The Book of Joe: A Novel

Brief Description: Joe Goffman left his small Connecticut town of Bush Falls after high school and never went back--except in his creative life when he wrote a novel called Bush Falls that is a thinly disguised account of his life growing up in the town. The book was a bestseller and was made into a movie. It also pissed off a lot of people in Bush Falls who didn't appreciate the way that Joe depicted them. Now Joe's father is on his death bed, and Joe must return to the Bush Falls and face the consequences of his book, his abandonment of the people he left behind and the choices he made in the past. He's also forced to confront the writer's block he's faced since Bush Falls was published.

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read another Tropper book ever since falling in love with This Is Where I Leave You. Although I didn't think The Book of Joe was as strong as This Is Where I Leave You, it deals with many of the same themes: loss of a parent, reconciling with the past, family dysfunction and regret. Tropper is a master of putting his protagnoists in horrible uncomfortable situations and having them twist and turn (often very amusingly) until they are able to grow and mature and finally deal with all the crap they've ignored for too long. I enjoy how Tropper is really writing tragedies but gives them a comedic edge that keeps you laughing. It is difficult to straddle this line, but Tropper does it skillfully. I'm definitely going to continue reading his books.

BEWARE: This book was originally published under the title of Bush Falls.

He's a prodigy of alienation. Now a successful writer, having written a book about his home town, Bush Falls, that savaged the place, Joe receives a call from his sister-in-law that his father has had a stroke (he was at the top of the key, had just released the ball, and came down unconscious. Basketball aficionados present noted the ball swished.) Joe's brother, Brad, ex-sports star, and their father never had much time for Joe. His mother had committed suicide, a manic depressive, for whom the piles of pills didn't work, so Joe wrote a book about his town, never dreaming it would be published which has made him personna non grata, but it made him rich. Now finds he is obligated to go back home for his father's illness.

So as with Tropper's other books, in the first few pages a similar scene is set: death, sex, familial dysfunction, alienation. Tropper's books all have similar themes and characters: a stepson/nephew/child. dying parent, dead parent, sibling, a main character alienated from his family. That does not mean they are redundant; each is different in its own way and each equally appealing and often funny and poignant. I like them all.

I thought this was a really awful book. I MIGHT have forgiven the incredibly trite story if any other elements of the novel had worked, but none do in my opinion. The dialogue is stilted and inane, the characters are flat and lacking in any emotional appeal and the prose itself borders on the ridiculous. It isn't touching, or heartfelt or deep. Tropper clearly wants it to be, but it just isn't. I read the book because I'd heard that people who like Nick Hornby (which I do) would love Jonathan Tropper. It's true they both have a predilection for sarcasm and one-liners, but Hornby knows what to do with all the other very necessary bits in between as well. Tropper hasn't a clue, at least in this book. The only satisfaction I got out of reading The Book of Joe was the guilty pleasure of despising it the entire time.

Regardless of its merits, this is a cliché-laden book: a small town obsessed with the success of high school sports and a predominating jock culture; parental favoritism shown towards the star player son compared to the smart, non-athlete younger brother; the community-sanctioned hostility shown towards those with unacceptable sexual orientations; the convenient discovery of a like-minded, non-jock-oriented first girlfriend who has been in the background for years; and of course the fantastical inspiration of the exotic mother of a friend . This is the stereotypical, stultifying culture that Joe Goffman escaped and then later skewered in a best selling novel.

Though more or less estranged from his family, his father's stroke some seventeen years after he left for college brings Joe back to Bush Falls. Although anticipating that his critical and financial success and his revelations concerning scarcely-fictionalized towns-people in his novel would have caused resentment, the aggression that he encounters is over the top: hard stares, physical assaults on him and his property, shadowing by the local cop, a former classmate, and the like.

However, moving beyond the excessiveness and the clichés, the book does have something to say about what returning home can mean, the importance of family, and realizing the necessity of digging beneath the surface to understand one's self and others, even those who may be antagonistic. It's the people, both old and new, that Joe meets that changes his visit from being merely perfunctory to one far more significant and emotional: Brad, his athlete brother, has a family situation that is in turmoil; Jared, Brad's son, is a pleasant surprise, not only in seeing though the sports-obsession of his father and the town, but also in providing support for Joe; Wayne, his best friend from high school, is dying from AIDS; and Carly, the only love of his life, is the editor of the town's newspaper but has suffered much from her previous, abusive marriage.

The book is an easy, mostly enjoyable, read and the characters are, for the most part, sympathetic. Though, as indicated, there are elements of insightfulness, overall it has to be said that the book lacks depth and plays loose with reality. Excessive and violent behavior usually has consequences; years of enmity are not easily put aside; self-discovery and the loosening of writer's block are not easy; and it's usually very difficult to rekindle relationships that have lain dormant from teenage years to mid-thirties. Also, the book is not particularly humorous, as indicated by others.

The Book of Joe is described by one reviewer as "a coming of year 34 year old tale" and I have to agree. However, this is not a bad thing! The story is about a man named Joe who writes a scathing book about the town in which he was raised. In his novel, he addresses how poorly everyone treated him and his friends. He also chronicles how the basketball team and its coach run the town while preaching conformity and intolerance. When Joe's father falls into a coma during a basketball alumni game, Joe is forced to return to this town that he left 17 years ago. Upon his return to Bush Falls, he suffers from various humiliating situations at the hands of the town including having milk shakes thrown in his face, copies of his book thrown on his front lawn, and is beaten up by the former captain of the basketball team. Yet none of these attacks hurt Joe as much as finding that his childhood best friend is suffering from a terminal disease and Joe's ex-girlfriend has had a troubled and violent past 17 years.

