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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Jonathan Tropper's HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER.
Linda from Martinez, CA
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
No, but I will definitely read his next book!
What authors do you read?
Nicholas Sparks, Tom Perrotta, Jodi Picoult, and too many more to list!
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in the course of a weekend. At times,
the book was laugh-out-loud funny, while other pages were bittersweet.
The book chronicles the journey of a young widower, Doug, who is grappling with
the sudden death of his young wife, Hailey, who died in an airplane crash. At
29, he is also stepdad to 15-year-old Russ, who manages his own grief by getting
expelled from school.
Enter Doug's family, who puts the FUN in dysFUNctional --- his twin sister,
Claire, who tries to cheer up Doug by playing matchmaker and getting him to
embrace life again while her own life is in chaos; his mother, a frustrated
actress who brings drama to every family gathering; and his dad, a once-brilliant
doctor who now experiences moments of lucidity after suffering a stroke.
While the premise of Trooper's book could be depressing, he instead manages
to write a book that is both funny and insightful. After Hailey's death, Doug
questions his own life (he's been admittedly something of a slacker and is now
resistant to writing a book about his grief that could catapult him onto the
bestseller list) and his relationship to his family and friends. Tropper writes
a book that appeals to both men and women, and will have readers cheering for
Doug as he steps back into the world of dating and living. Anyone who has ever
lost a loved one and wondered if they will find happiness again will appreciate
Doug's journey.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to preview this book!
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes!
Linda from San Ramon, CA
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes, I loved THE BOOK OF JOE. This is why I wanted to read this novel.
What authors do you read?
Khaled Hosseini, Lisa See, Gail Tsukiyama, Donna Leon, Kathy Reichs, Jan Burke,
Nevada Barr, and Penelope Lively ( I read voraciously).
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
At first, I didn't like Doug very much, and I find that character is important.
As the story progressed and I came to know more about him and the people in
his life, I began to like him much more. I enjoyed the book and will recommend
it to others.
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes.
Marie from Jamestown, NC
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
This was my first book by him.
What authors do you read?
I read a wide range of authors --- from Annie Lamott and Ariel Gore to Jennifer
Weiner, and a wide range of nonfiction writers.
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
This book was very compelling --- once I got to a certain place in the book,
I had to finish it that night. Regardless of a 6:00 am wake up, I was still
turning the pages at 1:00. And once I was finished, I had that 'what happens
next' itch that you get when you finish a good book. At first, I was a little
slow to get into it --- death isn't a topic I normally read about --- but I
am glad I stuck with it. I thought that the relationship between Russ and Doug
was one of the highlights of the story, and to see how a man is impacted by
grief was interesting --- a view one doesn't always get. Anyone who's lost someone
will understand many of Doug's struggles for sure -- but it was done in such
a way that you didn't feel bogged down in the grief.
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes, and I think I would even suggest it to our book club because people often
pick lady authors, so books by male authors might be a nice change.
Pearl from Albuquerque, NM
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
I have never before read a book by Jonathan Tropper.
What authors do you read?
Some of the authors I read --- Mary Doria Russell, Monica Wood, Santa Montefiore,
Cathy Kelly, Penny Vincenzi, Jennifer Haigh and Jennifer Donnelly.
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
This well-written novel explores the grieving process of a young man newly widowed.
It has interesting characters throughout and deals with issues that are important
and vital in life. It’s a moving novel that I found original and new.
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes, I definitely would.
Teme from Wilmette, IL
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
No.
What authors do you read?
Elizabeth Berg, Ayelet Waldman, David Sedaris, Richard Ford, Dani Shapiro, Tom
Perrotta, Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, Anne Lamott, Martha Beck, Jacquelyn
Mitchard, Louise Rennison, Sue Townsend, Megan McCafferty, Anne Tyler and Kate
White.
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
Loved it. I had never read anything by Jonathan Tropper so I felt kind of like
I was going to a dinner party not knowing anyone or what kind of time I'd have,
and then clicking with someone honest and funny, whom I hope to meet again in
the future. Tropper's rendering of grief and recovery felt very real and universal,
even to a reader who hasn't had Doug's experiences. Tropper also captures the
peril of social interactions at a bad time --- the way they are fraught with
the potential for awkwardness, cringing (and worse) and even hilarity (should
one have the talent to spot it). This one book was enough to put Tropper on
my list of favorite authors.
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Definitely. I'll read any book he writes. I'd love to read a sequel to this
one.
Thanks so much for this reading experience. It was terrific.
Heather from Virginia Beach, VA
Have you previously read a book by Jonathan Tropper?
No, this was my first time.
What authors do you read?
Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Berg, and Jennifer Weiner are the most recent who come to mind. But, I have read Nick Hornby's novels and can definitely see where [Tropper's comparisons to him] come in.
What did you think of HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER?
I enjoyed it. At first, I did not feel overly sympathetic towards Doug's character because he dealt with his grief through so much anger. I'm sure PETA is picketing his rabbit abuse even as we speak. But, the growing relationship with his stepson, as well as the steps he took to gradually learn to forgive his friends and family for not being mired in the same amount of grief that he was in and for having the audacity to go on with their lives, became gradually more engrossing. Some of Tropper's insights into suburban life were spot-on hilarious. There were moments of great insight and humor peppered throughout the book, and I particularly liked that it didn't completely finish with a nice neat little bow. All this said, I did not LOVE the book for some reason.
Would you ever read a future book by Jonathan Tropper?
Yes, I would. In fact, I plan to locate his other two books and read those as well.
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