Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002)

I have been a fan for years and, as usual, I am entranced and delighted by his work. I listened to this as an audiobook and had the added pleasure of the author reading the material. I wasnt sure if i would enjoy pages of diary entries, but they flow together in a narrative that is funny, sad, disturbing and strangely hopeful. A new Sedaris book is something I truly look forward to and this one does not disappoint.

It's clear Mr. Sadaris is creative and insightful, but this diary format is disjointed. I did come to hate his father, so it did yield some character development.

Was it clunky at first, getting better as he honed his craft? Yes. Was the transformation awesome to watch! Hell, yes!

Says what a lot of people think. Refreshing

But, hey, David Sedaris!

I like to think that if I were as an accomplished diarist as Sedaris, I too would release my diaries. But first, I should have written them. A long look into someone else's life is always fascinating to me, much like a type of voyeurism, but socially acceptable. I find I have much to relate to in Sedaris' diaries. Not all of it of course, but enough that I can empathize with his conflicts with family, money problems, self doubt and small successes. I enjoy that he can see the funny sides of absurd situations, perhaps faster than I ever can. It makes one's life lighter. Laughing at the absurdities of one's life makes everything more bearable.

the observations he expresses are worth reading

Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) by David Sedaris is very highly recommended collection of entries from his diaries. This is an edited compilation selected by Sedaris of his diaries. "I’m including only a small fraction. An entirely different book from the same source material could make me appear nothing but evil, selfish, generous, or even, dare I say, sensitive. On any given day I am all these things and more: stupid, cheerful, misanthropic, cruel, narrow-minded, open, petty - the list goes on and on." A different edit would have changed the entire book. In fact, Sedaris started out planning to just share the funny diary entries when his editor suggested that he go back to the early entries and share things that weren't as funny. He did this and it changed the book, as he then decided to eliminate many of the funny entries. The result is a compelling collection that follows Sedaris's life from a struggling drug-abusing drop out to a celebrated humorous author. For his diary entries Sedaris notes: "What I prefer recording at the end - or, more recently, at the start - of my day are remarkable events I have observed (fistfights, accidents, a shopper arriving with a full cart of groceries in the express lane), bits of overheard conversation, and startling things people have told me." The wonderful thing about these tidbits of observation is that they often capture societal opinions during current events of the times. For those of us who are around the same age, the entries pull you back to that time and what was happening then, as well as what you were doing. Fans of Sedaris's writing will clearly see the inspiration for some of his stories. His wit and humor, along with the gifted way he has with words and descriptions, is here, and many will recognize the source material for some of his stories. But while he is often hilarious, he is also honest. There are many poignant revelations and emotional situations presented along with the expected funny remarks, stories, and observations. Theft by Finding is not to be missed. The title of the book is based on a term used in the U.K. where, if you discover something of value and keep it, it is called "theft by finding." Sedaris's acute eye and ear for actions and dialogue is clearly evident as he recorded many events and conversations that he "found" or overheard, along with the more direct conversations and encounters he experienced. Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Little, Brown and Company.

Theft By Finding, David Sedaris David Sedaris has compiled a book consisting of his diary entries from 1977 to 2002. This is the first volume. A second is to follow. In the past, I have appreciated his dry humor and enjoyed his poignant stories. This audio book, however, was beyond my ability to complete. Although he reads it well, in his deadpan manner, the subject matter and language is simply too low class and vulgar; the people he encounters and describes are simply all bottom feeders. Everyone is troubled, doped up, hostile and violent. He denigrates everyone on the basis of color, religion and sexual orientation. His portrayal of his life experiences in the first 2 ½ hours that I was able to listen to him was beyond what would be acceptable in polite company. I am not sure why he selected the particular incidents he did, perhaps for shock effect, but for me, it really fell flat. The content simply got too gross. Perhaps someone more open minded will enjoy it. Perhaps as the author gets more mature and more grounded, with a realistic direction for his life, his entries in the diaries will be more palatable, rather than a sample of a variety of trashy anecdotes which are unpleasant to learn about. For those faint of heart, stay clear.