This is Where I Leave You

by: Jonathan Tropper

Published by: Dutton

Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart

I was drawn to Jonathan Tropper’s fifth novel, This is Where I Leave You, for two main reasons. The main protagonist’s, Judd Foxman, father has died; I recently lost my daddy. The story takes place over seven days during the hard-core Jewish custom of sitting shiva, and I’ve always wondered what this ritual would involve.

In a nutshell and in Judd’s words, the main thrust of the novel is that he “is mourning (his) father and having sex with (his) sister-in-law and falling in love with strangers on the way to see the wife who slept with (his) boss and is now simultaneously divorcing (him) and having (his) baby.” Not to mention that he is trapped in his childhood home with his three siblings and mother for seven long days.

While none of the plot sounds even a bit comedic, Judd’s voice is hilarious; it reminded me of Jay McInerney’s protagonist in Story of My Life. I laughed often and out loud. There are some great scenes in the book, but my favorite is Judd’s reaction to finding his soon-to-be ex-wife Jen and his soon-to-be ex-boss Wade frantically humping in the martial bed. He had come home early to celebrate Jen’s birthday–and where the cake and candles wind up is a hoot.

Judd knows his family is dysfunctional, but not so much as any other American family. Mother Hillary is a parenting expert whose book is a must-have for all expecting parents. It seems as if she didn’t follow any of her own advice. The oldest brother, Paul, runs the family business. Sister Wendy is in from LA with her three small children and husband Barry, who spends ninety percent of his time talking on his Bluetooth. Then there’s the youngest brother, Phillip–the one the family is always getting out of jams, and more often than not, he’s the familial black sheep.

This is Where I Leave You is about how a family deals with love, death, life, divorce–endings and beginnings. WARNING: Explicit sex.

Now that I’ve read a Jonathan Tropper novel, I can’t wait to read his other books.

Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star work of excellent fiction.

Author’s Web site: http://www.JonathanTropper.com