Book Review & Giveaway: This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009

Book Review & Giveaway: This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

Author: Jonathan Tropper

Publisher: Dutton/Penguin

ISBN #: 978-0-525-35127-8

Type: Fiction:General

Pages: 339 Hardback

Publish: August 6, 2009

Website: www.jonathantropper.com

Purchase: $17.13 - (HERE)

The Story

“The death of Judd Foxman’s father marks the first time that the entire Foxman family-including Judd’s mother, brothers, and sister-have been together in years. Conspicuously absent: Judd’s wife, Jen, whose fourteen-month affair with Judd’s radio-shock-jock boss has recently become painfully public.

Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch’s dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family.

As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it’s a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. All of which would be hard enough without the bomb Jen dropped the day Judd’s father died: She’s pregnant.”

(Synopsis from the front cover of This Is Where I Leave You)

The Review

jonathan tropper The back cover of this hardback reflects praise including, “outrageous,” “smart,” “winning,” “utterly magnificent,” “genius,” “darkly comic,” “wickedly observant,” “brutally honest,” “pageturning,” and “engaging.” What my review will say is, “Yes, all of the above.” Not a one of those praise words do I disagree with! I DEVOURED THIS BOOK! There is such honesty in which this book is written, that it entranced me. The characters embraced me into their world of heartbreak and redemption. This was a book that I couldn’t wait to crack back open and discover the next turn of events in the lives of the Foxman Family.

Rarely do I read a story that so accurately reflects both the humor and sorrow lying in the hearts of an American family. Like other families, the Foxmans have hidden hurts and resentments that divide the siblings to their own separate walks of life. The mother’s struggle to bring her family together to reconnect, leads to the opening of old wounds as well as avenues of forgiveness. Tropper delivers both a family’s history and present-day experience in one well-timed, original story that made me feel like the fly on the wall… observing it all. And, there’s not a piece of it that I wanted to miss.

I have read more than my fair share of books about broken marriages and family heartbreaks from a heroine’s point of view. The protagonist in this story is Judd Foxman. He led me to understand how a man may experience the real heartaches of life and what made him “tick.” And, how I rooted for Judd as he navigated his way through a cheating wife, the loss of his career, the death of his father, and the survival of his dysfunctional, yet endearing, family in a 7-day shiva mourning period. By the time that I was 3/4 of the way through the book, I knew that I would come to miss reading about the Foxman Family and had hoped for a movie version of this fantastic book. Good news… it was optioned by Warner Brothers, so that is a possibility.

Although the ending of this saga was perfect, one can always hope for a sequel to know what became of Judd’s life (can you see me with fingers crossed?).

So, what could I add to the adjectives on the back cover?

“Fan-Freakin’-Tastic!”

“Radiant.”

“Real.”

“Splendid.”

“Candid.”

“A Best of 2009!”

Lucky Readers… A Giveaway!

You will want to get yourself a copy of this one… this will be one of the most talked about books of the year! I totally lucked out and scored a giveaway copy! AND, not just a copy, but A SIGNED COPY! (Lucky you!)

So… here are the rules for the contest…

Contest Opens Today & runs through August 19th, 2009

* all contest entries are due in by 5pm PST *

* 1 entry for just your comment below *

* +2 entries if your entry includes a humorous story about a family gathering *

* +1 entry if you comment about this contest on your blog *

* +1 entry if you “tweet” about the giveaway *

* +1 entry if you follow me on facebook or twitter *

* +1 entry if you follow Jonathan Tropper on twitter *

* +1 entry if you are a subscriber on Google Reader *

The Rating

By now, you have the general idea that I LOVED the book. What I wanted to make sure that I shared for my “PG” or “PG-13″ readers is that this book is written for adults and does contain adult (sexual) content and mature language. For me, this only enhanced the truth of the story and didn’t bother me at all. However, for those who prefer to avoid that, please keep this in mind. If none of that stuff bothers you, I highly recommend it!

This book will most definitely be on A Novel Menagerie’s Best of 2009 List and I can’t wait to share this book with my best friends. If you don’t win a copy, grab yourself a copy and enjoy it on your summer break!

My rating, genre:Fiction-General, is a 10 out of 10!

The Tour

Unfortunately, Jonathan Tropper is not coming to a city near me. But, he may be coming to your neck of the woods. I thought I would share his tour information with you if you’d like to meet him and get a signed copy!

