Read to Know Basis: Priyanka Mattoo
The author of Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones reveals her therapeutic process.
Read to Know Basis is a weekly interview series with authors. It features debut authors and established writers talking about reading, writing, and of course snacks. This series is free to all. If you like what you read considering subscribing to support the work of Unstacked, and of course go out and buy the book!
Priyanka Mattoo is the author of the memoir Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones (Knopf, June 18). She is a contributor to The New Yorker and The New York Times, and writes an ongoing career advice column for Vulture. Also a filmmaker, former agent and producer, her work has appeared in festivals from Sundance to Cannes. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and kids.
What are five words to describe your book?
Joyful, curious, frank, expansive, and maybe… startling?
How did writing your book change you as a person?
Memoir writing felt like eight hours of self-therapy everyday for two years. Sometimes I sat with a bunch of uncomfortable memories alone, sometimes I called or zoomed my family members so we could unwind an incident together. It was exhausting, but a massive weight has lifted and I feel so much calmer and happier than I did before I began.
What is the strangest thing you googled while researching/writing this book?
Define strange! I did fall into a rabbit hole about representations of squirrels in medieval art, which turned into the last chapter of the book.
Describe your ideal reader?
Anyone who’s ever felt restless, or loved a family member so hard it made them breathless. People with rich internal lives. Particularly clever ten year olds, like my own, who has read it, and would like to discuss with another child.
What is your favorite punctuation mark?
The em dash, unfortunately. I love an aside!
What is a piece of writing advice that you’ve received that you think is really bad? What is a piece of writing advice that you think is really good?
There’s a lot of emphasis placed on treating writing like any other job and sitting down to bang it out every day. I understand why this works for many writers. But escaping the rhythms of a “normal” job is part of why I love writing. I love seeing where an internet dive or a long walk takes me. I love a day off when everything is too much. I love marinating in art until a tap turns on. I love the time to think. I missed it.
That said, I do like the advice about knowing what you’re writing about the next day. I set my intention the night before, and most times I get to it, and other times I change my mind, but I never start a day empty of ideas.
What are you reading right now? And what book are you desperate to read next?
The Day I Became a Runner by Sohini Chattopadhyay. It tells the modern history of India through the lives of a handful of women runners, and weaves in her own evolution as a runner. I’m a sucker for great creative non-fiction, and this ticks all the boxes.
Next up is Bear by Julia Phillips. I’m intrigued by the description, and also she just seems like a wonderful person.
What book are you an evangelist for?
Oh my goodness, so many. Sounds like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman. Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller. Kerry Howley’s last book [Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs: A Journey Through the Deep State]. Anything Katie Williams writes. Tell the Machine Goodnight was incredible. Pemi Aguda’s Ghost Roots. The Guide by RK Narayan. I’m always begging people to re-read A Room with a View so we can talk about how funny it is. It’s an incredible feat of understated comedy.
Who is your literary crush?
Elif Batuman. A chapter about her memoir is nestled in mine, like some kind of solipsistic matryoshka. It wouldn’t be hard to meet–we share many friends and an editor at the New Yorker, but I’ve never tried, because I have such a pure appreciation of her work. If we ever do meet, my plan is to pretend to be someone else, just in case she’s heard about this.
If you could not be a writer what would you do?
I was already not a writer, do I have to go back? My therapist is trying to get me to become a therapist, and it’s very flattering, so I could be convinced!
What is one thing in the culture people are very into that you are extremely out on?
Again, so many things. Currently I don’t understand everyone’s shoes or pants. High, cropped, wide, bow-legged? How exactly are pants supposed to look right now? Then everyone says there are no rules, but all the silhouettes are the same? Fashion in general is confusing to me. I live in old Levi’s, sneakers and soft sweatshirts gifted to me by friends.
You’re invited to a literary potluck, what are you bringing?
The stone fruit and tomatoes at the farmers market are out of control this summer. So I’d cut them up for a nice salad, maybe throw in a little arugula and mozzarella, dress it simply. Writers (and readers) are always up for fruit and cheese, I’m almost certain. I’m hungry for this right now, actually.
Connect with Priyanka: Instagram | Website
So fun! She’ll be in toronto next month & we’ll be (hopefully) going to her book talk