Though this novel had the potential to be cliched, it took the high and less jaded road. In fact, Tropper was able to take some previous lackluster plot turns and make them new again by tweaking certain outcomes. Still, the book is a bit of a tear-jerker but it is peppered with fantastic comic relief. The mixture created a novel that is sentimental and moving without being a sappy weep-fest; while also being humorous without making a mockery of the subject. The issues addressed in the book are heavy and deep but with enough wit to lighten the load and make the novel and exceptional read!!

I read Plan B by Jonathan Tropper when it first came out years ago and hadn't read anything else by him since. I heard that he suffered from the well-known "sophomore funk" and that it took him a while to write this novel. The Book of Joe is fun and entertaining lad-lit from beginning to end. Joe Goffman hadn't anticipated the uproar his bestselling first novel would cause. It was autobiographical, and he describes the people of his small Connecticut town, Bush Falls, in lurid detail and in a very unflattering light. So when he returns to Bush Falls after he hears about his father's illness, he discovers the whole town is against him. He also discovers that he had a lot of unfinished business with friends, neighbors, family and his ex-girlfriend. Will he be able to make amends with his past?

I agree with the reviewers who said that this novel seemed to have been written with a movie deal in mind. (Warner Bros. has bought the film rights, apparently.) And I also agree that there are some cliché situations and some stereotyping going on (the hot fifty-something-year-old mom was particularly cringe-worthy). But hey, even Dickens and Austen had done some stereotyping in their time! (Not that I'm comparing this with Dickens and Austen, but you get my drift.) It doesn't matter though. The Book of Joe is entertaining from beginning to end. Joe is a very engaging, very real character -- cynical but endearing at the same time. The story has its flaws, but it kept my interest till the end, and that's what really counts to me. I like Jonathan Tropper's strong voice and writing style (though he ought to cut down on the F word a little. I counted fifteen in one single page), and I'll be reading more of his stuff in the future.

Sometimes it's not that you can't go home again, it's that you shouldn't. Take Joe Goffman, for example. He left his hometown of Bush Falls shortly after high school and then years later wrote a fictionalized account of life there which left his former friends and neighbors feeling a little, well, angry. The book became a bestseller and was adapted into a movie, so the whole world got to see what Joe had to say.

Joe returns to Bush Falls 17 years later after his father has a stroke. Needless to say, he isn't welcomed with open arms by anyone. As he relives his glory days and tries to come to terms with his adult life, he starts to realize why he wrote the book and how he can move on to a new chapter with his friends and loved ones.

When The Book of Joe came out a few years ago, I remember not wanting to read it because I usually shy away from books labeled by critics as "funny," "heartwarming" or "life-affirming," because they're usually not. But after reading--and loving--Jonathan Tropper's newest book, This is Where I Leave You, I decided to read some of his previous novels as well. And I'm glad I did, because honestly, this book is funny, a little heartwarming and even slightly life-affirming. Sure, it's a little predictable, but Tropper's characters are so interesting and intriguing it doesn't matter. And besides, who hasn't wanted to write a book about where they grew up, getting revenge on those who did them wrong? I know it's not just me...

I truly enjoyed this fast-paced, big-hearted, sharp-witted, heartbreaking belated coming-of-age story by Jonathan Tropper. It was so enjoyable and uplifting that it made me rush out to get How to Talk to a Widower (Bantam Discovery) which I'm equally enjoying right now.

This is what made this book so enjoyable to me:

1. Easy/Fast Read - The narrator speaks in a familiar, sharp-witted voice that makes it so easy to sail through his prose. I found myself relate to the protagonist's personality and tone of voice, which reminded of a friend of mine's.

2. 80's Throwback - I relished the 80's pop cultural references with which this book is rife. People that grew up in the 80's will definitely relate to the protagonist and love this book.

3. Visceral Dialogue - Tropper's characters are too real for words. The way they talk and respond to one another is genius.

4. Amazing Story - The story is about family and life and everything in between. It's about dreams and destiny and about reality and fate. I just loved it.

I recommend you read this book on a beach somewhere. It's definitely a superb summer read, but can be enjoyed anytime, especially for those with a dreaded family reunion approaching; it'll make you feel so much better :-)

I listened to this on Audio and loved the way it was read. This book is full of complex and developed characters, who I could imagine coming to life. This is full of family dynamics and had me wanting to continue to listen to it! It certainly had some surprises throughout the book that kept me hooked! Joe is one of the best described main characters that I have read about in a long time. This book has me wanting to read more of Jonathan Tropper's books! If you like a book riddled with family drama, this is your book!

Joe Goffman leaves his boyhood town and becomes very successful by writing a bitter, quasi-memoir about his senior year in high school. To say that 99.9% of the town's people are ticked off at him is putting it mildly. Goffman's the kind of wise-ass, skinny kid who's too smart for his own good and always saying the wrong quip at the wrong time. What's even more painful is the fact that he actually knows his sardonic mouth can be relied on to get him into trouble. Due to his father's failing health, he returns to his old stomping grounds despite the animosity directed towards him. Mix a boatload of aging, resentful jocks including a particularly dangerous psycho named Sean, an ex-girlfriend, a gruff high school coach, other assorted colorful characters and let the hilarity begin. This is the first book I've read by Mr. Tropper, but it won't be the last. It's worth reading just for the plethora of sharp one-liners. The author has a knack for balancing humor and heartfelt, authentic-sounding people. It was a pleasant, touching book about how you can never run away from your problems. I finished the book with a smile on my face.

