Thanks for listening to Bookworm. I'm host Michael Silverblatt. If there's another podcast that comes from us at KCRW that I really like is the treatment with Elvis Mitchell. I've said it for a long time. Elvis's style of interviewing is like jazz. He orchestrates so many interesting moments and gets people to say such

surprising and interesting things about film, about popular culture. He really knows his subject

and he's one of the very best in the country. Listen to the treatment.

Funds for Bookworm are provided in part by Lannin Foundation.

Boots!

Where would we be without booms?

Where would we be without good?

No, Tzuberg.

It's a rhetorical question, sir, but where would we be without good news into bird? It's a rhetorical question, sir, but where would we be without books?

From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Michael Silverblad, and this is Bookworm.

Today I'm happy to have as my guest, Lydia Millett, whose new book is Mermaids in Paradise.

It's published by Norton, and it's a very fast-moving and funny book, except when it isn't.

Now, why would you write a book that's sometimes funny, sometimes not, sometimes parodic, sometimes not, confusing your reviewers so much and making them grumble?

Because I'm a cruel, sadistic woman.

Are you?

Yes, yes, very cruel.

No, no.

I fear not.

I fear not.

Not that interesting.

Nothing that interesting.

But why? Why?

...