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The Destiny Thief
The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life | Richard Russo
10 posts | 6 read | 15 to read
A master of the novel, short story, and memoir, the best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Everybody's Fool now gives us his very first collection of personal essays, ranging throughout writing and reading and living. In these nine essays, Richard Russo provides insight into his life as a writer, teacher, friend, and reader. From a commencement speech he gave at Colby College, to the story of how an oddly placed toilet made him reevaluate the purpose of humor in art and life, to a comprehensive analysis of Mark Twain's value, to his harrowing journey accompanying a dear friend as she pursued gender-reassignment surgery, The Destiny Thief reflects the broad interests and experiences of one of America's most beloved authors. Warm, funny, wise, and poignant, the essays included here traverse Russo's writing life, expanding our understanding of who he is and how his singular, incredibly generous mind works. An utter joy to read, they give deep insight into the creative process from the prospective of one of our greatest writers.
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

This book gets mixed reviews on Goodreads from people who don‘t like that some essays are pulled from other places, but I didn‘t mind that at all; I hadn‘t read them before. Russo discusses his teaching and his personal life as it relates to his writing. Weirdly, since I‘m not a writer, I found his discussion of why writers often avoid the 3rd person omniscient voice and the freedom that pov can allow to be especially interesting.

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Smrloomis
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I ❤️ the Waffle House story...

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Smrloomis
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Having just finished the first essay, I am loving this book. Can‘t remember how I stumbled across it but so far so good.

Ncostell I love Richard Russo, didn‘t realize he had a book of essays. I‘ll have to check it out! 5y
Smrloomis @Ncostell I‘ve never read him but I‘m enjoying this so far. I‘d be interested to know how it compares with his fiction. Must have seen this on here because otherwise I wouldn‘t have known anything about it! 5y
Ncostell @Smrloomis My favorite of his is 5y
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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D is for Destiny...

I went to a late screening of Shazam last night and I got home at 1am... I‘m finding it hard to get out of bed and go to work 😂

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Very funny!!

carriepaige Love Richard Russo! Just read this one recently. 6y
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bell7
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In this collection of essays, Richard Russo ruminates on writing and life. If you're a writer or love his books, you may enjoy this glimpse into Russo's thoughts on the craft. I very much enjoyed his essays on humor and the omnipresent narrator, though all of them were very good. I didn't like the one fiction book of his that I've read, but this convinced me to try again.

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carriepaige
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Accidental book purchase! Stumbled upon this signed first edition of Richard Russo‘s new book! He‘s been a favorite of mine ever since I juuuuust missed having him as a professor at Colby 😩. #liberalartsnerd #colbycollege #richardrusso

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AlexGeorge
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An absolute joy, from start to finish. I loved every word of this. So smart, and so full of wisdom, humanity, and wit. I wish I could read it all again for the first time. I was about to name some of my favorite essays, but then I realized I didn‘t want to pick. Writers will especially love this book, but everyone should read it.

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AlexGeorge
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“A writer‘s truest self hides in the same dark terrain where self-doubt and anxiety dwell - those dread whisperers - and it‘s that self they constantly assail.”

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mrozzz
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Ahhh what a pleasure to hear Richard Russo ponder (with fellow author Eddie Joyce, left) a little bit of life, a little of everything, and also his new book of essays.

I really fell for Russo‘s style a couple years (?) ago when I heard about Everybody‘s Fool & decided it would be worth reading the first installment, Nobody‘s Fool. I loved those characters and the intense banality of the town. Thinking back it‘s a bit like Gilmore Girls...

TiredLibrarian I read his memoir about his mother; funny and heartbreaking. Never read any of his fiction, though, and I really should. 6y
mrozzz I‘ve only read the 2, but there‘s something SO appealing about his accessible fictional worlds. @TiredLibrarian ☺️ 6y
RaimeyGallant I thought they were levitating. 6y
See All 14 Comments
TheWordJar I‘ve only read Straight Man, but I loved it! Nobody‘s Fool sounds great! (I thought the same thing @RaimeyGallant! 😂) 6y
BarbaraBB I also like him and always want to read more of his books but somehow I haven‘t read one for years. The ones you mention for example. I read and enjoyed 6y
Reggie I really liked Straight Man. It‘s about the drama of an English department and you think how bad can it be? But it was hilarious. Also his prose makes me feel like I don‘t speak English sometimes. Lol just so good. 6y
mrozzz @TheWordJar I LOVED Sully. I hope you pick up the sequel, 6y
mrozzz I have a couple others waiting for me! @BarbaraBB like Empire Falls, and Risk Pool. His writing feels so.... homey? 6y
mrozzz Omg I need to pick that up too! @Reggie 6y
iamasuburbanmom where do u live that you have such good author events 6y
mrozzz @iamasuburbanmom I work in NYC so I go often after work! 6y
iamasuburbanmom Great events!! 6y
79 likes2 stack adds14 comments