Mandolin A discussion about having it both ways: How Louis de Bernières maintains the passion of the traditional novel while exploring the complexities of post-modernism...

Louis de Bernières

Dear Dead Person
 
Violence, comedy, style, the influence of modern German literature and the importance of extremity are today's subjects in our conversation with Benjamin Weissman.

Dear Dead Person Violence, comedy, style, the influence of modern German literature and the importance of extremity are today's subjects in our conversation with Benjamin Weissman.

Dear Dead Person
&nbsp;
Violence, comedy, style, the influence of modern German literature and the importance of extremity are today's subjects in our conversation with Benjamin Weissman.

Benjamin Weissman

For Keeps America---s greatest pop-culture critic talks about her new collection of movie reviews--a retrospective of a lifetime of passionate response.

Pauline Kael

Blacker than a Thousand Midnights Straight talks about mothering by day, writing deep into the night, and knowing enough to see into the life of a young, black father.

Blacker than a Thousand MidnightsStraight talks about mothering by day, writing deep into the night, and knowing enough to see into the life of a young, black father.

Blacker than a Thousand Midnights Straight talks about mothering by day, writing deep into the night, and knowing enough to see into the life of a young, black father.

Susan Straight

The Bird Artist
 
Howard Norman's new novel about fatal romance and aesthetic distance has surprised critics and attracted a wide audience.

The Bird Artist Howard Norman's new novel about fatal romance and aesthetic distance has surprised critics and attracted a wide audience.

The Bird Artist
&nbsp;
Howard Norman's new novel about fatal romance and aesthetic distance has surprised critics and attracted a wide audience.

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