The Destiny Thief

Essays on Writing, Writers and Life

By: Richard Russo

Narrated by: Richard Russo

"It turns out that Russo the nonfiction writer is a lot like Russo the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. He is affably disagreeable, wry, idiosyncratic, vulnerably bighearted, a craftsman of lubricated sentences."—Jay Fielden, New York Times Book Review

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.

Required (reading), listening!

Being a life long frustrated storyteller I constantly search how to find my voice. The Destiny Thief is a wonderful picture window into the stories of the author. Richard Russo explains the reason he voiced his characters in the way he chose. In addition he talks about who influenced him as a writer. All In all a wonderful book I’m sure I’ll read again.

Could Be A Primer For Readers

Though this is a memoir of writing and the writer, it is an excellent study for readers.
If I write, it is private and for me. Even so, writing well is hard work. Instead of going into things like active vs passive voice, Russo talks about what the writer is trying to say. That, in and of itself is often a mystery that only gets revealed in failure and re-starting. His effort reveals insight that wasn’t there at the beginning of his work.
He uses Dickens as an illustration of a writer becoming an author. There is, to my thinking m, a huge chasm between the two. This book looks into that chasm without staring into the abyss.

As good as his novels, highly recommend!

I was blown away by how much these essays moved me. I only began reading Richard Russo’s books a few weeks ago but I have been binge listening since I started listening to Nobody’s Fool last week. This series of essays really nailed it for me, and read in his own voice it’s even more touching. I highly recommend these for all readers, and even would be writers. Very insightful and very moving to be let inside his own life and motivations so generously.

Russo is a genius!

I have read all of his books over the years and these essays add to his journey in the most tangible way!

The Destiny Thief

I couldn't get enough. At the end I broke down and sobbed, too. Not in Bulgaria but in Portland, Maine. When you read the words of Springsteen my mind floated on a visual of our country today. Our beautiful country enduring the eroding of a vile president. Once when visiting in Austin, Tex. I went to a Congregational Church and heard the song Finlandia. I am reminded of that right now as I finished reading this book. Achingly sad. Our country being split by ego and evil. Okay. I get it. Anyone reading my review right now might ask what this has to do with the book. Russo, you write constructively and helpfully and with personal passion. I burst out laughing at parts. I contemplated deeply at others. Most of all, the book inspired. I'll leave it at that.