I love Jonathan Tropper! Great story, so real - I laughed out loud and cried - you know a book was great when you miss the characters after you've finished!
We read it for my book club - there was plenty to talk about but it was an easy beach read - not a combo you find often!

I work at various branches of Gold Coast City Council Libraries and many people request titles of books not realising they've read them before. For some reason publishers change titles for different markets. P.J Tracy's Want to Play is the same book as Monkeerench. Bill Fitzhugh's McJesus is the same novel as both Cross Dressing or Cross + Dress. Yes this book Bush Falls is exaclty the same novel as Jonathan Tropper's The Book of Joe. Under either name this book is a sensational masterpiece so which ever title is cheaper, get that one.

If The Book of Joe (Bush Falls) was a cup of Joe you'd be going straight back for a refill as it is that good. An entertaining light read, the character of Joe Goffman along with the supporting characters are so well written that you just can't stop turning the pages until you reach the last one. Jonathan Tropper's other work although not quite reaching the high masterpiece bench mark this novel sets are also very good.

Joe Goffman hated his small Connecticut town, apart from his final year in high school he had only one friend and not being an athlete had nothing to talk about with his basketball obsessed father. He moved away after high school and struggled as a writer until one day his agent came across a diary sort of story Goffman had written for himself about his backward, one employer, Cougar (basket ball team) worshipping town. He had left nothing out and once published and later made into a blockbuster movie, occupants of his former home town which was now seen as a joke by the rest of the world wanted him dead which was fine with him as he wasn't ever going back. A phone call from his sister in law Cindy one night telling him his father has had a stroke and is in a coma forces him to return and although it has been 17 years the locals have kept their grudge.

If the book of Joe was a cup of Joe you'd be going straight back for a refill as it is that good. An entertaining light read, the character of Joe Goffman along with the supporting characters are so well written that you just can't stop turning the pages until you reach the last one. I had never even heard of before but will definitely be checking out Jonathan Trooper's other work and if it is half as good as this I can't go wrong.

Joe Goffman hated his small Connecticut town, apart from his final year in high school he had only friend and not being an athlete had nothing to talk about with his basketball obsessed father. He moved away after high school and struggled as a writer until one day his agent came across a diary sort of story Goffman had written for himself about his backward, one employer, Cougar (basket ball team) worshipping town. He had left nothing out and once published and later made into a blockbuster movie, occupants of his former home town which was now seen as a joke by the rest of the world wanted him dead which was fine with him as he wasn't ever going back. A phone call from his sister in law Cindy one night telling him his father has had a stroke and is in a coma forces him to return and although it has been 17 years the locals have kept their grudge.

I loved this book, but you'll need to bear with me for a few moments while I set the stage for my review.

The movie Pleasantville (starring a very young Tobie Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, and totally worth watching) depicted a clean cut town where everyone got along, and no crisis was ever so complex that it took more than 22 minutes to solve. In "The Book of Joe" there's also a town depicted, but this town isn't a wholesome burg where everyone likes everyone else. This town is riddled with paranoia, bigots, and bullies, and somehow Tropper has crafted a humorous book detailing the return to the town of Joe Guffman, who wrote a scathing fictional book about the town.

There are many great moments in this book, and a lot of laughs considering there is so much death present in the pages. The pages flew by, and I stayed up well past my goal of midnight bedtime. I will be recommending this book to many of my friends and a lot of people in my family.

If you like Tom Perrota, you'll like this.

When best selling author Joe Goffman returns to his hometown due to his father's stroke, he ends up getting much more than he expected. It seems that his book, a thinly veiled fictional account of his growing up in the town, had caused a bit of an uproar when it was released. Fortunately for Joe, he was still living in New York City, where his greatest worries were feeling guilty for driving his Mercedes, psycho ex-girlfriends who call just to tell him how much of a jerk he is, and getting advice from his best and only friend Owen, his literary agent.

Joe's return to Hope Falls is anything but dull. While his father's physical condition worsens, he begins to get to know his jock brother Brad and Brad's family a bit better. Joe forms a special bond with Brad's son Jared, a somewhat rebellious teenager who has a penchant for paintball and marijuana. Joe even gets re-acquainted with Carly, his high-school sweetheart and only woman he's ever loved and his best friend Wayne who is dying from AIDS. To top it off, Joel is presented with the opportunity to live out a childhood fantasy with one of his best friend's mom.

Meanwhile, Joe must deal with the wrath of those who were affected by his writing, including an ex-con, a policeman, and the local basketball coach who practically owns the town. When the coach's wife greets Joe with a milkshake poured over his head, he knows he's in trouble. Even the book club gets in on the act by personally dumping their copies of his book on the front lawn. It seems that everyone wants a piece of him.

The Book of Joe is a touching coming-of-age story told with a smidgen of emotion and a truckload of sarcasm and humor. Jonathan Tropper (Plan B) has created a first person narrative that dances back and forth through time, from his Springsteen-inspired teen years, to his unpredictable present, never missing a beat. The Book of Joe is currently in development at Warner Brothers Studios. Let's just hope the movie is as good as the book.

