This is the online home of David G. Schwartz, who Book Review: Beg, Borrow, Steal
Michael Greenberg. Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer’s Life. New York: Other Press, 2009. 240 pages.
Longtime fans of Doctor Who, the British sci-fi tv classic, talk about watching it “from behind the sofa.” Scared out of their wits by the Doctor’s horrifying adversaries like the Daleks, Cybermen, or Autons (but definitely not the Myrka) they nevertheless couldn’t tear themselves away from the screen. Too frightening to watch, but too intriguing to walk away from.
That’s the feeling that an aspiring writer might get reading Michael Greenberg’s Beg, Borrow, Steal. On one hand, the writing is very, very good. On the other, it isn’t exactly paint a hopeful pictures to would-be scribes: Greenberg had some pretty rough times before achieving widespread popularity, and his constant references to his unpublished novel are a reminder of the aura of failure that pervades the life of a writer whose work isn’t read.
The book is a collection of essays Greenberg wrote for the Times Literary Supplement, and they chiefly cover his adventures in New York City, though he reflects back to a stint in Argentina. Greenberg has three modes: reminiscences of his lean days in the 1970s and 1980s, recollections of failed or sub-par writing gigs, and explorations of the city itself, including a ride with a train operator and a visit to a polyamory group.
I’d expect that two groups of people would be interested in Beg, Borrow, Steal: New Yorkers (and those fascinated by New York) and writers (and those fascinated by writing). Greenberg’s New York is a magical cornucopia of people and adventure, gritty and erudite at the same time, at least in the left-leaning intellectual circles that are Greenberg’s natural home. But for people who consider New York just another city (like this reviewer), his writing on writing is ample reason to read this book. It’s illuminating but at the same time extremely discouraging to read that a guy as obviously talented as Greenberg has had such trouble getting his work published. But there’s also hope: after all, you’re reading about his travails, so he was successful.
My favorite essay might be the one about his writing a script for a golf documentary. He’s never played golf and is apparently indifferent to it. Yet he delivers a script full of passion and love. I won’t spoil the punchline, but it could be the epigram for a guide to writing creative non-fiction.
Like I said before, this book will delight New Yorkers and be at once a cautionary tale and inspiration to writers and those empathetic to them. At times you might want to forget about ever putting two words together again, but you won’t be able to stop reading.
Posted in book reviewson 11/06/2009 07:24 am by Dave
11/06/2009 at 10:24 am
Oh My Good-ness Doctor Who! LOL Glad you referenced the old series rather than the new. Two snaps for Dave.
11/06/2009 at 5:56 pm
It doesn’t take too much to get me to drop a Doctor Who reference. I’ve even woven a few of them into some of my columns here and there.
11/07/2009 at 9:26 pm
When I think of New York City in the 1970’s I think of the classic TV cop show Kojak with stars Telly Savalas. It shows the gritty underbelly of New York City as Kojak drives around in a black Buick Regal and busts criminals, drug dealers, pimps and other assorted lowlifes. Out of the numerous cop shows that were on TV in the 1970’s this is one of my favorites. Who loves ya, baby? Telly will always be the king of the Greeks.
11/08/2009 at 12:34 pm
Well. I figured I should try writing a funny review on a very funny book I just finished about Clarence Clemons. The whole review just got erased by this crummy, community computer I am trying to use. It is a very frustrating thing. And even the simple Ctrl+Z command doesn’t even restore anything. Oh Well.
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I’ll simply list some good, new books I’m currently reading instead. BTW: I ordered this ‘Beg, Borrow, Steal’ book (as well as a batch of new ‘Windows 7′ books that I’m looking forward to getting).
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Anyway…since my review failed, I’ll just make this list below.
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* Empire of Illusion: The End of Lieracy and the Triumph of Spectacle 2009
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* Big Man: The Real Life and Tall Tales of Clarence Clemens 2009
(Springsteen’s Sax Player. A very funny book and an unusual sytle of writing).
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* Create Your Own Economy: The Path to Prosperity in a Disorganized World 2009
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* Before the Big Bang: A Prehistory of the Universe 2009
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* Green Metropolis: Living Smaller, Closer and Driving Less 2009
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* Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music 2009
(I read the review here and figured I had to keep up with this subject and learned a lot about how the music biz has changed in the last 10 years).
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River of Shadows: Muybridge and the Technological Wild West 2004
(A good book about the West from 1860-1990 telling about how the communications, transportation developments…along with Muybridge’s developments in photography lead to the eventual creation of motion pictures, etc. Not an easy read…but definitely 60% is worthwhile).
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Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content 2002
(Even though this book is 7 years old, the tech tips still apply and aren’t at all out of date. The concepts on creating content will always remain current. This is a real good book).
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* Video Blogging for Dummies
(A good tech-guide on a subject which I intend to get involved with very soon).
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* The Joke Is Over: Bruised Memories of Gonzo, Hunter and Me 2007
(Hunter’s Artist-Partner tells his side of the story. This is the 8th non-fiction HST book I’ve read this month. Quite honestly…I’ve had my fill of HST for awhile. I lost a lot of respect for him over the years…due to him not evolving much as a human being, treating people horribly, continuing to behave like a spoiled-brat Icon and worst of all – continuing to take LSD after 1971…but, he is still an important person in American Literature. This is a good book).
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* Ipodepedia: The Ultimate Ipod Resource 2007
(No. I don’t own an I-Pod, but I might someday. It can’t hurt to know how they work).
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* Blackberry Storm for Dummies 2009
(See above).
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* Laptops for Dummies 2008
(Now, most people would wonder why a person would need to read a book about how to use a laptop. My 64 year old neighbor (who has 3 PhD’s thinks I’m weird when he sees me get these kind of basic guidebooks). Still, there is a lot to be learned from (seemingly) basic books like this. Especially when planning to buy a laptop someday soon.
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Just for fun…after reading those 8 HST books…I decided to go back and re-read these two Thompson books.
* Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga 1966
* Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey Into the Heart of the American Dream 1971
(I hadn’t read this since it first come out in ‘Rolling Stone Magazine’. This book really IS a classic. It still reads well).
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Okay. That’s the end of my current book-list. Having no computer and np TV gives me plenty of time to read. I wish I could have simply posted the ‘Big Man’ review instead….but this computer erased it.
11/10/2009 at 6:49 pm
OTHER NEW BOOKS:
The Library: An Illustrated History (2009)
[A book with beautiful illustrations and photos].
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Nevada’s Historic Buildings: A Cultural Legacy (2009)
[Shows and talks about old buildings in Carson City, Reno, Virginia City, Boulder, Henderson and Las Vegas. Describes the Las Concha Motel as formerly being on the site of the Encore
though it was actually about 150 feet south of the Riviera. Interesting book in spite of some mis-information].
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Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once Common Things Passing Us By (2009)
[Interesting and sometimes funny. Talks about things soon to bite-the-dust...like payphones, CDs, pennies, mercury thermometers, evening news, writing letters, typewriters, getting lost, , boom boxes, video stores and sadness].