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 writer discusses the evolution of her style and explores the gulf between political correctness and personal behavior.

Erica Jong: Fear of Fifty

The Waterworks
 
A discussion of the morality of mad scientists, New York history, and the evolution of the plot of E.L. Doctorow's best-selling novel.

The Waterworks A discussion of the morality of mad scientists, New York history, and the evolution of the plot of E.L. Doctorow's best-selling novel.

The Waterworks
&nbsp;
A discussion of the morality of mad scientists, New York history, and the evolution of the plot of E.L. Doctorow's best-selling novel.

E. L. Doctorow

Doggie Bag The fictional avante garde, its present and future, discussed by one of its longest standing practitioners.

Ron Sukenick

Rick Moody's novel of the seventies provokes a discussion of the relationship between literary fiction and the marketplace.

Rick Moody's novel of the seventies provokes a discussion of the relationship between literary fiction and the marketplace.

Rick Moody: The Ice Storm

The Book of Dreams 
 
Craig Nova discusses the tough guy and ---noir--- novel as points of origin for his dark investigation of the California dream.

The Book of Dreams Craig Nova discusses the tough guy and ---noir--- novel as points of origin for his dark investigation of the California dream.

The Book of Dreams 
&nbsp;
Craig Nova discusses the tough guy and ---noir--- novel as points of origin for his dark investigation of the California dream.

Craig Nova

School for the Blind Grief, suicide and death are central to Dennis McFarland---s fiction; in this interview he examines some of the reasons why.

Dennis McFarland

Editor, The Collected Poems of Ted Berrigan The late Ted Berrigan---s influence on the New York School of Poets is discussed by his friend and editor.

Aram Saroyan

Rise the Euphrates The Armenian genocide provides the background for this multi-generational first-novel.

Carol Edgarian

Now You See Her Aging and its metaphors are discussed by the author of How to Make an American Quilt.

Whitney Otto

Try
 
Novelist Dennis Cooper discusses the aesthetics of violence and pornography and the special syntax of Generation X.

Try Novelist Dennis Cooper discusses the aesthetics of violence and pornography and the special syntax of Generation X.

Try
&nbsp;
Novelist Dennis Cooper discusses the aesthetics of violence and pornography and the special syntax of Generation X.

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