Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life

 

Michael Greenberg, a columnist for the Times Literary Supplement, produced a very entertaining and at times poignant book when he compiled stories from his Freelance column to create "Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life." Each of the 44 chapters is a short story approximately 4 pages long, making this book quite a fast read.

The title and artistic rendering of a book on the cover are what first caught my eye and convinced me to pick this book up. I was led to believe from the description on its jacket that it had more to do with Greenberg's life as a writer as opposed to his personal life. After reading a few stories though, I found this to be incorrect. "Beg, Borrow, Steal" are the writings of someone who is inspired by the occurrences in a New York City resident's life as well as by the Big Apple itself. Only a handful of the chapters actually pertain to his life as a writer, which includes the at times hilarious "Everything I Hate in Fiction," a relatable tale for every writer of being utterly rejected by an editor.

Even though the stories didn't have as much to say about the technicalities of writing as I expected, I still enjoyed them thoroughly. One of my favorites was "Dachshund" about Greenberg's dog named Eli (a name I have a particular affinity for). The story follows Greenberg day by day as he tries to find a new home for his furry friend due to Eli's dislike of children, which does not exclude Greenberg's 4-year-old son.

Another funny story was "The Importance of Pronouns," a story about the night Greenberg's wife brings home a transexual coworker for dinner. Greenberg sets about taking vigorous notes on their visitor in order to "get his language right" and is promptly told that it is "her" not "his" (thus the title). 

There is the occasional poignant story as well including accounts of his difficult relationships with his father and brothers, his divorce, new marriage and daughter's manic breakdown. After reading "Beg, Borrow, Steal," you feel like you've really come to know the author as not only a writer but also as a father, husband, brother, son and friend. Greenberg is a writer to take note of for his honestly portrayed compelling tales.