Bookwaves/Artwaves – July 31, 2025: To Be Announced

Bookwaves/Artwaves

To be announced. the link to updated bookstore and theatre calendars can be found by clicking on the page.

Upcoming Episode

Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025), noted novelist of literary and genre fiction, best known for “Gorky Park” and the Arkady Renko series of detective novels. Part One: Interview recorded December, 2004 while on tour for the novel “Wolves Eat Dogs.” Part Two: Interview recorded December, 2013 while on tour for the novel “Tatiana.” Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Colm Toibin: “Long Island,” sequel to “Brooklyn” Colm Tóibín discusses his latest novel, “Long Island,” which follows characters from his earlier best-seller, “Brooklyn” twenty years later. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Colm Tóibín was born in Enniscorthy, Ireland, in … Continued


Vauhini Vara, former tech reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Pulitzer Prize finalist for her novel, “The Immortal King Rao,” discusses her latest book, “Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age” which discusses how digital technologies and the internet influence and reshape personal identity. Also: A review of “Aztlan” by Luis Alfaro, at the Magic Theatre through July 13th. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


Pride Month: Novelist and biographer David Leavitt discusses the career of gay mathematician Alan Turing in an interview recorded in November, 2005. Playwright Terrence McNally (1938-2020) talks about his work and its relation to gay themes in this 2004 interview. Plus: Reviews of “Co-Founders” at ACT Strand Theatre and “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” at ThaetreWorks Mountain View. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


Edmund White (1940-2025) in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA Studios, September 20, 2012 while on tour for the novel “Jack Holmes and His Friend” and February 17, 2014 while on tour for “Inside a Pearl: My Years in Paris.” Edmund White, who died on June 3, 2025 at the age of 85, was often called the Grandfather of gay literature. Equally at home writing novels, biographies, plays, memoirs, essays and various hybrids, he was a pioneer in the LBGT world. Photo: David Shankbone.


Joseph Heller, author of “Catch-22” and its sequel, “Closing Time,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded in San Francisco on October 17, 1994. In this interview, never before aired in its entirety, Heller talks about both books, the film based on “Catch-22” and some of the themes of his works. Also, reviews of “Parade” at the Orpheum Theatre through June 8, 2025, and “Pacific Overtures” at Brava Theater Center through June 15th. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


J.K. Fowler, Executive Director of the Bay Area Book Festival discusses the festival’s line-up and his own involvement in the process. Legendary folk singer and artist Joan Baez talks about her career and her most recent book. Plus reviews of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” at San Francisco Playhouse and “Yellow Face” at Shotgun Players Ashby Stage. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky.


Today’s episode of Bookwaves/Artwaves is preempted by special programming for KPFA’s 2025 Spring Fund Drive. Mitch Jeserich reads excerpts from the classic writings The Way of Chuang Tzu, translated by Thomas Merton. Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of Chinese philosophers. Chuang … Continued