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colemanwarnerwriter's review against another edition
4.0
This was the kind of book I needed from my favorite author to be reminded why writers really write.
smallafterall's review
3.0
I loved the peek into Russo’s writing life and found some real gems in a few of these essays. I will probably always read everything he writes, but ultimately his fiction is where it’s at.
mawalker1962's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely set of reflections on the power of story, the art and craft of storytelling, and life in all its complexity. The essay on his relationship with a transgender friend is a moving meditation on friendship and love. I love Richard Russo’s work
librostace's review against another edition
Oh, you caught me, I only read a few of these essays but I enjoyed them. Mostly I would like Russo to be my friend or professor or both!
ardaigle's review
3.0
Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw this on the "HOT PICKS" shelf at my library I was intrigued. It was fun to get some insight into his life, inspiration and musings, but I won't be recommending this as much as I recommend his fiction.
I enjoyed the stories on writing and life, in particular where he shared the graduation speech he gave to the graduating class of 2004 of Colby College. As that is also my graduation year that essay allowed me a look back to that time in my life, and his "rules for a good life" have some good nuggets of wisdom though come across as a bit dated. It made me wince a little that he was suggesting marriage and kids are necessary, as that is not everyone's path. Another interesting essay was "Imagining Jenny" which was about a close friend's friend's male to female transition which was raw and honest and intriguing. There were a few other of note that touched on his relationship with his father, and the echos of that relationship and how they have made their way into his fiction, that was neat to see. That being said, now for the negative. Ghe essays on writers were lost on me, I don't feel like they were particularly accessible or interested to those who are not aspiring writers. I'm not terribly familiar with Mark Twain or Charles Dickens, so the insights were lost on me.
Overall an interesting tome, but not one I would recommend for an end-of-the-year-trying-to-finish-my-cannonball hustle. If I had read it over the course of, say, a month and a half, and given time in between essays I think I would have enjoyed it more.
I enjoyed the stories on writing and life, in particular where he shared the graduation speech he gave to the graduating class of 2004 of Colby College. As that is also my graduation year that essay allowed me a look back to that time in my life, and his "rules for a good life" have some good nuggets of wisdom though come across as a bit dated. It made me wince a little that he was suggesting marriage and kids are necessary, as that is not everyone's path. Another interesting essay was "Imagining Jenny" which was about a close friend's friend's male to female transition which was raw and honest and intriguing. There were a few other of note that touched on his relationship with his father, and the echos of that relationship and how they have made their way into his fiction, that was neat to see. That being said, now for the negative. Ghe essays on writers were lost on me, I don't feel like they were particularly accessible or interested to those who are not aspiring writers. I'm not terribly familiar with Mark Twain or Charles Dickens, so the insights were lost on me.
Overall an interesting tome, but not one I would recommend for an end-of-the-year-trying-to-finish-my-cannonball hustle. If I had read it over the course of, say, a month and a half, and given time in between essays I think I would have enjoyed it more.
joeydragonfly's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this book. I'll read anything Richard Russo writes and would love to meet the man.
bkish's review
5.0
I ADMIRED the writer Richard Russo and what he wrote here. He writes fiction and one of his writing won Pulitzer. This book is Russo speaking about himself his past as a student and a writer and some of his friendships. Its an honest book authentic. It is not a How to become a writer. Tho he does say what switched him from someone w sparks of writing ability to a solid writer and that was to own his background and write abt what and who he knows personally.
I just looked at this title The Destiny Thief and Im uncertain what that means and how it relates to this book called by that name. I must admit that towards the end of this book I read it sketchily.
What struck me the most in this was the chapter on his friend Jim who became Jenny and had the surgery in Egypt. That was prodound. Russo has the ability to look at life from many angles.
I just looked at this title The Destiny Thief and Im uncertain what that means and how it relates to this book called by that name. I must admit that towards the end of this book I read it sketchily.
What struck me the most in this was the chapter on his friend Jim who became Jenny and had the surgery in Egypt. That was prodound. Russo has the ability to look at life from many angles.