Requiem for a Paper Bag: Celebrities and Civilians Tell Stories of the Best Lost, Tossed, and Found Items from Around the World

We all love Found magazine, and this book takes it to new depths. Easy-reading, insightful, fun stories by interesting people. Particularly, I was amused at how much all of us "finders" have in common. This is a book you will enjoy passing on to a friend, because you know they'll like it too!

I got this book for a friend who both loves to read and loves to pick up random things she finds on her walks home: napkins with notes written on them, pretty leaves, etc. She really enjoyed the book, and read several stories aloud to us after she got it. The ones she shared were very well written, and having a few "celebrity" essays made it even more interesting. (I particularly like the stories by Andrew Bird and Kori Gardner of Mates of State.) Anyway, the book made a great gift, and I wouldn't mind having it for myself as well! There is a little bit of whimsy in the idea of enjoying things that one finds out in the world and gets to take home to keep. This book captures that very well.

As a long time fan of Found magazine and a devoted reader of Davy Rothbart's writing, I was thrilled to receive Requiem for a Paper Bag as a birthday gift. The stories are as unique as the items the writers find. Some are funny, others touching or poignant. Some tell us more about the writer than the discovered item and maybe that's the point. How much do we say about ourselves through the items we treasure or at least find interesting? I haven't read it all as I'd rather savor the stories slowly as the special treats they are. I also highly recommend Davy's short story collection, The Lone Surfer of Montana Kansas. It has the best writing I've ever found to use in my reading and writing class for teen ex-offenders. "Lie Big" and "How I Got Here" are the best for my students. The title story is a gem that stays with you long after you finish it. I'm hoping for more short stories from Davy but will be happy for now with this new anthology.

This is a great addition to the two Found compendiums. Here's why I think so: Although the contents of the aforementioned are worthy in their own right, they're often accompanied by short notes from the finder or some funny remarks by Davy (at the moment, I'm thinking of the lost poster for the rabbit). These little commentaries make the experience richer because, as social creatures, we want to discuss ideas with others. At the same time, one most likely looks at these books by oneself, and it's difficult to express the humor and heartbreak to the uninitiated over the phone. This book offers an extended dialogue of sorts with like minded individuals.

This book is a great addition to the FOUND magazine line of publications. Different from past found books, this one is a collection of stories from people who have found things, ranging from diaries to porn to simple scraps of paper. The stories collected here are funny, touching, unique, and moving, all at the same time. Even the presentation is inspired, as stories are told in straight text, alongside comics and poems. I just got this book yesterday, and so far my favorite story is from the guy who would go on the create The Wire TV series. His story of his days as a crime reporter in Baltimore and his connection to Bob Dylan was mesmerizing. There is something here for everybody, with contributions from comedians, actors, film-makers, and bloggers. A book you can pick up anytime and just start reading.