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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.

From KCRW, Santa Monica, I'm Michael Silverblatt, and welcome to Bookworm.

Today I have, as my guest, T.C. Boyle, whose new book, The Women is, I think, one of his very best.

It's published by Viking.

And, well, it's a very interesting situation here,

because as I was reading the book, I remembered years ago, Tom, saying to me, well, Michael,

you haven't mentioned that the book is hilarious. Well, this book is hilarious, but most of the critics haven't mentioned that, and it changes tone.

It begins, in a sense, in high opera booth, that's comic opera, but of that farcical sort.

And it really is about watching subjects that can be taken lightly grow serious.

Absolutely, Michael.

Yes, of course.

And I love your take on this.

Now, we can't take these critics to task, after all.

They do love me, and they do love the book, and each is giving his take on it.

But perhaps they're not really getting the full depths of it, and also the tonal change, which you're suggesting.

Don't forget, my task here is to present the biographical facts of the life of Frank Lloyd Wright, as seen through his acolytes.

But yet, to give a little sort of a satiric take on it, but still affect you,

affect you and make it, give you pathos and give you the tragedy of his life as well.

And, of course, the tragedy of the followers.

...