Theft by Finding

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 by David Sedaris, 514 pages

In this hefty volume, bestselling essayist Sedaris offers up selections from his personal diaries, written between 1977 and 2002 (apparently, a second volume is planned, spanning 2003-2016). The diary entries — which sometimes ramble on for pages, and sometimes consist of just a sentence or two — start with his years of part-time jobs, ratty apartments, and long nights at the IHOP, and show his slow transition into a successful writer in a serious relationship. As a fan of Sedaris' work, I was transfixed with his evolving writing style, which grew more confident and fluid as he got older and more successful. As always, this book was peppered with his trademark wry sense of humor, and the audiobook (read by the author) was particularly excellent. Can't wait for the next volume!