If you are looking for something that will make you laugh, while making you a little sad, while making you feel very lucky you should read Jonathan Tropper's This is Where I Leave You. It is a great combination of all of those feelings. A movie is set to be released starting Tina Fey and Jason Bateman. I didn't know the cast while I was reading the book, but I did keep thinking to myself, with the right people this movie will be hysterical. Now I see the list, and it's going to be funny. If only Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller could make a guest appearance.
Until I can get to the theater, I will just take the time and enjoy the book and it's story. A man who is going through hard times, first his wife cheats on him (with his boss) and then his father dies and he is forced so sit shiva with his family that he really isn't that close to. Now I don't know much about shiva but I learn from the story that it is a week long mourning period in the Jewish religion. In this case, no one in the family wants to do it, but they want to fulfill the father's dying wish. No I know you are saying how can this situation be funny. As you read this story you will not only smile, but at times laugh at loud. It teaches us an important message that there is humor in even the most dire situations.
What I liked about this story is that you start with the main character and as the story progresses you get to know his family. The details to describe each character are great. You really feel that you know them all, when it's said and done, and you care for different one at separate times of the book. You want Judd to be the victor, because it seems like his life sucks, but then you meet the rest of his family and you find out why Judd is the way he is, and then you start hoping better things for some of the other characters. It's reminded me of what might happen over a whole series of a television show, but it took place in one novel. It's the characters changing roles, and you rooting for one, then another and in the end, everyone. There isn't a person you doing want to see be happy.
When I started reading the book I put it on Facebook. I love seeing what people say about it, and I read a comment said that I loved it until the end. Oh my I thought, what a terrible comment to leave on someone's page. The whole time I read I am going to be thinking about the end. Not a very good way to read a book. I will say the person who put that comment on my page was a friend of a friend, so there wasn't much I could say at the time. I will say now that I am done reading, that person was so WRONG. It's amazing how people can read the same book and feel so differently about the end.
When you read this you will enjoy the story. You will enjoy the characters as you are forced to sit shiva with them. You can only imagine what it would be like to sit in a room for 7 days with your family talking about everything that ever happened, remembering some good, but mostly the not so good, the things that force you to go your separate ways. Then you get through some of the hurt, say things you should have said, but never had the time or the guts, but now all you have is time, and you are so out of things to say, the right words come much easier.
Family at it's finest. That's how I sum this one up. The story of this family is probably closer to normal then you would think. Being able to laugh at this fictional story, reminds you that you probably should laugh at some of the real things more often. Taking things too seriously is overrated.
#ThisisWhereILeaveYou#FamilyatitsFinest
