Family Drama: "This is Where I Leave You"

Thanks to my book club friend Ria, I just finished Jonathan Tropper's "This is Where I Leave You", a very funny, laugh-out-loud look at family drama and dysfunction told from the perspective of a man in the throws of marital crisis.  Judd  Foxman returns home to bury his father just weeks after he discovered his wife was cheating on him.  His dad, an atheist randomly made a deathbed request that his 4 children and wife sit shiva for seven days (which is a full-on Jewish mourning ritual).   For Judd, his siblings and nutty mom (who is a shrink), the family togetherness uncovers some hilarious childhood memories, several buried and not-so-buried hostilities and pretty touching insights.   This is not a loving, supporting family -- the barbs, jabs and physical aggression (between brothers) result in a tortuous week for all, but despite the lingering hostility, biting sarcasm and critical disdain, there are glimpses of compassion that were warm and heartening to witness.  Perhaps those rare moments of kindness are even more meaningful for the recipients because they don't come along at a frequent clip with this family.  I liked the book a lot and whipped through each chapter (which I think covered each day of the mourning period), greedily. 

The timing of the read was perfect.  We just returned from a trip back east to celebrate my dad's 80th  and step-mom's 75th birthdays.   All I can say is that  I was VERY  fortunate to be raised in a happy and loving environment by two caring parents. My folks really did an amazing job of making us feel like important individual members in a big family.   They recognized our strengths and weaknesses, our different personalities and vulnerabilities and parented accordingly.   All five of us kids are SO, SO different, I marvel at their nimbleness.    Part of the cooky Keats family for nearly 50 years now,  I still bask in the warmth of my brothers' and sisters' love and appreciate all  my parents did to help each of us find our way to happy and fulfilling lives.

Post Thanksgiving, I declare....I'm thankful.