My first
Jonathan Tropper experience was with his book titled “How to Talk to a
Widower.” It was funny and edgy and I became an instant fan. His book
“This is Where I Leave You” does not disappoint.
This story follows the currently erractic life of Judd Foxman who learns on page one that his father has passed away, leaving behind a dying request for the rest of his family to sit shiva. It's not a particularly good time in Judd's life for such a request. Not only is the Foxman family totally dysfunctional, his life specifically moves dysfunction onto a distant planet all its own. His heart has recently been ripped out of his chest when he discovers that wife is having an affair with his boss. You would think that hearing the news would be bad enough, but he walks in on a sexual tryst in his own house – in his own bed to be more precise. After coming home early to surprise Jen on her birthday and carrying a cake, candles already ablaze, with him, he is more than surprised when he opens the bedroom door. Needless to say, Judd makes certain the cake doesn't go to waste.
Being booted from both his home and his job, Judd finds himself living in a dark, dank rented basement of a quiet Chinese couple. Lying around day after day on a musty daybed feeling sorry for himself has now been cut short. He not only has to be present to bury his father, but is now forced to join his mother and three siblings to sit shiva for seven days. His mother, Dr. Hillary Foxman, a shrink who wrote a book twenty-five years ago on childrearing – using him and his siblings’ problems as focus chapters - is still on top of her game. His seriously overwhelmed and lonely sister Wendy is the oldest and married to Barry, a consultant who spends much more time on his blackberry or the road than with his wife and three children, six-year-old Ryan, three-year-old Cole, and six-month-old Serena. Following Wendy is his brother Paul who took over the family sporting goods business when his father could no longer handle it. He is married to Alice, Judd’s high school sweetheart. Not only is there tension between Paul and Alice as they try to conceive, but there is some heavy baggage that exists between Paul and Judd that has kept them apart for years. Judd came next and not only is he jobless and homeless; he’s just learned that his soon to be ex-wife is pregnant with the baby they were never allowed to have. Then comes Phillip, the baby of the family and the Foxman playboy who has never grown up or taken responsibility for his actions. He willingly brings Tracy his fiancé who is his much older, much wiser life coach, to round out the crazy mix.
During the eighty-four consecutive hours the group is stuck under one roof meeting with a community of mourners revolving through the open front door, they confront each other with humor, anxiety, anger, grief, longing, and humanity. They are not your typical American family, but they are, regardless of what they believe, a family in need of each other.
“This is Where I Leave You” is an enjoyable read from the first page to the last. Pick up a copy today.
This story follows the currently erractic life of Judd Foxman who learns on page one that his father has passed away, leaving behind a dying request for the rest of his family to sit shiva. It's not a particularly good time in Judd's life for such a request. Not only is the Foxman family totally dysfunctional, his life specifically moves dysfunction onto a distant planet all its own. His heart has recently been ripped out of his chest when he discovers that wife is having an affair with his boss. You would think that hearing the news would be bad enough, but he walks in on a sexual tryst in his own house – in his own bed to be more precise. After coming home early to surprise Jen on her birthday and carrying a cake, candles already ablaze, with him, he is more than surprised when he opens the bedroom door. Needless to say, Judd makes certain the cake doesn't go to waste.
Being booted from both his home and his job, Judd finds himself living in a dark, dank rented basement of a quiet Chinese couple. Lying around day after day on a musty daybed feeling sorry for himself has now been cut short. He not only has to be present to bury his father, but is now forced to join his mother and three siblings to sit shiva for seven days. His mother, Dr. Hillary Foxman, a shrink who wrote a book twenty-five years ago on childrearing – using him and his siblings’ problems as focus chapters - is still on top of her game. His seriously overwhelmed and lonely sister Wendy is the oldest and married to Barry, a consultant who spends much more time on his blackberry or the road than with his wife and three children, six-year-old Ryan, three-year-old Cole, and six-month-old Serena. Following Wendy is his brother Paul who took over the family sporting goods business when his father could no longer handle it. He is married to Alice, Judd’s high school sweetheart. Not only is there tension between Paul and Alice as they try to conceive, but there is some heavy baggage that exists between Paul and Judd that has kept them apart for years. Judd came next and not only is he jobless and homeless; he’s just learned that his soon to be ex-wife is pregnant with the baby they were never allowed to have. Then comes Phillip, the baby of the family and the Foxman playboy who has never grown up or taken responsibility for his actions. He willingly brings Tracy his fiancé who is his much older, much wiser life coach, to round out the crazy mix.
During the eighty-four consecutive hours the group is stuck under one roof meeting with a community of mourners revolving through the open front door, they confront each other with humor, anxiety, anger, grief, longing, and humanity. They are not your typical American family, but they are, regardless of what they believe, a family in need of each other.
“This is Where I Leave You” is an enjoyable read from the first page to the last. Pick up a copy today.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting on posts.