Aug 11 – Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA

Aug 12 – Borders, Boston, MA

Aug 13 – Barnes & Noble, New York, NY

Aug 18 – Book Passage, San Francisco, CA

Aug 19 – A Great Good Place For Books, Oakland, CA

Aug 20 – University Bookstore, Seattle, WA

Aug 25 – Georgia Center For The Book, Atlanta, GA

Aug 27 – Inkwood Books, Tampa, FL

Sep 1 – The Odessey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA

Sep 3 – Politics & Prose, Washington, DC

Sep 10 – Barnes & Noble, Glastonbury, CT

52 Comments

| Posted in Books Books Books

52 Responses

Sandy

August 5th, 2009 at 3:40 am

There is nothing quite like the chaos of a family gathering. It has built-in angst and humor for sure! Every other year, 15 of us get together in one big house, somewhere in the US, to commune, fight, and nurture our decades-long feuds. I have one particular cousin who knows everything, criticizes everyone, picks fights, and bullys the weak. Ugh. If it weren’t for him, these reunions actually might be quite enjoyable. Please enter me. I love reading about other families’ frailties! snawrot at cfl dot rr dot com
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Gdansk #5 =-.
Pam Rivera

August 5th, 2009 at 4:28 am

This sounds like such fun!

Follower and subscribe via google reader.

Any family gathering that involves my brother and games ends up in falling off your seat, rolling on the floor laughter. He is super competitive and HATES to lose but is so funny as it happens. His competitiveness then brings out the competitor in all of us as it’s so funny to see his frustrations mount! One Easter, the cousins and their significant others were in his basement playing Tribond, girls against the guys as always. We had a question that we talked about forever and I could see him getting happier and happier as he thought we were getting further and further away from the answer. Suddenly, the answer appeared to me and I yelled it out. You would have thought I crashed his car by his reaction. I think he scared my little cousin’s boyfriend! It was the funniest thing ever.
rhapsodyinbooks

August 5th, 2009 at 4:31 am

Well, there’s nothing “funny” about my family gatherings so unless you add a point for “frightening” I’ll skip that one!!! But I am a subscriber on Google Reader!!!

Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of “The Gods Themselves” by Isaac Asimov =-.
Anna

August 5th, 2009 at 5:18 am

Wow! I must check out this book. I love family drama…detracts from my own, ya know?

I don’t have any humorous family gathering stories. It’s mostly drama these days.

Anyway, I’ve added the giveaway to my blog sidebar, I follow you on Twitter, and I subscribe through Google Reader.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..OUR LONGEST DAYS by Sandra Koa Wing (editor) =-.
Kathy

August 5th, 2009 at 5:20 am

Thanks for the fantastic giveaway. This isn’t that funny, but one time when we went on a trip with my parents, my in-laws and our nephew, our son took a “fart machine” with him. He got his younger cousin to carry it in his pocket and he kept the remote control. Every time he’d use it around my mother-in-law, she’d complain and say, “Can’t you smell it?” I guess you can tell we’re not a very lively family. I subscribe in Google Reader and follow Jonathan Tropper on Twitter.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
Rebecca Cox

August 5th, 2009 at 6:26 am

This book sounds wonderful. And it sounds like something I would get into. The craziest family gathering I ever attended was actually my husbands family. We went to Montana for a family reunion, but since everyone was gathering, they decided to include a wedding, a christening and a 50th wedding anniversary all the same week. Of course, it snowed in June, no one but the locals had appropriate clothes and everyone showed up to said events with borrowed and somewhat ill fitting coats, jackets, sweaters, long johns, and I even had to borrow a snow suit one day for an outdoor picnic. I am from South Alabama and 38 degrees in June was NOT warm enough for an outdoor picnic. The whole week was a madhouse and I am not sure if anyone actually got home with their own clothes or not.

I tweeted and follow on twitter.

I follow you on google reader.
Florinda

August 5th, 2009 at 10:18 am

No funny family stories, but this book is already on my wish list! (If I don’t win a copy here, I’m probably going to buy it for my Kindle anyway .)

I subscribe in Google Reader and follow you on Twitter.
.-= Florinda´s last blog ..Where it all happens: SCENE OF THE BLOG! =-.
Menagerie

August 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Thanks for entering, guys! This is a great book!

