Photograph ©Simone Acetti
Marco is an award-winning Italian author who published his first novel in 2005. While he’s not technically, ‘Roman,’ he’s still Italian, and awesome, so he gets an interview!
Name: Marco Missiroli
Age: 30
Where are you from: From Rimini, but I live in Milan. I pass by Rome occasionally.
Which is your favorite restaurant in Rome? Zi Umberto, in Trastevere.
Which is your favorite bar in Rome? Freni e Frizioni.
What’s the typical Roman like in your opinion? Late, open, relaxed, full of heart.
What does Rome symbolize for you? Vacation, fatigue.
What was the last book you read? “Per legge superiore,” by Giorgio Fontana. Bellissimo.
What book are you currently reading? “Steve Jobs,” by Walter Isaacson.
Ebook readers: yes, no, why? No, I love paper: a book is paper. Even though I admit that being able to have 1,000 books in 1 thin device can really open up new possibilities.
Used book or new book? New.
Who are your favorite Italian authors? Dino Buzzati, Niccolò Ammaniti, Mario Soldati.
Who are your favorite non-Italian authors? Agota Kristof, Bernard Malamud, Philip Roth, Raymond Carver, William Somerset Maugham.
If you could meet a character from any book, who would it be? The twins Claus and Lucas from “The Trilogy of the City of K,” by Agota Kristof.
If you could speak with any author,living or dead, who would it be? William Somerset Maugham (English, 1874-1965).
For how long have you been a writer? 8 years.
What type of books do you write? They do not have a genre.
Where do you like to write? In the kitchen.
Typewriter, computer, or pen and paper? Computer- a PC, but I should switch to a Mac.
From where do you get inspiration? It arrives. Let’s hope it continues to arrive.
What are you writing right now? Nothing, and I like it.
In 3 words, explain the world/atmosphere of writers in Italy: Dispersed, tired, tenacious.
In 3 words, describe the world/atmosphere of literature in Italy: Dull, disoriented, lewd.
There you have it: words from a wordsmith.