Emanuel Carpenter
Author of "Where is the Love?"
emanuelcarpenter dot com

Joe Goffman is the best-selling author whose first book trashed his home-town and its residents. Brad is his estranged brother. Carly is the only woman he's ever loved, but without being able to make a commitment. Wayne and Sammy were his best buddies in high school. Lucy was Wayne's attractive mother and object of Joe's adolescent lust. Joe hasn't been home for seventeen years, until his father is felled by a massive stroke. It is not a happy home-coming.
Joe returns to Bush Falls to find out that he is hated. Copies of his book are thrown on his front lawn. Strangers pour milk-shakes on him in restaurants--well, you get the picture. Carly still lives there but is not overly thrilled to see him. And Joe is overwhelmed by unresolved issues from his past. In the course of this delightful novel, everyone will have a chance to re-examine their issues and conflicts, and hopefully to move on.
So, does Joe come to grips with his past failings? Does he reconcile with his brother? Does he get back together with Carly and live happily ever after? You will have to read the book to find out. This is an extremely well-written book that will have you turning the pages. Author Jonathan Tropper is a skilled writer who maintains control of his material and avoids the pitfall of sentimentality. Yes, it's true that some of the themes and characters are formulaic, some of the ideas have been used before, but hey--it works! In the end, this is a tale of sin, grace and redemption which will leave you profoundly moved.
The Book of Joe is an entertaining read and I highly recommend it. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

This book was an excellent read; I couldn't put it down. It's entertaining, funny - Laugh Out Loud funny at times - but not superficial. The main character goes though real, deeper emotions as well. Although you experience a range of emotions reading this book, it's not a "chic" book. It's written by a man and the main character is one, so I recommended it to my husband too.

Being a product of the 80's I enjoyed those references too. Brought back lots of fun memories!

There was a quote on the book jacket saying this is the type of book where you want to wake a friend up at 3 a.m. and read passages to them. I got this book through the library and now want to get a copy of my own - just so I can highlight all those funny and/or meaningful passages for myself. This is the first book I've read in ages where I knew AS I was reading it that I'd want to again... which I never do. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Treat yourself to it!

This book had so many missed opportunities to become unforgettable and iconic. Jonathan Tropper can definitely write; his phrasing was very evocative, and some of his humor is right on target. His characters on the other hand have been recycled ad nauseum from every Lifetime movie or after school special. In case you think I am kidding, here is the partial list;
1. Prodigal son
2. Teens; available in bully, misfit, effeminate gay, rebellious thrill seeker, jocks.
3. Distant father
4. Bored housewife
5. M.I.L.F.
6. Gay man dying of AIDS
7. Hometown former jock turned law enforcement
8. Adulteress waitress from the town diner
...I can make the case for a few more but you get the point.

Tropper's writing talent is clear from the beginning, which is what makes his descent into cliche so disappointing. It would have been a much more intriguing story if the characters did not follow some predetermined path. Instead of the openly gay man dying of AIDS it could have been much more interesting if it had been the former-jock-vicious-bully-possibly-closeted-cop in that situation.

The ending was much too pat. With almost no dialogue or denouement many of the most difficult issues the main character faces are miraculously resolved, nice and neat.

This book was enjoyable even if it did not meet its potential. I am hoping that the next book from Tropper erases the mild disappointment of this one.

A number of years ago, I was a teacher with student loans to pay, so I got a part time job at a deli. A former classmate, still wearing a jacket with his varsity basketball letter proudly showing for all to see, entered the store. The jacket no longer fit, his build had changed which age tends to do. I said hello and he gave me a look as if to say, "Why should I say hello to a pathetic loser like you?" He then made a comment about how little I accomplished since high school since I must only be slicing turkey breast and roast beef. I wanted to comment but wondered if it was worth it. Perhaps this is why I view Joe Goffman, the main character of THE BOOK OF JOE as almost heroic, as will anyone who felt excluded in high school.
In THE BOOK OF JOE, author Jonathan Tropper challenges the expression made famous by Thomas Wolfe's novel of the same name "You Can't Go Home Again." There is no question that Tropper is indebted to Wolfe, retelling the story from a 2004 perspective, albeit with a more sensuous flair than Wolfe's novel. The novel's hero, or anti-hero, depending on the reader's perspective, is named Joe Goffman. Goffman is a successful novelist who wrote a book set in his hometown and based on events of his senior year in high school. The residents of the town look rather buffoonish, naturally take exception to the book and feel humiliated when the book is made into a film. Perhaps the fact that residents in the town know that the tragic events depicted in Goffman's novel are true, it makes matters worse. Eventually Joe has to return to his hometown when his father becomes ill and his reunion with the town's residents, particularly the venerated basketball coach and his players who regard the coach as a god, is at times comical and at other times tragic. Tropper could have succumbed to worn out clichés in the work, but instead masterfully tells the story of a writer who was once an alienated youth who has achieved literary success yet still has to achieve personal satisfaction. Complicated broken family relationships and friendships are explored but never completely solved. People Goffman truly cared about and hurt, either intentionally or unintentionally, reenter his life and he likewise has to deal with the very real pain he has caused. Goffman likewise has struggles with the image he has of his father and finds an unlikely friend and ally in his nephew Jared, perhaps the novel's most endearing character.
Tropper deserves praise for the scope of what he has accomplished in this work. Many writers explores aspects of Tropper's book: returning home again, broken relationships, stigmas often attached to sexuality, complex family issues and the like, people constantly reliving the past, and do so well. Tropper is able to interweave all of these complicated issues into a novel that flows beautifully, captures a reader's attention, and holds it. He also describes the "writing life" rather well which I see as a plus.
According to the book's jacket, it may soon be released as a film. It will be interesting to see if Hollywood will do the book justice, so I would advise people to read the book quickly.

