When Judd Foxman catches his wife in bed with his boss, his life collapses simultaneously with the death of his father. Following a final request to observe Shiva, the dysfunctional Foxman clan converges on their childhood home to spend seven days in forced proximity. Judd must navigate the cramped quarters of his suburban upbringing alongside his oversharing mother, his bitter brothers, and his high-strung sister. Between the traditional mourning rituals and constant neighborhood intrusions, the siblings confront old grudges, infidelity, and the stagnation of their adult lives while sitting on low stools and greeting local mourners.
This book serves readers who appreciate dark, observational comedy centered on family friction and the messy realities of mid-life failure. People read it to see the absurdity of grief and the way childhood roles persist long into adulthood. A reader walks away with a blunt perspective on how families fall apart and reassemble, recognizing that shared history often provides more tension than comfort. It offers a cynical yet honest look at communal mourning and the difficulty of starting over when your past refuses to stay buried.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
Insights from This is Where I Leave You
“Nothing like a little forced family time to bring out the worst in everyone.”
Living in your childhood bedroom as an adult feels like a trap. Watching Judd sleep in his old twin bed makes me realize how easily we slide back into being kids.
“We are a family of secrets and lies, and we have been for a long time.”
Sitting Shiva forces you to look at the people you usually avoid. You can't hide from your siblings when you are all stuck in the same living room for a week.
Judd finding his wife with his boss is such a specific kind of pain. It turns his entire life into a punchline before the story even starts.
“My mother is a woman who has never met a boundary she didn't want to cross.”
Hillary Foxman is a nightmare and a comfort all at once. Her new breasts and her tell-all book show how parents can be selfish people too.
- Published
- 2003
- Publisher
- Dutton
- ISBN
- 9781101108987
- Language
- EN
