Funds for Bookworm are provided in part by Lannin Foundation.

Boots!

Where would we be without boos?

Where would we be without good?

No, Timberd.

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

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

Boy, am I excited today. This is a really landmark day for me.

My guest is Mark Danielewski. Now, Mr. Danielowski has traveled to get here

today at this moment from Bali. He's been on the plane for 40 hours just to be here on Bookworm,

and I'm really thrilled.

He has written the first five volumes of what is said to be a 27-volume work.

I don't think even in the days of serial novels, we had 27 volumes.

I have read the first five. We're up to what is being called the series finale.

And I have to tell you, I had my doubts, but now I am reading up a storm. I can't read this fast enough.

I find it so enjoyable, so exciting, so funny, often challenging, great, great reading.

I want to begin by asking you, are you pleased with it?

Yes.

Pleased sort of implies a sense of satisfaction. And I think the thing that is so

just overwhelming about this project is how relentlessly alive it is, how it is, how it is,

well, you experienced it yourself of how it is coming to life you have that experience

of starting where into where it's feels like seemingly nothing or a rainy day and and then it

...