Every Friday, Cienna Madrid offers solutions to life’s most vexing literary problems. Do you need a book recommendation to send your worst cousin on her birthday? Is it okay to read erotica on public transit? Cienna can help. Send your questions to advice@seattlereviewofbooks.com.

Dear Cienna,

If you could flay the flesh from the bones of any author, living or dead, and then wear their flesh like a fancy suit and walk around inside them for a while, which author would you choose?

Sera, Madison Park

Dear Sera,

How fun! This is a game Mother and I usually reserve for special occasions, like Y2K or Nicholas Sparks' birthday, but of course I will humor you.

Who would I wear like a wedding dress? Definitely Pearl S. Buck for the day-to-day. When I'm menstruating, a pre-oven Sylvia Plath. Jack Kerouac on days when I need a boost of unearned confidence, and I'd reserve Roxanne Gay for days when I'm forced to attend above-ground parties.

Kisses,

Cienna