Found #7

by Davy Rothbart

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Davy Rothbart's magazine Found is dedicated to discarded notes, letters, flyers, photos, lists, and drawings found and sent in by readers. The magazine spawned a best-selling book, Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World, published in April 2004. A second collection was published in May 2006. The magazine is published annually and co-edited by Rothbart's friend Jason Bitner.

Rothbart, a former Chicago Bulls ticket scalper, often tours the country to share finds and invite others to share their finds with him. His brother, musician Peter Rothbart, often accompanies him on these tours.

The Lone Surfer of Montana, Kansas, a collection of Rothbart's short-stories, was published in August 2005 by Simon & Schuster. A shorter version of the same book was previously self-published by Rothbart's own production company, 21 Balloons Productions (named after Rothbart's favorite book, The 21 Balloons, by William Pène du Bois). An Italian edition, Il Surfista Solitario del Montana, was published in 2007 by Coniglio Editore. In 2008, actor Steve Buscemi optioned the book for film adaption, to be developed by Olive Productions; Buscemi has written the screenplay and plans to direct.

Reviews

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of Found #7 is "Feel a Connection," so the issue is full of love letters, suicide notes, photos of folks kissing and snuggling, and other detritus of relationships.

I bought two copies of Found #7. I was going to give one to my nephew for his 12th birthday and read the second copy, then give it away when I was done. After reading the entire issue, I am not sure my nephew is ready for the found notes dealing with butt sex. Maybe when he's 15...

I think Found is so awesome! I love reading the notes and letters folks wrote never thinking anyone other than the intended audience would be exposed to them. I love the rawness of emotion, the honesty. I like looking at the found photos too (especially since I have been known to collect photos of strangers found on sidewalks and in trash piles). Found satisfies my inner Nosy Nelly, while also leaving me wanting more.

My favorite item in this issue is the three page, 42 point list of why a particular couple has decided to never breed. My favorite item on the list is #13 "Terra isn't stable enough." (Other good reasons: #19 "They may be very unattractive," #21 "Terra would get saggy breasts," and #s 8 and 42 "They could be conjoined twins.")

[Nativeabuse · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of these are 11/10. Probably some of the coolest things I have ever read in my entire life. I keep picking these magazines up again and even after I was sure I read every page, I still seem to find new things in them that I didn't notice before.

It stays funny over time, so it pays for itself several times over.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found letters, notes, shopping lists, photos, and drawings. Funny and disturbing, as always.