- Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer’s Life by Michael Greenberg
- Hardcover: 232 pages
- Publisher: Other Press (September 8, 2009)
- ISBN-13: 978-1590513415
Back-of-the-book blurb: Beg, Borrow, Steal is an autobiography in installments, set in NewYork, where the author depicts the life of a writer of little means trying to practice his craft, or simply stay alive. He finds himself writing about golf, a game that he never played; doctoring doomed movie scripts; driving trucks and taxis; selling cosmetics from an ironing board in front of a women’s department store; and botching his debut as a waiter in a coveted five-star restaurant.
Central characters include the City of All Cities; Michael’s father, whose scrap metal business looms large; his elegant mother; his first wife, Robin, whom he met in a Greenwich Village high school; their son, Aaron, who grew up on the Lower East Side; a repentant communist who fought in the Spanish Civil War; a Chilean filmmaker in search of his past; rats who behave like humans; beggars who are poets; a man who becomes a woman; and a woman who prefers to live underground. Greenberg creates a world where the familial, the incongruous, the literary, the humorous, the tragic, and the prosaic not only speak to each other, but deeply enjoy the exchange.
She is Too Fond of Books’ review: I started Beg, Borrow, Steal expecting a memoir - a story about how Michael Greenberg had wanted to be a writer since high school, how he struggled for years, taking small successes when he could get them, and how it finally all came together for him when his memoir Hurry Down Sunshine (my review; I absolutely loved this sensitive and candid story of his daughter’s manic breakdown) was so well-received.
As I read the first few chapters, I realized that this wasn’t the book I was expecting. Instead of a memoir, focusing on just one aspect of his life, Beg, Borrow, Steal is a series of vignettes about his life, from elementary school up to the present. Together these form an autobiography of sorts, through a writer’s eyes.
In a chapter titled “Tycoon,” Greenberg muses about investing in the stock market in 1978. He had been working on his first novel for four years, and made a $5000 hoping for a payout that he could live off until the novel was published. He lost much of his investment, but sold the novel, only to have publication cancelled due to corporate restructuring:
… This confirmed my growing belief that my literary efforts were a mockery of the basic relationship between money and labor – I was working for virtually nothing.
The stock market, of course, distorts that relationship in the opposite way. Buying shares in a company turns you into an economic parasite. You are the silent partner, hidden, inert. Your money is the productive one, not you. I was in the absurd position of working hard for no pay, while trying to make money by not working. My so-called publisher’s new corporate parent, I noticed, was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Each short chapter (they are short, about 4-6 pages each) gives a snapshot of an event. Greenberg is often reminded of an incident from his past, relates that tale, then ties it back (with some irony) to the present. As I read along I imagined an uncle telling these stories at family gathering – they’re brief, detailed, entertaining, and sometimes contain a lesson or words of wisdom.
The stories in Beg, Borrow, Steal read like 44 independent essays or articles; they’re not strictly chronological, and there’s no common thread (except, of course, the narrator) to link them together. Understanding the format of the book will set the tone for those who read it. People who end short stories looking for “more” may be frustrated; others may be delighted by Greenberg’s succinct observations of New York from every angle.
About the author: Michael Greenberg, a native New Yorker, is a columnist for the Times Literary Supplement. His work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine and the New York Times Review of Books. His Hurry Down Sunshine was recently re-issued in paperback. More information about the author and his work can be found at Michael Greenberg’s website.
In this instance, I would buy the book if it were total trash. I am having a serious love affair with the artist that does those crazy things with the books, and designed this cover. I’m going to do a post on it at some point. It is mesmerizing.
I really appreciate this review. When I first read the book’s description I also thought that it would be memoir book. I am afraid if I had read it on my own first, without reading your honest review, I would have been disappointed that the book did not meet my expectations. Now that I know the structure of the book, I am really excited to read it. I love to read about authors – how and why they write what they write – and what has influenced them to become writers. I think I could read each of the essays and probably learn a bit about the actual craft of writing.
Your book review was well written and detailed the author’s journey of how he wanted to be a writer. I think anyone like myself who wants to be a writer add this to their TBR must read pile. Nice blog.
I would probably pick this book up expecting a memoir. Short stories sometimes frustrated me with the unfinished-feeling endings, so it’s good to know to expect that format. It took me a moment to recognize the object depicted on the cover; that has got to be the most mangled book I have ever seen!
I do love a good memoir, but I’m not sure the format of this one would work for me. Great review.
I’m in the “looking for more” camp, so I’ll likely pass on this.
Sandy – I wrote about the book cover in my notes, but took it out of the post because it took away from my focus on the content. Yes, I love the cover … every time I look at it, I see a lopsided angel (what would Freud say about that?!?)
Jeane, Kathy and Beth – I know the format would be an issue for some readers. Once I started looking at the chapters as discrete articles (like in a magazine essay), I was fine with it. But I understand the need/want for MORE!
Molly – Greenberg has a keen eye for observation, and for connecting seemingly separate thoughts/events.
I really enjoyed this book, but I haven’t written my review yet so I just skimmed your review. I think I liked it so much because I was impressed by how he could pack so much into such short chapters.
I’m not sure about this one – I think the vignette style might frustrate me! Thanks for the review.
I recently got this book, and I’m glad I read your review because I was expecting something akin to a memoir. I think it will be an interesting book, but not at all what I had been expecting. Thanks for the very informative review.
This sounds very interesting. I always find it fascinating to read about other writers’ lives, especially those who have struggled! Great review – I appreciated your comments about the format and tone – it’s always disappointing when a book is different than you expected.
Thanks –
Sue
Thanks for the great review and pointing out the format of the book — I could imagine that would be important info to have!
I’m not totally sure I’m going to add this one to my list, but part of me wants to. I look books that aren’t written in a linear format. And I love reading about life in New York – I hope I’ll get to live there someday or at least spend some time there, the city amazes me. Good review.
I like the book cover…