Good Luck!
DarcyO

August 5th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

This sounds like a great book. Count me in!
I am a follower with Google Reader.
I tweeted at http://twitter.com/darcy1956/statuses/3154680467 and follow you on Twitter.
Sheila DeChantal

August 5th, 2009 at 5:47 pm

Great review! Thanks for sharing this. Love the interview too.
.-= Sheila DeChantal´s last blog ..Morning Meandering…. =-.
Sharon Walling

August 5th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Sounds like a great book. Almost sounds like it could be a memoir instead of fiction.

In regards to something funny:

When I was younger, it was Thanksgiving Day, and my dad had gone to pick up my grandmother 1/2 hour away. This left my mom and I at home and the turkey was in the oven, and I was in my bedroom. Next thing I know, my mom is hollering for me to call the fire dept. The turkey was a little too big for the pan, and it started a fire in the oven. We had the fire department there with their big fans, getting the smoke out of the house. Mind you, this all happened while my dad was gone.

I am an email subscriber and also via Google Reader.

Thanks for the chance.

sharon54220@gmail.com
West Of Mars — Win A Book! » Blog Archive » This Is Where I Leave You

August 6th, 2009 at 5:50 am

[...] To enter, click here. [...]
Bridget

August 6th, 2009 at 5:50 am

Hi, Sheri! Just posted on Win A Book. No need to enter me; but I better put this on my TBR list!
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..This Is Where I Leave You =-.
Mary

August 6th, 2009 at 6:31 am

I’ve read a couple of his books and loved them! Please enter my name in the giveaway.

meah56 at gmail dot com

I blogged about this giveaway on my sidebar

Funny family gathering story: My mother’s huge American Irish family has a reunion each summer. Great time! One year she called a week or so before the party and said “Dad just made a sign for the reunion. It has the family name on it and we’ll post it high so everyone will see it and know this is the place for the O’Neill reunion.” I thought that was a great idea given that the party was being held in a park that year. We arrived and saw the sign. Everyone in our car started to laugh. You see, the spacing was off a bit on Dad’s sign and it read: ONE ILL FAMILY REUNION. Now every year people look for that sign and every year it is at the place of the party. Truer words were never written about a family such as ours, lol.

I follow you on Google reader
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Welcome – Terry Kate from Romance In The Back Seat =-.
chey

August 6th, 2009 at 7:02 am

Great review and interview! Sounds like a book I want to read!
chey127 at hotmail dot com
Mozi Esmes Mommy

August 6th, 2009 at 8:32 am

I’d be interested in reading this…

janemaritz at yahoo dot com
.-= Mozi Esmes Mommy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Ha’ To Do It! =-.
Jake Lsewhere

August 6th, 2009 at 9:08 am

Looks like a good book, please enter me into this drawing.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
.-= Jake Lsewhere´s last blog ..Morning Book Giveaways № 16 =-.
Amy

August 6th, 2009 at 10:58 am

The year I was 12 my mom hosted the family for Christmas. Everybody showed up that year, even my wacky uncle who enjoyed getting his mpother and siblings riled up and then telling them he was just joking! His youngest sister, my aunt, was always grouchy at the holidays. We sat down to dinner, said grace, and everybody was served and eating happily. One of my cousins tried to start a food fight and grouchy aunt yelled at him and ended the fun – meanwhile my mother (whose house we were in ) was laughing!. Nobody expected that because a foos fight meant a big mess but she was just happy that we awere all together. Wacky uncle started picking at grouchy aunt but she just barked at him. So dinner was cleared & dessert was served. People were talking and eating, most people were happy. There were several kinds of pies, whipped cream and ice cream cake because the son off wacky uncle had a birthday on December 24th. Grouchy aunt started complaining about how birthday cake didn’t belong at a christmas celebration blah, blah, blah! My mom told her to be quiet and not to eat it if she didn’t want it! Everybody went back to eating. Suddenly a large white lump went zinging passed my head and landed square on the chest of grouchy aunt! This was quickly followed by a large chocolate lump which landed on her head and some on my cousin! Wacky uncle wasn’t eating his ice cream cake he was winging it at the grouch! The kids all looked at each other, we didn’t know what to think but when something wet and mushy landed on the birthday boy’s head all bets were off! All He** broke lose as you can imagine. The Grouch started yelling, all the kids started flinging cake and pie at each other. My mother went into the kitchen and quickly returned with the rest of the whip cream which she flung at wacky uncle and the grouch! If my mom was willing to join in that meant we had a major food/dessert fight on our hands. Nobody was safe after that! (Except the grouch who left the room!)
This wasn’t normal behavior for my family, we tended to be a very well-mannered group. But boy was that dessert fight fun. And you can bet we never forgot it!

Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Vera Bradley! =-.
Amy

August 6th, 2009 at 11:00 am

I subscribe on google reader =o)

Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Vera Bradley! =-.
Amy

August 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am

I tweeted this giveaway at http://twitter.com/Amestir

Amy
Aimala127@gmail.com
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Vera Bradley! =-.
elizabeth

August 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

Oh, I want this. I have read all his other books and really loved them. such a great author/giveaway.
thanks for hosting, count me in please
wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com
Allison

August 6th, 2009 at 3:16 pm

This sounds great! Plaese enter me, allygotts567 at hotmail dot com

I follow on twitter and google reader.

Once after Thanksgiving dinner we were all watching TV. MY uncle got up to get a drink and causually mention that our poodle was on the dinning room table taking care of all of the crumbs we left. He’s only 5lbs and went I said “Mason! What are you doing?” He got nervous but couldn’t figure out how to get back down, so he just laid down sheepishly on the table. haha.
Alyce

August 6th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

I would love to be entered!

I follow your blog.

When I was growing up someone had gotten the idea, and passed it around to the family, that I liked pigs. Ceramic pigs, pig blankets, pig calendars – you get the idea. Fast forward twenty years to a family gathering where we were watching old family home videos. Prior to watching the videos I confessed to my sister that I never really liked the pig items, but had just been polite about the whole thing. So we’re sitting there watching the videos, and one of the pig items makes an appearance on the video (birthday present or something). My sister turns to my mom and says “you know she never really liked those pigs.” My mom then says, “Huh, I wonder how it happened that everyone thought she liked them so much.”

The very next thing on the video you hear my mom telling the entire family, “You know she really likes pigs!” My mom was totally embarrassed and everyone gave her a hard time about it.

I just got rid of the last of the pig items (old ceramic pigs that went to goodwill) last year.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..The White Queen – Giveaway =-.
Kristen

August 6th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Just got home from vacation to about 600 things in my Google Reader and this was the first thing that popped up. I’m so glad that I’m not missing entering for this book! It sounds great. As is obvious from the above, I subscribe through Google Reader. I’m probably not going to get around to any of the rest of the extra entries though given all the unpacking and putting away I hould be doing instead of poking around on the internet.
.-= Kristen´s last blog ..Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil Brinton =-.
avalonne83

August 7th, 2009 at 6:05 am

Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.

avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it
.-= avalonne83´s last blog ..Stasera meglio se non rientro a casa =-.
Jake Lsewhere

August 7th, 2009 at 7:36 am

I’ve also blogged about this giveaway here.

Thanks,
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
.-= Jake Lsewhere´s last blog ..Morning Book Giveaways № 18 =-.
Aimee W.

August 8th, 2009 at 1:51 am

This book sounds amazing — thanks so much for offering this giveaway!

+1 Follow on Twitter (Nelsby)
+1 Follow on Facebook (Aimee Waerhouse)
+1 Follow Jonathan Tropper on Twitter (Nelsby)
+1 Follow on Google Friend Connect (Nelsby)
Amanda

August 8th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Thanks for the giveaway, and please include me in the contest!

fitz12383 AT hotmail DOT com
Sara

August 9th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

Please include me in the contest. The book sounds great.
We still laugh about this story. When my daughter was 5 she decided it would be different and fun to blow out her birthday candles with air from her nose. (I know weird kid huh). Needless to say she didn’t tell anyone about her plan. During her big family and friends backyard party we all sang happy birthday and when it was time to blow out the candles she blew a big wad of snot onto the cake, and to make matters worse, the exertion of having to blow through her nose caused her to let out a huge loud fart. I wish I had taken a photo of the funny looks of surprise on everyone’s faces.
Valorie

August 10th, 2009 at 12:42 am

Poor Judd! It sounds like he has had it bad, but we all have stories to tell. In a way, it’s refreshing to read books like this because they take our minds off of our issues, and it also gives us reason to reflect. Sounds like a good book!

I was about 10 and my two cousins and I, along with my sister, decided to terrorize my passed out father. He used to use this black hair gel/grease stuff to help cover his gray and shape his hair. He was so drunk passed out that we ended up pouring water and shampoo and anything we could find like lotion over his head. We ended up getting chased from the house when my aunt came in and saw the goo coming out of his hair and staining her couch black.

Blogged: http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/08/05/book-giveaways-08-03-08-09/.

