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Exploring the Wild World of Lydia Millet
In the spring of 1999, author Lydia Millet made a bold decision to leave behind her life in New York City and purchase a rundown house on the fringes of Saguaro National Park West, near Tucson, Arizona. This daring move was a significant transition for Millet, who sought to immerse herself in a new lifestyle characterized by the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of the desert, where bobcats, coyotes, rattlesnakes, and tarantulas abound. Constructed in the 1950s, her home—shared with her partner Aaron, one of her children, and two dogs—offers a quirky charm, albeit with its share of maintenance challenges. Recent electrical issues forced Millet to temporarily relocate to an Airbnb while repairs were underway.
“The construction of the house is quite bizarre, as though it was built by individuals without the necessary skills,” Millet shared during a Zoom interview. “It’s a chaotic beehive of a home, but I feel a strong connection to it. From my kitchen window, I can see deer or owls passing by. I consider myself a privileged wildlife lover, enjoying my morning coffee and laptop, even if I’m not exactly a rugged mountain dweller. Still, I have a great admiration for those who are more in tune with the wild.”
Themes of the wild—both animal and human—permeate Millet’s writing. “I have a deep appreciation for characters that embody a certain rawness,” she explains. “I enjoy creating characters who are extreme, unaware of themselves, and often blind to their own flaws.” Her literary oeuvre, which frequently explores the complexities of human relationships and our connections to the environment, includes the celebrated collection Love in Infant Monkeys (2009), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; the novel A Children’s Bible (2020), recognized as a finalist for the National Book Award; and We Loved It All (2024), her inaugural nonfiction offering. Her works have found a global audience, with about 250,000 copies sold and translations in 11 languages, according to her publisher, Norton.
Atavists, her upcoming 21st book set for release in April, features a series of interconnected stories depicting life in post-pandemic America. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, the narratives follow various characters navigating a world dominated by technology, social media, and virtual connections. These tales include a woman fixated on a former friend’s Instagram, comparing her addiction to picking at a scab; a misogynistic bodybuilder who uses online dating to manipulate women; and a young man who prefers role-playing to engaging with reality. Other characters engage in efforts to regulate language and social interactions, such as a girl acting as the “word police” in her family and a scholar seeking to “cancel” a colleague online. Through these narratives, Millet critiques societal neuroses around cultural sensitivity and highlights the impact of technology on our humanity, revealing a collective longing for a simpler, more primitive existence.
“Writing stories brings me joy, serving as creative play while I work on longer pieces,” Millet states, noting that she has already completed two unpublished novels. While Atavists may be lighthearted in its approach, it addresses serious contemporary issues such as virtue signaling and the complexities of identity politics. “Currently, there exists a sort of cultural McCarthyism on both the political left and right, cultivating a misguided belief that language must always be inoffensive,” Millet argues. “These trends stifle free speech, with individuals labeled as traitors for dissenting from prevailing views. Being able to explore these topics through fiction is incredibly freeing.”
Born in Boston in 1968 and raised in Toronto, where her father served as an Egyptologist, Millet’s upbringing emphasized the importance of politeness over conflict, which shaped her unique personality. “I was a messy child, often cheerful but also bossy,” she reflects. Millet earned her BA in interdisciplinary studies in 1990 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked as a copy editor at Hustler and began writing her debut novel, Omnivores. She recalls napping on the office floor when she received the call announcing her book’s acceptance for publication. Her experiences at Hustler, notably the pervasive misogyny, have influenced her subsequent works. “I do worry at times about how I portray men, but I believe my depictions don’t contribute to societal suffering,” she admits. “It’s certainly amusing to create these characters.”
Jonathan Lethem, an esteemed author, has praised Millet’s insightful observations. The two formed a friendship two decades ago, and Lethem describes her as a trustworthy confidant. “Her depth of perception and intolerance for nonsense are remarkable,” he states. “Lydia crafts humor into her storytelling, resulting in a pace that truly captivates readers.”
In 1996, the same year her first novel was published, Millet earned her MA from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. She relocated to Manhattan to pursue a career as an environmental grant writer before making the decision to move to Arizona in 1999, where she joined the Center for Biological Diversity. There, she fell in love with her boss, whom she married in 2003. After having two children, the couple divorced in 2011. As deputy creative director at the center, Millet focuses on translating complex environmental language into engaging narratives. “I feel deeply compelled to advocate for the diverse forms of life on our planet,” she asserts.
Tom Mayer, Millet’s editor, underlines her remarkable ability to resonate with readers through her fiction. “Lydia possesses an extraordinary awareness of humanity’s interconnectedness within the greater web of existence,” Mayer says. “She has a particular talent for portraying the essence of contemporary life through her writing.”
Lydia Millet’s keen observations extend to various aspects of modern existence. Whether addressing how smartphones have transformed human behavior or contemplating the nature of local wildlife like javelinas and scorpions, she maintains an acute awareness of her surroundings. Millet often retreats to a rustic guesthouse near her home to write, despite its lack of heating and cooling and the presence of pack rats. “Every day brings its challenges, especially with rattlesnakes in the vicinity, but this solitude is a luxury I cherish. The snakes are just part of the experience,” she concludes.
Elaine Szewczyk’s writing has appeared in McSweeney’s and other publications. She is also the author of the novel I’m with Stupid.
A version of this article appeared in the 02/24/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Wild Child
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