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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Well, I loved "This is Where I Leave You" so much that I had to read this as well. I gave this a star less than O gave my first experience with Tropper, only because the book took a little bit to get going, or maybe just to peak my interest. I felt a little less invested in the characters until just about the halfway point. But from then on, it got pretty good. If you're thinking about reading a work by Tropper, start with "This is Where I Leave You" because it's magic, then if you like it, read this, and know that it is great, just a solid #2. I cannot wait for the film adaptation just the same.
Well. I loved This Is Where I Leave You. This one, not so much.
First, it was not nearly as funny. Second, the MC - inexplicably called Silver - was just not the lovable loser he was made out to be. And, the reader is beaten over the head with the lovable loser concept. Perhaps in an attempt to make it be true.
Silver's daughter is pregnant, his ex-wife is getting married, and he discovers that he needs surgery, soon, or else he will die. So he decides, eh, I'm never going to be anything more than a lovable loser, guess I'll just go ahead and die. Never mind that his wonderful parents are totally distraught, never mind that his daughter appears to want him in her life, never mind any of it, the story must go on and the story is that Silver would just prefer to die. He knows what changes he'd need to make to have the life he'd like to have, I guess he just doesn't have the energy to make them. Ugh.
The worst of it for me, though, was the quirky movie scene-ness of most of the book. I say, write a book, and if you're lucky enough that it's made into a movie, they can add the stopping-dead-on-the-highway-on-ramp scene, or the sing-your-one-hit-wonder-song-out-of-nowhere-at-some-kid's-bar-mitzvah scene later. Almost all of the scenes in the book felt like they were written to entice a movie producer. Or many of them. Just annoying. Did not love this book. At all.
First, it was not nearly as funny. Second, the MC - inexplicably called Silver - was just not the lovable loser he was made out to be. And, the reader is beaten over the head with the lovable loser concept. Perhaps in an attempt to make it be true.
Silver's daughter is pregnant, his ex-wife is getting married, and he discovers that he needs surgery, soon, or else he will die. So he decides, eh, I'm never going to be anything more than a lovable loser, guess I'll just go ahead and die. Never mind that his wonderful parents are totally distraught, never mind that his daughter appears to want him in her life, never mind any of it, the story must go on and the story is that Silver would just prefer to die. He knows what changes he'd need to make to have the life he'd like to have, I guess he just doesn't have the energy to make them. Ugh.
The worst of it for me, though, was the quirky movie scene-ness of most of the book. I say, write a book, and if you're lucky enough that it's made into a movie, they can add the stopping-dead-on-the-highway-on-ramp scene, or the sing-your-one-hit-wonder-song-out-of-nowhere-at-some-kid's-bar-mitzvah scene later. Almost all of the scenes in the book felt like they were written to entice a movie producer. Or many of them. Just annoying. Did not love this book. At all.
Not my favorite Jonathan Tropper, but a great one for fans of his writing. And I definitely am one of them - I love how he writes with such sincerity and a humor that reveals larger truths.
Another great effort from Trooper -- with his trademark confused, immature man in his middle age -- this time its Drew Silver who everyone (even his family) calls simply Silver (with no explanation, which is odd). Like his best work (where this belongs), it is both hilarious and heart-wrenching and truly an exploration about love and the importance of realizing what's important. Highly recommended.
Pretty crude and silly but Tropper sucks me in EVERYTIME! Not a book I'd pass on to my mom to read but I had fun reading it.
Having just come off another Tropper novel, "This Is Where I Leave You," of which I loved, I was excited to see what else Tropper had to offer. After spending many hours in my car and on walks listening to this book, I ended up being a bit disappointed when it was all said and done. The premise, a middle-aged man with a faulty aorta needs surgery to live decides to forgo the surgery and make the most of the life he has left. He's really botched up his life over the last several years, and this is a comedic tale of how he is trying to fix that. It was no doubt entertaining at times, but I did not find myself wanting to listen to it like I wanted to listen to "This Is Where I Leave You." I liked the concept, but often was not entertained by the tale that went along with it. Like "This Is Where I Leave You," Tropper ends this story ambiguously, and I found myself wishing he had drawn some conclusions and answered some questions. I liked it okay, I just didn't love it!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book. It was sweet but not saccharine, thoughtful but not drily academic. Vulnerability reigns in this look at a man facing his own death and looking at his life with fresh eyes. I didn't ever want to put this book down. Now I have to go read everything else Jonathan Tropper has written!
* I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
* I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.
Having heard the author speak about the book, I'd hoped for something a little more on the lines of Hoffman's Survival Lessons but longer, with more plot and humor. That's not quite the case here. Silver (who seems to be an American cousin of sorts to Wierd from Espedair Street) has spent the past seven years with his life on pause, living in a convenience apartment in a building filled with men who, like Silver, have lost their families through divorce. Then one day he suffers a TIA, ends up in the hospital and has the opportunity to change it all. The obvious choice is to have an operation to repair the tear in his aorta... but Silver's not the guy to make the obvious choice. Instead he decides to spend what's left of his life being a better man and a better father. Uh huh.
There were moments of real humor here along with moments of pathos. Those so-called teachable moments always have something just a little bit wrong with them, usually because Silver seems to now have a complete lack of censor on his tongue and those internal monologues? Not so internal. His family and friends at times veer into stereotype, but Tropper stops just before they become too predictable.
Copy provided by publisher.
There were moments of real humor here along with moments of pathos. Those so-called teachable moments always have something just a little bit wrong with them, usually because Silver seems to now have a complete lack of censor on his tongue and those internal monologues? Not so internal. His family and friends at times veer into stereotype, but Tropper stops just before they become too predictable.
Copy provided by publisher.
Tropper sure knows how to put a sentence together. I didn't think the story of a failed rock star sounded very promising or original, but I was quickly roped in by the beautiful writing and the brilliant characterization. I didn't want the story to end, and was sad to leave the characters to their fate.