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

Unable to sleep after her husband, Ray Smith, died three years ago, Joyce Carol Oates spent the night keeping a journal of her day to day thoughts and experiences...

Unable to sleep after her husband, Ray Smith, died three years ago, Joyce Carol Oates spent the night keeping a journal of her day to day thoughts and experiences...

Joyce Carol Oates: A Widow's Story

Fearless Eileen Myles discusses her fears in this autobiographical novel.

Fearless Eileen Myles discusses her fears in this autobiographical novel.

Eileen Myles: Inferno (A Poet's Novel)

When Diane Ackerman's husband, Paul West, suffered a stroke, the couple had to learn a new way to communicate. That led him to write a new form of novel — an aphasic novel.

When Diane Ackerman's husband, Paul West, suffered a stroke, the couple had to learn a new way to communicate. That led him to write a new form of novel — an aphasic novel.

Diane Ackerman: One Hundred Names for Love

While the Bookworm and Harvard literary theorist Marjorie
Garber disagree about nearly everything, theirs is one of the most diverting literary debates you'll likely hear.

While the Bookworm and Harvard literary theorist Marjorie Garber disagree about nearly everything, theirs is one of the most diverting literary debates you'll likely hear.

Marjorie Garber: The Use and Abuse of Literature

What You See in the Dark (Algonquin) 
Manuel Muñoz imagines a crime of passion set in the Central Valley, which he deviously juxtaposes with the mayhem of Hitchcock's Psycho.

What You See in the Dark (Algonquin) Manuel Muñoz imagines a crime of passion set in the Central Valley, which he deviously juxtaposes with the mayhem of Hitchcock's Psycho.

What You See in the Dark (Algonquin) 
Manuel Muñoz imagines a crime of passion set in the Central Valley, which he deviously juxtaposes with the mayhem of Hitchcock's Psycho.

Manuel Munoz: What You See in the Dark

When David Foster Wallace died, he left behind drafts of a rich and complex novel. Writers Rick Moody and David Lipsky discuss Wallace's achievement, The Pale King...

When David Foster Wallace died, he left behind drafts of a rich and complex novel. Writers Rick Moody and David Lipsky discuss Wallace's achievement, The Pale King...

David Lipsky and Rick Moody: David Foster Wallace's 'The Pale King'

Widow: Stories (Bellevue Literary Press) Michelle Latiolais wrote some of these stories before the death of her husband, some later. Her emotional register changed markedly after his death...

Widow: Stories (Bellevue Literary Press)Michelle Latiolais wrote some of these stories before the death of her husband, some later. Her emotional register changed markedly after his death...

Widow: Stories (Bellevue Literary Press) Michelle Latiolais wrote some of these stories before the death of her husband, some later. Her emotional register changed markedly after his death...

Michelle Latiolais: Widow

The New Yorker Stories (Scribner) This collection, which spans the years 1974-2006, contains all of the Anne Beattie stories published in the New Yorker – from the very first one, accepted after 17 rejections....

The New Yorker Stories (Scribner)This collection, which spans the years 1974-2006, contains all of the Anne Beattie stories published in the New Yorker – from the very first one, accepted after 17 rejections....

The New Yorker Stories (Scribner) This collection, which spans the years 1974-2006, contains all of the Anne Beattie stories published in the New Yorker – from the very first one, accepted after 17 rejections....

Ann Beattie: The New Yorker Stories

A second program with Carlos Fuentes, this one about culture and politics: Will narco-politics defeat government? Will a "New Deal" be negotiated to help the ni-nis? (Part I of this two-part conversation airs on March 17.)

A second program with Carlos Fuentes, this one about culture and politics: Will narco-politics defeat government? Will a "New Deal" be negotiated to help the ni-nis? (Part I of this two-part conversation airs on March 17.)

Carlos Fuentes: Destiny and Desire, Part II

Destiny and Desire (Random House) 
The great Mexican writer modestly confides that yes, he has completed a new novel but it's really the same story, just with new characters... (Part I of this two-part conversation airs on March 24.)

Destiny and Desire (Random House) The great Mexican writer modestly confides that yes, he has completed a new novel but it's really the same story, just with new characters... (Part I of this two-part conversation airs on March 24.)

Destiny and Desire (Random House) 
The great Mexican writer modestly confides that yes, he has completed a new novel but it's really the same story, just with new characters... (Part I of this two-part conversation airs on March 24.)

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