Davy Rothbart publishes letters, notes, leaflets and other effluvia gathered from the streets of cities and towns across America. While some might see it as trash, every page provides both humorous and poignant glimpses into the life of strangers in an accidental, random, yet beautiful way. Rothbart and his little brother collected most of the found materials for the first issue of the magazine. The three follow up issues are filled with submissions sent in by strangers from all over the country. Rothbart's recent tours across the country have inspired other enthusiastic scavengers, who now scan the sidewalks in search of found treasures to send in to the magazine.
Found five is more of the best of that which is lost and then found. There are lost love-letters, angry notes, and over-simplified escape plans scribbled onto napkins. Most of the found writing revolves this time around a central theme: crime. The editors state the theme is "prison," but it seems more broad. There are also notes about drunk driving, alternatives to drinking, and the major focus of the issue, the epic tale of Elmer L. Jacobson, told in a found collection of letters. The letters' section is also full of mail sent to Found by readers who are in prison. An equally sad and funny issue, and probably my favorite so far. My mom read it the other day and was cracking up across the room. What more endorsement do you need?