Tweet: http://twitter.com/morbidromantic/statuses/3221835219.

I follow you on Twitter.

I subscribe in Google Reader.
Kelly B

August 10th, 2009 at 10:43 am

I really enjoyed your review, and honestly your review makes me want this book. I have totally smacked it onto my wish list.

As far as humorous family story…that is hard for me, and really I am just cracking up over Sara’s daughter’s farting birthday blow out! How does one top that in humor?

Thanks for the chance!

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
.-= Kelly B´s last blog ..And The Winner Is….. =-.
Kelly B

August 10th, 2009 at 10:52 am

+1 I tweeted your giveaway

http://twitter.com/kellyblackwell/status/3228946305

+1 I am following you on Twitter (kellyblackwell) and facebook (same name)

+1 I am also a subscriber

+1 I follow Jonathan Tropper on Twitter too.

Thanks so much again!

Kelly

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
.-= Kelly B´s last blog ..And The Winner Is….. =-.
Kelly B

August 10th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

I blogged sweetie! Still cannot come up with an amusing story about my family and their holidays.

http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/2009/08/whooo-hooooo-more-giveaways.html

Thanks, Sheri!

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
.-= Kelly B´s last blog ..WHOOO HOOOOO! MORE GIVEAWAYS! =-.
Karen K

August 10th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

Sounds like a great book…please count me in!

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Gaby @ Starting Fresh

August 10th, 2009 at 5:29 pm

This looks great – please count me in.

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

+ I follow on Twitter
+ 1 follow on googlereader
+ posting a link on my sidebar

http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

I have a small immediate family, but our extended family is large but very fun. My mother has 5 siblings, so I have 15 cousins – most of whom are married with children. When we were growing up we’d spend Sundays with my maternal grandparents – lunch at one long long table (until the cousins started getting married and then we would split up into children and adults). Everyone talks loud and fast, and we eat faster because the food goes fast. You can tell when someone is new to the family…they usually start out quiet, shy, and unable to eat much. But as time goes on, they get as crazy as the rest of us. Many of us have moved away but when we’re together, it’s we don’t want to part.
.-= Gaby @ Starting Fresh´s last blog ..Book Review: Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruiz: A Quinceanera Club Novel by Belinda Acosta =-.
Julie H.

August 10th, 2009 at 6:21 pm

What a wonderful review–I’m really excited to read this. Please enter me.

JHolden955 (at) gmail (dot) com
Paula

August 12th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

What a great review. Sounds like a really awesome read. Would love a chance to read it. I am a follower. Our family sadly grows smaller as time goes on. I miss the days as a kid when everyone came home for christmas. Not so humerous but just a blessing that many more people were around then.
Mariag

August 12th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Would love to read this.
Follow and subscribe.
Mariag
Wanda

August 12th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
Wanda

August 13th, 2009 at 7:21 am

I am a subscriber on Google Reader.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
Amy

August 13th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

I’m following Jonathan Tropper on Twitter. (Amestir)

Thank you!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Wonderful World of Books! =-.
jacque

August 13th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

I would love to read this book! One Christmas,know one brought the turkey. There was a mix up and someone thought someone else was bringing it. It was the same with the side dishes too. So we all got something to eat but not very much. thanks!
nomadreader

August 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

I’d love to win; I keep hearing great reviews about this book!

I subscribe via Google Reader.
Lethea Benson

August 17th, 2009 at 4:44 am

Wow, if you give it a rating that high I need to read this! A signed copy just makes it more of a treasure=)
Thanks bunches!
Lethea Benson

August 17th, 2009 at 4:45 am

I subscribe via Google Reader=)
Amy

August 17th, 2009 at 5:00 am

I’m following you on Twitter (Amestir)
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Mad Men Sunday! =-.
Libby

August 18th, 2009 at 4:23 pm

I would love a chance at winning a copy. Thanks so much for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com
Amy

August 19th, 2009 at 4:31 am

I blogged about your giveaway here:
http://homeofaimala.blogspot.com/2009/08/some-great-giveaway.html
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Introducing Amy World! =-.
Andy

August 19th, 2009 at 1:52 pm

This book sounds wonderful and the family sounds a lot like mine! I would love a signed copy of the book.
victoria

August 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

I’d love to win this!

Thank you!
victoria

August 19th, 2009 at 10:07 pm

I subscribe through yahoo!
kurye

September 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 am

great article thank you.