This is the first book that I have read by Jonathan Tropper and I found it interesting, funny and a little heartbreaking all at the same time. This Is Where I Leave You is the story of the Foxman family told by one of the sons, Judd. He and his siblings, Paul, Wendy and Phillip are called to sit shiva after the death of their father. They were told that it was his dying wish so the family comes together to honor it even though spending seven days together in the same home is difficult and complicated for all of them.
Judd has just been separated from his wife after finding her in bed with his boss. He is jobless, living in a bad basement apartment, and feeling pretty down about his life in general. He is trying to sort out his feelings towards his wife and towards love during this time. His older brother, Paul, is taking over the family business and nursing resentment towards Judd for an incident years ago that changed the path of his life. Phillip, the youngest, is affectionately known as the family goof up and surprises everyone by showing up to sit shiva with a much older fiance, who used to be his therapist. Wendy, is raising three children with a semi-absent husband and coping with the realities of growing older. The dynamics between the siblings are complicated…but very warm and believable at the same time as being conflicted. They are typical siblings. The book is divided into the seven days that the family spends together and you watch as the relationships grow and change during this time.
This story had a lot to offer. It said things that rang very true to me, even if I never would have said it the same way. I’m definitely going to try to find other books by Jonathan Tropper.
22/07/2010 at 9:19 pm Permalink
Enjoyed it enough, I’m reading another of his already.