The riches you earn and rub in the face of all those who've wronged you in the past only go so far. Sooner or later in this small world, you will have to face those people again. This is the lesson Joe Goffman learns early in Jonathan Tropper's hilarious and heartbreaking novel THE BOOK OF JOE.
Goffman earned his right to be hated by penning a bestselling fiction named after his conservative hometown of Bush Falls, a once textile and retail outlet rich Connecticut town that has fallen on hard times. Behind the high moral standards, the churchgoing, the wealth, the cherished Cougars high school basketball team, romantic woodlands and falls, lurked the ugly truth that a once angry Joe Goffman embellished for his fiction debut, attracting hundreds of thousands of dollars from both New York publishing and Hollywood, leaving Joe with everything at the lonely top and nobody to talk to except his slick literary agent and a psychotic ex-girlfriend from the Big Apple.
Struggling with his hollow life in Manhattan and his failed attempt at postmodern fiction as a follow-up, Joe learns that his father Arthur is in a coma and he must return to the place, and the deep wounds, he exposed. Yet literary and financial successes have done little to massage the ego of Joe, who believes deep down that he has betrayed his family and friends and is undeserving of his posh apartment and Mercedes. So Joe refuses to defend himself back in Bush Falls when he faces fallen basketball star and brother Brad Goffman and his cheerleader wife Sean Tallon, miscreant "Mouse" Muser, Coach Dugan, lusty Lucy Haber and a host of other bitter folks and sports fanatics who unwillingly graced the pages of Bush Falls.
More terrifying are the ghosts Joe encounters in memory, that of his suicidal mother and of his close friend Sammy Haber, both victims of depression and Bush Falls. There to carry Joe through the wilderness of remorse and embarrassment is old friend Wayne Hargrove, whose love affair with Sammy the summer before senior year cost Sammy his life, Bush Falls the championship, and Joe nearly everything. With Wayne harboring an even more devastating secret, the author steps into a Michael Chabon-stylized Themeland with his side-splitting humor, akin to WONDER BOYS and homosexual undertones reminiscent of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY and THE MYSTERIES OF PITTSBURGH.
Yet Tropper distinguishes himself nicely as he revisits Joe's own 1980s at Bush Falls High. The author's engaging conversational tone and gift for character inflection make for some of THE BOOK OF JOE's funniest moments, especially during the tense moments at Mercy Hospital and on the roof of the old school. Witty lines such as "What [the novel] needs, I suspect, is to be taken out back and given the Old Yeller treatment," and "We sit quietly as the conversation limps off to wherever it is conversations go to die" pepper the novel and delight the many difficult scenes when Joe is feeling his worst.
As Bush Falls residents bombard Joe's childhood home with rejected copies of the novel, Joe realizes that what he dished out was just waiting to grow and come back to him one-hundredfold. Joe begins to find redemption only as he attempts to rekindle his love for high school sweetheart Carly Diamond, who stands by Joe as he deals with the most difficult challenge he must face --- understanding that forgiveness is the only way to heal the past.
Eloquent and meaningful, THE BOOK OF JOE is a worthwhile offering from an author who has the talent and market insight to pen a bestseller of his own.
--- Reviewed by Brandon M. Stickney

I had a hard time sticking with this story, but each time I was ready to give up, the lead character, Joe, did or said something to keep me reading. Joe is wildly immature and borderline dysfunctional, but of course, love and friendship triumph at the end. A little bit too neat. The best character was Wayne, and I was touched by his courage in the final stages of full-blown AIDS. Prahaps with all the current medical advances, we need to be reminded how devasting it can be.

Tropper is a terrific writer and I'm so glad that I own all of his books! He just has a great way of creating terrifically dynamic, three-dimensional characters. This book was much more emotional than _Everything Changes_, but still had witty dialogue and funny moments. Mostly, though, this one just rang with a sort of truth - a definite genuine-quality to it. Everything about this just felt so real. I don't know that the plot wasn't anything stand-out original, but that hardly matters because the characters' lives and personalities were so absorbing that I just didn't want the story to ever end.

This was my second Tropper novel (read 'Plan B' last year). While it was a step up from his first novel, I still had a lot of the same problems that I had with the first one.

My biggest problem with Tropper's works, including 'The Book of Joe', is the dialogue is awful and cliche. Characters trade quick witticisms that are more dull and less "edgy", although he certainly tries, than a CBS sitcom. If his editor hired a different writer to re-write all the dialogue once Tropper finished a draft, I'd add a star to this book.

The other problem I had is the characters are pretty one dimensional and their problems and journeys are typical of their being stock characters. Gay kid gets villified, self-absorbed writer hates himself and alientates people, the ex-jocks are miserable and live in the past, etc...

