MADreads

I love JT

May 8th, 2008 Lisa - Central

That’s Jonathan Tropper.  Liz turned me on to The Book of Joe a few years back, and I laughed like crazy through it.  It’s about a young man who writes a scathing autobiographical novel set in his home town, believing he will never return.  His book is a bestseller and becomes a hit movie.  Everyone in the town reads it and sees themself in the book.  And then his dad has a major stroke, and Joe’s forced to return home to the not very happy townsfolk who take their revenge out on him.  Hilarious.

But that’s not the book I’m reviewing.  I just finished How To Talk To a Widower.  Doug Parker lost his wife Hailey in a plane crash.  Even though it’s been a year, he’s not the least bit ready to stop grieving.  But it seems everyone else wants him to move on.  His occasional column on his grief is wildly popular, and his agent can get him a book deal and a spot on Oprah.  His sexy (married) neighbor Laney is ready for him to move on to an adulterous relationship with her.  His wife’s son Russ (a grieving and now troubled teen) wants Doug to take custody of him as Russ hates his father.  His twin sister Claire thinks he should start dating.  His other sister Debbie wants him to be in her wedding - she’s marrying Doug’s best friend who she met at Hailey’s seder, and who Doug resents because he’s marrying his sister because they met because Hailey died.  And all Doug wants to do is sit around, get drunk, wallow in his sadness and throw rocks at the rabbits on his lawn.

Doug is extremely appealing; painfully honest about what the nightmare of grief is like, yet self-deprecating, witty and just plain sweet (though awfully inappropriate at times.)  Tropper’s dialog is spot on, quick, funny and sharp.  Though a bit predictable, the story includes entertaining turns with his stroke-addled father and actress mother, Russ’ adorable guidance counselor and other appealing supporting characters.  His dysfunctional family is a nightmare and completely endearing at the same time.  And Tropper captures those heartrending moments when grief hits so hard you can’t breathe. 

A must read.  See if you love JT too.

Entry Filed under: Literary Fiction, Recreational Fiction