Monday, August 10, 2009

FOUND: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items Around The World

Reason Book Chosen

This is my absolute favorite anthology. I wish it was around when I was a teenager to help me make sense of the world, the people in it, and the culture around me.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Davy Rothbart

Publisher: Fireside/Simon & Schuser

ISBN: 0743251148

Copyright Date: 2004

Genre

Nonfiction

About The Author

Davy Rothbart is the creator, editor and publisher of Found Magazine. He is also a filmmaker and has published a book of short stories, The Lone Surger of Montana, Kansas.

Plot Summary

This book is, as the title suggests, a collection of found notes, letters, and items. Originally a magazine, Found and its creator, Davy Rothbart, had so many items sent in from people around the world, that they put out this anthology. Anything is fair game! Love letters, diary entries, emails, flyers, faxes, signs, grocery lists, pictures, and more. The found items are sad, funny, angry and everything in between. Each item includes who found it and where, and each has a title given to it by Found staff. The items read like short stories unto themselves.

Critical Analysis

It gives great insight into what is taboo in our culture, what is funny, sad, and everything in between. It is psychologically gripping and would help any teen understand people better (people, in general, that is). It especially shows how people are all different- what they care about, how they react, and what drives them. It covers love, loss, and angst, and taps into almost every human emotion out there.

Themes/Tags/Issues

Voyeurism, Collective Conscious, Taboo, Culture, Love, Loss, Humor, Sadness, Love, Loss, Human Condition, Angst

Challenging Subject Matter

Privacy

Defense: These items were found (not stolen, etc.)

Reading Level

Any

Interest Level

Any (some content is suitable for children, some for teens, some for adults, and some for all).

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