As for what I enjoyed, Tropper is very good at getting you to care for the characters, even if they are predictable and simplistic. He also gets you to turn the pages and is good at constructing a simplistic plot that keeps you engaged and makes you feel vested in the journey. His novel reads like a script, with short scenes comprising three very structured acts.

Overall, Tropper is a fun, unpretentious read. His works are light-hearted, but still emotionally strong. I hear 'This is where I leave you' is very good, so perhaps he is more polished with experience.

i can't believe i never reviewed this book!! it is an all time favorite that i recommend all the time. i laughed, i cried, and felt the emotions right along with the characters, which is what i always look for. easy 5 stars!!!

This blended a wry wit and cynic humor well throughout the story keeping the reader chuckling, yet still conveyed the emotions for the tragic parts. It depicted small town life well, even if at times you'd have liked to have shaken the entire town.

Joe a writer, has written a fiction novel based upon his hometown. With his father dying, he has to face all the people he has upset, and that pretty much takes up the entire town. He surprises himself more than his readers when his prodigal return puts him on a new journey of self discovery as well. Going from past to present, this is a book hard to put down.

This is a good look at what it would be like to finally come of age when you are thirty something. The characters of Joe as well as his friends Wayne, Sammy and other classmates are very believable and well rounded. As Joe returns reluctantly to his hometown for his father's death he finds that needs to come to terms with the way in which he treated those friends. The book that was written about the townspeople was very controversial in Bush Falls and Joe has to deal with a lot of hostility and even hatred, to the point of one young man actually pushing Joe over the Falls.

He spends his days caring for his ailing friend Wayne who has been spurned by the community because of his homosexuality. He tries to connect with his old soul mate, Carly, and does make some progress there.

The Book of Joe is an enjoyable, fairly light read. Mr. Tropper certainly has great storytelling skills. My only fault with this book is that I felt it was fairly predictable half way through and I wish that there had been more interesting twists or surprises at the end.

I do think it is a good book club book with lots of characters and situations to talk about.

I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the humor. This would make a good movie--I read somewhere that it is being developed by one of the major studios. Hopefully, the studio won't rip it apart and change it so much that the original core story isn't there anymore. But back to the book. The wit is sharp, the situations and characters are so amusing. I didn't want it to end. One of my favorite books. I've read Plan B and Everything Changes, which were also quite good. Looking forward to How To Talk To A Widower and other future books from Mr. Tropper.

Ah, the angst of arrested development in a confrontation with unresolved past trauma, mixed with clear insight and humor. Tropper spins a tale that holds your attention peppering it with incredible wit and dialog. His books contain little gems of universal truths making them a great read for everyone, not just men in the grip of a midlife crisis

I can hardly think of a negative with regards to this book. Jonathan is a superb writer with sentences that flow beautifully. Extraordinary vocabulary without being stuffy. I loved this story full of imperfect people trying to move forward, and family trying to reconnect. It was honest and sad and full of hope. Awesome.

I think I've found myself a new candidate for favorite author. The fact is, Jonathan Tropper is a truly wonderful writer. It's rare to come across an author who can portray such realism in a fiction novel. Tropper nails this. It's also rare to come across an author that can make you genuinely laugh and cry in the same novel. Tropper also nails this.

The Book of Joe had all of the aspects that makes me really love a book - characters, plot, and writing. I found the characters to be amazingly relatable and the plot to be exceptionally juice. It was funny and tragic and nostalgic and wonderful all wrapped up in one. You know what that is? That's like a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Perfection!

Tropper's timing is impeccable, and his characters all too real, especially for those who grew up in a small town. Yet for all his acid wit and inventive twists, the man's writing shines above all. Wayne's death (Not a spoiler--he's expected to die) is, despite its foreshadowing, a heartbreaking scene. In the final chapter, Tropper manages to combine a sense of redemption and acceptance for his main characters along with one more humorous touch involving the town's hatred for him.

Actually, that's a familiar theme throughout the story, and it's at once touching, and very funny. Do not miss this novel.

My friend recommended this book to me and I'm so glad that I was able to read it. This book made me laugh, think, imagine, and wonder about my own life. The book begins with Joe Goffman having (not particularly wanting) to go to his hometown where his dad is in a coma. One might think this can easily be done with a family member in danger, but for Joe it's returning to a town that he bashed in his book that sold big and eventually became a movie. While there, he is threatened, harassed, and has copies of his book thrown at his house. He learned his lesson but his lesson is about his own life. He learns that when you push away things, such as your family, friends, and relationships you begin to lose who you are and the things that should remain most important in life. For seventeen years, Joe pushed these things out of his life and tried to cope but realized this is impossible when it makes you who you are. Without his hometown, he would not be a wealthy writer and without the people in his life that lived there, he would not be himself. This book is highly recommended by me if you like coming-of-age stories, even if he is 34.

Hilarious and heartfelt, Joe takes us on a trip down his own personal highway to hell. He returns to his hometown, Bush Falls, where the whole town is enfuriated with him. Fists and milkshakes fly. Copies of his bestselling book, a thinly veiled account of his life in Bush Falls, hit his living room window and litter the front yard. Death, love, paintball, redemption and a big Do-over ensue. I loved Plan B, but this really had my attention from the cover picture on. Keep cranking them out!

