Funds for Bookworm are provided in part by Lannin Foundation.

You are a human animal.

You are a very special breed.

Or you are the only animal.

Who can think, who can reason, who can read.

The cow goes...

From KCRW, Santa Monica, I'm Michael Silverblatt, and this is Bookworm.

Today, I'm pleased and honored to have as my guest, Joyce Carol Oates,

who's speaking to me from the Museum of Television and Radio in Manhattan.

This is the first time that we've had a conversation that has not been face-to-face.

She has most recently written a novel.

I'll take you there, published by Echo.

What birthday is it over the Echo Press, Joyce?

30th.

30th birthday of what began as a major independent American press,

now a imprint at Harbor Collins.

Her most recent books include Middle Age or romance,

which was her novel before this,

and Faithless Tales of Transgression.

The book, the early novel, I think it was her third or fourth,

Them, has been published in the modern library series.

And I found this book to be kind of fascinating in its divisions and its hidden subject matter.

...