Book Review: This is Where I Leave You

Jonathan Tropper, author of This is Where I Leave You either has a really crazy home life, or a great imagination. This was one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. I literally was laughing out loud atleast every other page. The novel begins with the death of Judd Foxman's father. I know, doesn't sound very funny. But of course what happens when there is a death in the family? The whole family comes back home and whenever that happens, there will always be craziness and drama. Poor Judd along with dealing with his grief is also dealing with the consequences of finding his wife in their bed with his boss (a Howard Stern type shock jock). His father's dying wish was that he and his 3 siblings come home to sit shiva.( A Jewish tradition of mourning together in the company of family and friends for 7 days.)

This book deals with a lot of serious topics including death, infertility, sibling rivalry and adultery. Somehow Mr.Tropper has created a family so real, that I felt as if I was right there sitting shiva with them. His characters are honest and flawed. Some are hopeful about what the future can bring, and some have settled. When you aren't laughing your butt off at some of the antics, you will find yourself taking a breath as you recognize your own self, your own family or marriage in his charactres. Here is a quote from the book jacket that sums it up perfectly.

"This is Where I Leave You is Jonathan Trooper's most accomplished work to date, a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family and ties that bind- whether we like it or not."

I am super excited to check out more books by Mr. Tropper. However, next on my reading list is a book that has been much buzzed about in the blogosphere. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez may just be the new big thing. Believe it or not, it is fiction, but based on a real place. It takes place before the Civil War at a summer resort where white men vacationed with their slave mistresses. WTF?? Yep, that's what I said. How on earth you discover that odd but true piece of historical information I will never know, but I know I'm intrigued. Until next time.