This Is Where I Leave You

In the post-Thanksgiving carnage, if you are feeling like family is more trouble than it is worth, then This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper might be the cure.  By comparison, most situations might seem better.

While the book is moderately amusing (it is no Ant Farm by Simon Rich, however), I am most impressed by the creativity required to construct the most normal screwed up family ever.  Seriously, every character is a basket case and every relationship is a serious mess.

With dysfunction as a comedic platform, there are some funny bits.

When the narrator announces that his soon to be ex-wife (she was having an affair with his boss) is pregnant with his child the various family members have the following reactions:

Mom: If it's a boy, I hope you'll consider naming him for your father.
Linda: That's wonderful, Judd.  I think you'll be a great father.
Wendy: Jen is three months along?  She doesn't even have a baby bump yet.  You'd better make sure she's eating.
Phillip: Wade may have won the battle, but you won the war.  At least your boys can swim!
Tracy: That's wonderful, Judd.  If you frame this with a positive attitude, it will be the greatest experience of your life.
Paul: This means I might have to rethink my theory that Jen left you because you're gay.
Phillip: I'm going to be an uncle.
Wendy: Dumb shit.  You already are an uncle.
Phillip: I meant again.
Mom: Presumably, Jen's relationship with Wade is intensely sexual.  This could very well be the end of them.  Her priorities are going to change.  You could start fresh.
Barry: New York is preparing the documents.  We'll have to massage the interest rates a little bit, but we'll push it through.  Believe me, in this economy, everyone wants this deal to happen. (160)

Barry, the workaholic and totally checked-out brother-in-law, provides the most laughs.  It is too bad he leaves the book in the middle.