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jasonheffron's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
kirsten0929's review against another edition
4.0
*Chuckles - 5-stars - I find him really funny, definitely a comedy of a book
*Writing - 4-stars - I think he's a really good writer for what this is, feels like a natural voice, unforced
*Story - 3-stars - decent premise, but a little overly action-packed. Did he really need to be in multiple fights AND have his car blow up AND get pushed over a waterfall AND...etc. Some situations and dialogue a little cliched.
*Characters - 4-stars - funny and likable, sometimes a little cliched but not to the point of distraction. Sometimes nice insights into human emotion and psychology
*Easy read/guilty pleasure - 5-stars
*Writing - 4-stars - I think he's a really good writer for what this is, feels like a natural voice, unforced
*Story - 3-stars - decent premise, but a little overly action-packed. Did he really need to be in multiple fights AND have his car blow up AND get pushed over a waterfall AND...etc. Some situations and dialogue a little cliched.
*Characters - 4-stars - funny and likable, sometimes a little cliched but not to the point of distraction. Sometimes nice insights into human emotion and psychology
*Easy read/guilty pleasure - 5-stars
eawortman's review against another edition
5.0
Not my usual genre to read in, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The right mix of conflict and uncertainty to where the story will go without being cheesy.
peaknit's review against another edition
4.0
Sarcastic, sardonic and bitter, but very enjoyable! I listened via audible, the narration was perfect!
*edited to add I read this in book form 6 years later and I still like Joe, that little prick.
*edited to add I read this in book form 6 years later and I still like Joe, that little prick.
anovelobsession's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. I cannot say enough about how well it was written and how I fell in love with the characters. The main character in the book is Joe - an author who writes a book called Bush Falls - using people that he grew up with as the characters in the book - and he doesn't show them in a very good light. Circumstances force him go go back home (his father has a stroke) and the rest of the book follows him as he receives the backlash of those who weren't happy about the book and as he comes to terms with his father's death and his relationship with his brother and old friends. Great, great book.
librariansrule's review against another edition
5.0
Fearless writing, gorgeous phrasing, crazy stories with bittersweet, heartbreaking moments.
I'll read anything Tropper ever writes.
I'll read anything Tropper ever writes.
billymac1962's review against another edition
4.0
A little late with this review. It's been a couple of days since finishing it.
I really loved the first novel I read by this guy, This is Where I Leave You, which was a great dysfunctional family tale.
The Book Of Joe is also a family tale, but with an even better premise: Joe is a hugely successful author, whose one novel was a massive bestseller and became a movie.
The book was largely based on his childhood home town and the characters identical to those he grew up with. With some very slight embellishments he manages to rip apart those that did him wrong.
Fast forward fifteen years and Joe's father has been hospitalized with a stroke and Joe is forced to return home to the people and town he savaged.
I was ripping through the first hundred pages of this book with very high anticipation of where this was going to go.
Unfortunately I was a little let down, but I am sure this is due to my expectations being so high from This is Where I Leave You.
The Book of Joe certainly has a lot going for it, but I found a lot of it to be predictable, not quite as funny as TIWILY (in all fairness, the first 30 or so pages of that was the funniest thing I've ever read), and at worst, way too much introspection for my liking.
This is Where I Leave You was a really tough act to follow, but this was still an okay read. He's a great writer and I can't give him less than four stars.
I really loved the first novel I read by this guy, This is Where I Leave You, which was a great dysfunctional family tale.
The Book Of Joe is also a family tale, but with an even better premise: Joe is a hugely successful author, whose one novel was a massive bestseller and became a movie.
The book was largely based on his childhood home town and the characters identical to those he grew up with. With some very slight embellishments he manages to rip apart those that did him wrong.
Fast forward fifteen years and Joe's father has been hospitalized with a stroke and Joe is forced to return home to the people and town he savaged.
I was ripping through the first hundred pages of this book with very high anticipation of where this was going to go.
Unfortunately I was a little let down, but I am sure this is due to my expectations being so high from This is Where I Leave You.
The Book of Joe certainly has a lot going for it, but I found a lot of it to be predictable, not quite as funny as TIWILY (in all fairness, the first 30 or so pages of that was the funniest thing I've ever read), and at worst, way too much introspection for my liking.
This is Where I Leave You was a really tough act to follow, but this was still an okay read. He's a great writer and I can't give him less than four stars.
babyruth510's review against another edition
4.0
I read this after his new one, How to Talk to a Widower. It was another funny, quick read that flash backed to the mid-eighties which I could really relate to, especially all of the Bruce Springsteen references (I'm a big Bruce fan).
lamom77's review against another edition
5.0
Another great novel by Jonathan Tropper! Great characters and what a great story! I laughed and cried. This story ended up being so much more than I expected from when I started it.
mkaybaker07's review against another edition
4.0
When I read my first Tropper book, I didn't love him or the book. This one makes me so happy I gave him a second chance.