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

Peter Behrens on his epic family saga, a compelling tale of Irish immigration during the first half of the twentieth century.

Peter Behrens on his epic family saga, a compelling tale of Irish immigration during the first half of the twentieth century.

Peter Behrens: The O'Briens

Heidi Julavits on female rivalry and the psychic bonds between mothers and daughters in her imaginative new novel.

Heidi Julavits on female rivalry and the psychic bonds between mothers and daughters in her imaginative new novel.

Heidi Julavits: The Vanishers

Eighty-seven-year-old, William Gass discusses his new book of essays on the art of crafting words into prose.

Eighty-seven-year-old, William Gass discusses his new book of essays on the art of crafting words into prose.

William H. Gass: Life Sentences

Krys Lee on her collection of short stories about immigrants leading two lives: the ones they left behind, and new lives they can't quite inhabit.

Krys Lee on her collection of short stories about immigrants leading two lives: the ones they left behind, and new lives they can't quite inhabit.

Krys Lee: Drifting House

Jeanette Winterson on her new memoir that details how she survived being adopted by a dominating and wildly eccentric Pentecostal mother.

Jeanette Winterson on her new memoir that details how she survived being adopted by a dominating and wildly eccentric Pentecostal mother.

Jeanette Winterson: Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?

The true tale of a white boy from Oakland who became a drug addict, criminal,
mental patient, and then turned 16.

The true tale of a white boy from Oakland who became a drug addict, criminal, mental patient, and then turned 16.

Moshe Kasher: Kasher in the Rye

Edward St. Aubyn on his a five-book series, The Patrick Melrose Novels. (Part Two of two)

Edward St. Aubyn on his a five-book series, The Patrick Melrose Novels. (Part Two of two)

Edward St. Aubyn: The Patrick Melrose Novels, Part II

Edward St. Aubyn on his a five-book series, The Patrick Melrose Novels. (Part One of 2)

Edward St. Aubyn on his a five-book series, The Patrick Melrose Novels. (Part One of 2)

Edward St. Aubyn: The Patrick Melrose Novels, Part I

What if language turned on its human users? Ben Marcus his novel, a dark story about language and the breakdown of language.

What if language turned on its human users? Ben Marcus his novel, a dark story about language and the breakdown of language.

What if language turned on its human users? Ben Marcus his novel, a dark story about language and the breakdown of language.

Ben Marcus: The Flame Alphabet

Jonathan Lethem and Steve Erickson discuss science fiction-prophet, writer Philip K Dick.

Jonathan Lethem and Steve Erickson discuss science fiction-prophet, writer Philip K Dick.

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