This is Where I Leave You
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Book Club Picks: This is Where I Leave You

The Foxman family is not close. They do not get together for Sunday BBQs or call each other up on the phone to chat. So when Judd's older sister Wendy calls to let him know their father has died, it comes as no surprise that neither of them break down in tears. Mort Foxman was slowly deteriorating from cancer and his death is really just the finality for a man that has already been gone.

The interesting twist is that Mort has requested, as his dying wish, that his family sit Shiva as a way to pay their respects. Considering the Foxman clan are all non-practicing Jews, this comes as quite a shock. Even so they, they being Mrs. Foxman (Hillary), Paul, Wendy, Judd, Phillip and an odd assortment of spouses and kids, abide by their husband and father's last request. What ensues is seven days of pure madness as this family fights, cries, punches, screws, and dreams their way through their obligation.

Surprisingly, the way things turn out for the Foxman's is very different than they would have expected but still a perfect example of who they are and how they interact with one another.

Book Club Picks: This is Where I Leave You Opinion

Wow! Amazing! Fantastic! Extraordinarily written! I'm not kidding when I say I fell in love with this book, with Judd, from page one.

Phew, I'm a book lover but I can tell you that it's not often that a story grabs me by the heartstrings and leaves me feeling like a lost puppy, terribly missing my best friend. Jonathan Tropper is a gifted writer whose pen must magically flit across the paper as he draws a complex, dark, yet completely hilarious world. Judd is the character we all wish we knew. He's our brother, our best friend, our lover, the boy in high school who was friend to everybody enemy to none. His anger is our anger. His hurt is our rage. Every action is justified, even if he's throwing a chair at his books, sleeping with his former best friend while keeping his ex-wife's pregnancy a secret, or blaming his brother for blaming him. He's human and we love him.

I generally find that when an author is able to write such strong characters, the plot pales in comparison. This is not the case here. The plot itself only serves to strengthen the Foxmans' identity, securing their place in this crazy world we all must live. It doesn't matter what type of readers you have in your book club, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who won't walk away from this This is Where I Leave You changed.

I highly recommend you run out and buy your copy today.

Book Club Picks: This is Where I Leave You Discussion Questions

1. Is Judd's extreme anger justified?
2. Is it Hillary's fault that her four children are such "screwed up" adults?
3. Who is your favorite character? Why?

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