Ira Glass On David Rakoff's Posthumous Novel In Rhymed Couplets

David Rakoff's new book comes out this week. It's a novel written in rhyming couplets. In the book, the main character is dying of AIDS. Rakoff wrote it as he himself was dying of cancer. This American Life's Ira Glass was Rakoff's friend. The two spent some of Rakoff's final days together recording the audiobook version of the novel. In the excerpts Ira plays us today, Rakoff's voice is frail. But his words still convey inexhaustible power.

Full list of stories from KUOW Presents, July 17:

• Women Stay In Jobs Longer Than They Should
• Charlie Staadecker for Mayor
• Ira Glass On David Rakoff's Posthumous Novel In Rhyming Couplets
• Mary Martin for Mayor
• The True Meaning Of The Lemonade Stand
• China's Food Safety Problem
• The Night Witches
• Bruce Harrell for Mayor
• Celebrate Cancer Party
• Writer's Almanac
• Jon Talton's Economic News
• Bed Net Campaign Having Problems
• Foraging For FoodNews From Canada, NW Business News, And Beach Movies