Though I am a reasonably well read person, most of my fiction forays have either been of the suspense/horror variety such as Dean Knootz and Stephen King novels or the kind of Legal/political thrillers John Grisham and Vince Flynn normally write. The Book of Joe, by Jonathon Tropper, is a bit of a departure for me. I would call it a personal, first person narrative. I really enjoyed the main character's witty, sometimes downright hilarious, and bizarre take on life. With short chapters, a humorous narrative, and well structured plot, the pages fly by. I knew from the first sentence that this book was definitely different from my normal reading -in a good way. Unfortunately, the novel trends downward and has trouble concluding in a satisfying way that avoids cheesy ploys and clichés. In other words, by the end, the book loses some of the steam it has coming out the gate. Oddly enough, most of the books I read can be tough to get through in the beginning because early chapters set up a compulsive read as the story concludes. Though not a glaring problem, I have the opposite hang-up with Joe. A couple of events in particular were especially over the top and generally unnecessary. On a whole, however, I found it to be quite a pleasurable read and am looking forward to checking out more books by Tropper and his elk.

My wife bought this book because our son's name is Joe and she thought it was cool that someone wrote a book with his name in the title. God, I'm glad she did. It's a wonderful story, well written, funny, touching, from the heart. I haven't been this moved by a novel since "The Corrections." Some critics said some of the characters were cliche or stereotypes, but they missed the point. The book rings true and touches your heart. Can you ask for anything more? Buy it, read it, commend it to your friends. They'll be glad you did.

Plan B was a great book. This effort is more ambitious, but not quite (in my opinion)as good. Some of it cliche, some of it is not needed (really Tallon? Come on...what a goofy character). On the other hand, Tropper is still very good at conveying emotions and capturing the pain of youth and finally growing up. One other issue, why don't we learn more about what has happened to Carly? She is still very underdeveloped. OVerall, Tropper avoids the sophomore slump, but I think he tries to do too much...

The Book of Joe manages to be both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. I picked it up because Plan B, Tropper's first novel, had been such a fun read, and was fankly surprised by how much I started caring about the characters. Joe Goffman returns to the town he trashed in his bestselling novel, and the reaction of the town, his family, old friends and his old girlfriend are what drive this compelling story. The book is being adapted for the screen by Warner Brothers, and if they can capture the essence of this book, I think, they'll have a major hit on their hands. Tropper writes with a clear and very funny voice, and then, all of a sudden, you come across a sentence so perfect, almost poetic, that you find yourself rereading the entire paragraph. His voice perfectly captures the irony and pathos of a thirty-something man trying to make sense out of lost loves and age old wounds. At times I laughed out loud, and at times I had tears in my eyes. If you like anyone from Nick Hornby to Michael Chabon to John Irving to Tom Perrotta, you will love The Book of Joe.

I made the mistake of starting this book. I wasn't able to put it down and finished it in a day. I must admit I was kind of confused and actually thought it might have been based on his life. Some stories are so good, with so much truth that it is hard to believe they are fiction. Tropper makes things understandable -- like in knowing when it's love -- it never stops hurting and the scars never heal -- the whole book really came to life for me and spoke to me. I had my Wayne and I had my Carly -- and sometimes wonder if I too am an arse like Joe. I'm glad the book wasn't 1,000 pages case I would have stayed on the couch for 3 days in a row to finish it -- and was sad when I finished it -- even if I thought the ending was a bit weak (4 1/2 stars).

Can't wait for his next book, Everything Changes due out in March, 2005. Off I go to buy Plan B.

This was a terrific book from start to finish. Just downloaded 2 more by the same author. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Joe when I started it but I sure liked him a whole bunch when I finished it.

I think I've found myself a new candidate for favorite author. The fact is, Jonathan Tropper is a truly wonderful writer. It's rare to come across an author who can portray such realism in a fiction novel. Tropper nails this. It's also rare to come across an author that can make you genuinely laugh and cry in the same novel. Tropper also nails this.

The Book of Joe had all of the aspects that makes me really love a book - characters, plot, and writing. I found the characters to be amazingly relatable and the plot to be exceptionally juice. It was funny and tragic and nostalgic and wonderful all wrapped up in one. You know what that is? That's like a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Perfection!

Tropper's timing is impeccable, and his characters all too real, especially for those who grew up in a small town. Yet for all his acid wit and inventive twists, the man's writing shines above all. Wayne's death (Not a spoiler--he's expected to die) is, despite its foreshadowing, a heartbreaking scene. In the final chapter, Tropper manages to combine a sense of redemption and acceptance for his main characters along with one more humorous touch involving the town's hatred for him.

Actually, that's a familiar theme throughout the story, and it's at once touching, and very funny. Do not miss this novel.

My friend recommended this book to me and I'm so glad that I was able to read it. This book made me laugh, think, imagine, and wonder about my own life. The book begins with Joe Goffman having (not particularly wanting) to go to his hometown where his dad is in a coma. One might think this can easily be done with a family member in danger, but for Joe it's returning to a town that he bashed in his book that sold big and eventually became a movie. While there, he is threatened, harassed, and has copies of his book thrown at his house. He learned his lesson but his lesson is about his own life. He learns that when you push away things, such as your family, friends, and relationships you begin to lose who you are and the things that should remain most important in life. For seventeen years, Joe pushed these things out of his life and tried to cope but realized this is impossible when it makes you who you are. Without his hometown, he would not be a wealthy writer and without the people in his life that lived there, he would not be himself. This book is highly recommended by me if you like coming-of-age stories, even if he is 34.

