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 Palace Thief 
 
Author Ethan Canin discusses his inclination to avoid writer's tricks as he matures in his craft...

The Palace Thief Author Ethan Canin discusses his inclination to avoid writer's tricks as he matures in his craft...

The Palace Thief 
&nbsp;
Author Ethan Canin discusses his inclination to avoid writer's tricks as he matures in his craft...

Ethan Canin

The Fermata Writer Nicholson Baker expresses his surprise at the shock with which critics have greeted this novel, in which a young man discovers that he can stop time. Sexuality, regression, ---mobius-strip--- personality structures and infantile fantasy all play a part in the discussion.

The FermataWriter Nicholson Baker expresses his surprise at the shock with which critics have greeted this novel, in which a young man discovers that he can stop time. Sexuality, regression, ---mobius-strip--- personality structures and infantile fantasy all play a part in the discussion.

The Fermata Writer Nicholson Baker expresses his surprise at the shock with which critics have greeted this novel, in which a young man discovers that he can stop time. Sexuality, regression, ---mobius-strip--- personality structures and infantile fantasy all play a part in the discussion.

Nicholson Baker

In the second of this two-part conversation, novelist Margaret Atwood takes relates women found in poetry, fable and religion to contemporary feminist narrative.

In the second of this two-part conversation, novelist Margaret Atwood takes relates women found in poetry, fable and religion to contemporary feminist narrative.

Margaret Atwood: The Robber Bride, Part II

Author Margaret Atwood discusses her literary origins--fairy tales and romantic literature -- and The Robber Bride in the first of this two-part conversation.

Author Margaret Atwood discusses her literary origins--fairy tales and romantic literature -- and The Robber Bride in the first of this two-part conversation.

Author Margaret Atwood discusses her literary origins--fairy tales and romantic literature -- and The Robber Bride in the first of this two-part conversation.

Margaret Atwood: The Robber Bride, Part I

Merry Men The author of The Beans of Egypt Maine examines her development, tracing her attitudes toward poverty, politics and the writing of fiction.

Carolyn Chute

King of Cards Identity-formation and adolescent rites of passage are the themes of Ward---s fast-paced novel.

Bob Ward

Going Native, Part II
Author Stephen Wright talks about the influence of the Black Humorists of the 1960's on his explosive 90's breakthrough novel.

Going Native, Part II Author Stephen Wright talks about the influence of the Black Humorists of the 1960's on his explosive 90's breakthrough novel.

Stephen Wright

Going Native, Part I 
Drugs, violence and cartoons--in the novel by Stephen Wright that Bookworm nominates as the best of this season.

Going Native, Part I Drugs, violence and cartoons--in the novel by Stephen Wright that Bookworm nominates as the best of this season.

Going Native, Part I 
Drugs, violence and cartoons--in the novel by Stephen Wright that Bookworm nominates as the best of this season.

The Holder of the World A discussion of multiculturalism, patriarchal literature and formal experimentation.

Bharati Mukherjee

Love Enter;  How the Night is Divided Two first-novelists discuss their first publications.

Love Enter; How the Night is Divided Two first-novelists discuss their first publications.

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