So I had heard about This is Where I Leave You from quite a few reliable sources and I had heard about Jonathan Tropper in general from quite a few reliable sources so of course Tropper and this book were on my ever growing TBR list. However, I knew that if I wasn't pushed to read this book I probably never would because even though it was on my TBR list I have so many other books that looked much more appealing to me! So when my book club decided that this would be the September book I was excited!!! Just what I needed, a little push in the direction of Tropper and now I am hooked!!! One of my earlier mentioned "Reliable Sources" is a fellow book blogger Greg from The New Dork Review. Greg is a big Tropper fan and he said in one of his reviews on Tropper that he is the mans equivalent of Chick Lit. Well, I couldn't agree with you more Greg. This is 100% Dude Lit for sure. Tropper writes an easy to read witty story full of family angst, self image, sex, and betrayal (throw in some Louboutins, and a Dolce and Gabbana handbag and you have full fledged Chick Lit). Now don't think for a moment comparing this book to Chick Lit makes this book fluff. It isn't, it is a touching look in to a dysfunctional family and realizing that it really isn't that dysfunctional. Tropper also builds very 3 dimensional characters, and while the book is easy to read it isn't mindless reading.
In This is Where I Leave You you meet Judd Foxman at the lowest point in his life. His dearly loved wife just cheated on him with his Alpha male boss (think Howard Stern). His Dad passed away after a fight with stomach cancer. And to top it all off his Mother has called to tell her children that their fathers dying wish was to have the whole non-religious family sit Shiva. The last thing Judd wants to do is spend 7 days locked in his childhood home with his body image obsessed older sister Wendy (and her Wall Street husband and 3 loud obnoxious kids), his self pitting older brother Paul, who holds Judd accountable for the end of his baseball career (along with his wife Alice who is desperate for a child), his younger brother Phillip who is a play boy with out direction in his life (and his 2 times older girlfriend/therapist), not to mentioned his sexually charged Therapist Mother who may or may not have become a lesbian. On top of this week from hell his soon-to-be ex-wife shows up to tell Judd she is pregnant. I mean come on, this book is jam packed with crazy!!! It is like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and it is worth every page!!! I promise you will LOL at least once if not continuously though this whole story!!
I don't know if I would recommend this to book clubs. It is full of shocking and graphic sexual scenes and where that doesn't ever bother me (or my book club) at all I could see some people getting a little up in arms over the whole thing. However, I would recommend this book to someone that wants to read something different for a change. I would recommend it to just about any guy, because I would bet most would love it and tell you that this book pegs the male point of view.
BOOK vs. MOVIE: So this book has been snatched up for a movie in 2011. I think that the movie will be nothing short of hilarious. I will be purchasing $10 tickets and $50 popcorn to check this one out for sure.
RATING: 4 stars
3 More reviews on this book:
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
{Borrowed from a friend}
ISBN 0452296366
Pages 352
If you liked This is Where I Leave You then try: Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
