This is Where I Leave You

I picked up this book because it looked as though it would be funny.  And it was, but it's a strange sense of humor - one that I don't mind, but some of you may.

This is Where I Leave You is a coming of age for 30-somethings. Judd Foxman, the main character, is called home to the funeral of his father. When there, he learns that the family is going to sit Shiva, even though his father was an atheist. The book takes place over the Shiva 7-day period with the entire family confined to Judd's childhood home.

We learn that Judd comes from a dysfunctional family who need to air their grievances, accept their differences and learn to love each other again. In addition, a few weeks before the funeral, Judd had found his wife in bed with his boss, a radio shock-jock (think Howard Stern).  Between his mother, a best-selling author and expert on childhood development, his sarcastic and cynical sister, his over-serious older brother and his carefree younger brother, and their significant others, the book is not lacking in wacky characters.

The best part of Mr. Tropper's writing is his witty one-liners. There is much of the novel that is hilarious and creative. But to get to those funny bits, one must often wade through pages of offensive language and strange scenarios.  The dialog often reminds me of the "Rosanne" show, and all that negative repertoire can get annoying. There is a lot more sex going on than you would expect from the synopsis.

I enjoyed most of the book. The one-liners always made me laugh, many of the scenes, even those that might be considered offensive, were very funny, and I found the characters intriguing. But, this book is not for everyone.