Lydia Millet Reading / October 23, 2008
Event Report
On October 23, 2008, novelist Lydia Millet read to an audience of about 65 people in Neville 100 for the fifth event of the Fall 2008 season. Dave Kress introduced the half-hour-long set in which Millet read from her novel How the Dead Dream, the first of a planned three-book series. Afterward, Millet fielded questions from audience members.
For the full photoset, visit our Flickr page here.
Set List (compiled by Katie Lattari)
Introduction by Dave Kress
Excerpt from the first chapter of the novel How the Dead Dream
Questions
Does the main character [of How the Dead Dream] follow along the same sort of path as Milo from Catch-22?
Do you know the bit from Walt Whitman about turning to/ toward the animals? If so, does this mindset inform your writing?
Do you have children?
Is this book part of a series?
Do you find the themes of capitalism and money in your books particularly topical given the financial crisis going on currently in this country?
Do you find the money aspect or the animal aspect more preferable [in the context of your book]?
Did you know this book was going to be part of a series from the start?
Would you say your novels are more concerned with plot or with character?
Do you think you would write differently if you didn’t have the pressure of your novels having to sell well and be liked?
Do you fight with your publisher much about your books, and in particular that you wanted to write a series?
How do you find time to write?
Have you seen the publishing industry change over your career as a writer?
When you first started writing and publishing, how wide was your distribution?
Can you talk about your personal relationship with animals and how that affects your writing?