Book Review: This is Where I Leave You (Tropper)

Hi, friends!  Demi and Jenn just finished reading This is Where I leave You by Jonathan Tropper.  Here's our thoughts:

Does the story interest you?

Jenn: This story was deliciously dramatic from page one, of course it interested me!

Demi: Yes! It was on the list of books to be movies and the title was intriguing. The story was a pleasant surprise considering I knew nothing about it.

Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to "get into it"?

J: I was engaged from the get go, I could not put this book down and read it in its entirety over the course of one weekend (which is pretty rare for me).

D: This was definitely a page-turner, the chapters are short so I found myself saying “one more” and then it was way past my bedtime.

How did you feel reading it—amused, sad, disturbed, confused, bored...?

J: I was amused most of the time, in a sad, disturbing, and confused kind of way… but also  weirdly able to relate to the tone of the overly sarcastic bunch of siblings who all had a pile of their own issues they just didn't feel like outright dealing with. The way in which their deepest insecurities and problems were put on display in a dark-humor kind of way reminded me a lot of some good friends of mine and the relationship we share with one another.

D: I was a mix of emotions, as someone who has been married for just a short amount of time it was hard to read about a marriage ending. The siblings were fun to read about and the drama that ensues is addictive, I found myself recapping each day with my husband like it was happening in real time.

Did the main characters change by the end of the book? Do they stay the same?

J: It's hard to say, as it's left a bit open-ended, but the way things were leaning it doesn't seem like Judd changed all that much. My hope was that things would change for him, that he might pursue a new relationship, pick up the pieces of his broken life and just move forward, but realistically I think he will just scrape up what's left of his old life, desperate for things to be how he thought they once were.

D: If anything I think it made Judd more cynical about life while his relationship with his family got better. I don't think these changes would've happened if they were not forced to sit shiva.

Has this novel changed you—learned something new or broadened your perspective?

J: I wouldn't say it changed me, it was more entertaining than anything. Of course, it made me question what I would do in a similar situation. It also made me grateful for my less-than-dysfunctional family.

D: It has made me aware that there will be obstacles in any marriage and the events that happen before and after it can make or break the relationship. The way they described their reactions to the miscarriage seemed like very real reactions that can tear people apart.

What passages strike you as insightful, amusing, funny, or profound?

J: When Jen tells Judd that she's pregnant and Judd replies with something like, "I hope his baby does better in there than mine did". Ouch!

D: I can’t get the scene where he catches his wife in bed with his boss out of my mind, I'll never see a lit birthday cake the same.... Can you imagine?! My goodness. I really liked his rooftop passages and the interactions he had up there, I could imagine everything he could see. The passages where he talks about falling in love with women as they pass struck me as a little sad, he was just craving attention we all crave. It also makes me think how many times do people fall in love with us from afar, just for a few seconds?

Were you surprised by the plot's complications? Or did you find it predictable, even formulaic?

J: I was pulled in so many different directions throughout this story. I really didn't see a lot of it coming, and the juicy details just kept piling higher and higher. It's written in a way that you can see and understand each character on a personal level, and I really felt like I could see where each of them was coming from.

D: It was definitely NOT formulaic, every turn was unexpected to me. It’s written with very little clues as to what will happen so it’s like you are experiencing it with Judd as he finds out about it. I really liked the format of the book with the days as the chapters and the time stamps for reference.

What foods or beverages did you spill on the book during the course of reading it?

J: I was too busy reading to eat.

D: A nice dollop of guacamole while reading at Chipotle.

Any part of the book make you stop and think about the people in book club reading it- did something remind you of them or it was disturbing or risqué and made you wonder how they reacted to it?

J: I was quite depressed reading about the loss of Judd and his wife's baby. I wondered if anyone else would connect with that as deeply, or if I'm extra emotional being currently pregnant.

 D: Their reaction to the miscarriage was jarring which made me wonder if anyone else wondered what obstacles our marriages will face. I think a lot of my friends are in the happy “I just got married” phase but this book has shown that life will definitely throw us some curve-balls! Also, what would your reactions be to an affair? Would we split friends like they did in the book?

Is the ending satisfying? If so, why? If not, why not...and how would you change it?

J: I guessssss so. I can't say I'd change it but I sure would like to know what direction Judd goes!

D: NO. I know it’s cliche to want a nice little wrapped-up happy ending but this literally ended mid-thought. Maybe they are setting up for a sequel? I, for one, would like to know what the f happens.

If you could ask the author a question, what would you ask? Does this book inspire you to read others by the same author?

J: I actually checked out Tropper's section in the library today to browse his other books. I will definitely be reading more from him in the future.

D: How much of your life is reflected in this novel? I’m curious if his family is similar to Judd’s or perhaps his marriage or job have any ties to the book? They felt so real. I would love to read another one of his books, I really enjoy his writing style.