Hilarious and heartfelt, Joe takes us on a trip down his own personal highway to hell. He returns to his hometown, Bush Falls, where the whole town is enfuriated with him. Fists and milkshakes fly. Copies of his bestselling book, a thinly veiled account of his life in Bush Falls, hit his living room window and litter the front yard. Death, love, paintball, redemption and a big Do-over ensue. I loved Plan B, but this really had my attention from the cover picture on. Keep cranking them out!

Though I am a reasonably well read person, most of my fiction forays have either been of the suspense/horror variety such as Dean Knootz and Stephen King novels or the kind of Legal/political thrillers John Grisham and Vince Flynn normally write. The Book of Joe, by Jonathon Tropper, is a bit of a departure for me. I would call it a personal, first person narrative. I really enjoyed the main character's witty, sometimes downright hilarious, and bizarre take on life. With short chapters, a humorous narrative, and well structured plot, the pages fly by. I knew from the first sentence that this book was definitely different from my normal reading -in a good way. Unfortunately, the novel trends downward and has trouble concluding in a satisfying way that avoids cheesy ploys and clichés. In other words, by the end, the book loses some of the steam it has coming out the gate. Oddly enough, most of the books I read can be tough to get through in the beginning because early chapters set up a compulsive read as the story concludes. Though not a glaring problem, I have the opposite hang-up with Joe. A couple of events in particular were especially over the top and generally unnecessary. On a whole, however, I found it to be quite a pleasurable read and am looking forward to checking out more books by Tropper and his elk.

So this is what it's like to be a successful author. I thought the story's premise was interesting, and it kept me interested, especially since I'd just had my high school reunion. Fortunately, I don't think I burned so many bridges as this Joe Goffman character did in The Book of Joe. The writing was good, and I can't help but picture John Malkovich as Wayne and Paul Rudd as Joe, but that's just me. The book had plenty of dry humor and pop culture references. If I was a Bruce Springsteen fan I probably would have given this 5 stars. Given the name of the book, I expected more coffee.

My wife bought this book because our son's name is Joe and she thought it was cool that someone wrote a book with his name in the title. God, I'm glad she did. It's a wonderful story, well written, funny, touching, from the heart. I haven't been this moved by a novel since "The Corrections." Some critics said some of the characters were cliche or stereotypes, but they missed the point. The book rings true and touches your heart. Can you ask for anything more? Buy it, read it, commend it to your friends. They'll be glad you did.

Plan B was a great book. This effort is more ambitious, but not quite (in my opinion)as good. Some of it cliche, some of it is not needed (really Tallon? Come on...what a goofy character). On the other hand, Tropper is still very good at conveying emotions and capturing the pain of youth and finally growing up. One other issue, why don't we learn more about what has happened to Carly? She is still very underdeveloped. OVerall, Tropper avoids the sophomore slump, but I think he tries to do too much...

The Book of Joe manages to be both hilarious and heartwarming at the same time. I picked it up because Plan B, Tropper's first novel, had been such a fun read, and was fankly surprised by how much I started caring about the characters. Joe Goffman returns to the town he trashed in his bestselling novel, and the reaction of the town, his family, old friends and his old girlfriend are what drive this compelling story. The book is being adapted for the screen by Warner Brothers, and if they can capture the essence of this book, I think, they'll have a major hit on their hands. Tropper writes with a clear and very funny voice, and then, all of a sudden, you come across a sentence so perfect, almost poetic, that you find yourself rereading the entire paragraph. His voice perfectly captures the irony and pathos of a thirty-something man trying to make sense out of lost loves and age old wounds. At times I laughed out loud, and at times I had tears in my eyes. If you like anyone from Nick Hornby to Michael Chabon to John Irving to Tom Perrotta, you will love The Book of Joe.

I made the mistake of starting this book. I wasn't able to put it down and finished it in a day. I must admit I was kind of confused and actually thought it might have been based on his life. Some stories are so good, with so much truth that it is hard to believe they are fiction. Tropper makes things understandable -- like in knowing when it's love -- it never stops hurting and the scars never heal -- the whole book really came to life for me and spoke to me. I had my Wayne and I had my Carly -- and sometimes wonder if I too am an arse like Joe. I'm glad the book wasn't 1,000 pages case I would have stayed on the couch for 3 days in a row to finish it -- and was sad when I finished it -- even if I thought the ending was a bit weak (4 1/2 stars).

Can't wait for his next book, Everything Changes due out in March, 2005. Off I go to buy Plan B.

This was a terrific book from start to finish. Just downloaded 2 more by the same author. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Joe when I started it but I sure liked him a whole bunch when I finished it.

First, a bit of context for this review: I have never reviewed a book on the store.com before. I had never read anything by Jonathan Tropper before I read The Book of Joe. I teach a creative writing seminar at a midwestern university, and a student of mine dropped this book on my desk one day last week and insisted that I read it. Having just completed the book, I decided to do what I instruct my students to do upon finishing a worthwhile read - put pen to paper and record their personal reactions to the work, before having their views tainted through discussions with others.
The plot of this novel is remarkably familiar: The return of the estranged to an unwelcome home. Tropper breaks no new ground as far as the general movement of the story. Despite that, this is an extraordinarily original piece of writing. The characters are wonderfully drawn, most assuredly based on real-life characters in Tropper's life, and the complete believability of even some of the more far-fetched incidents is a credit to the sincerity of the voices Tropper records.
In particular, I found the depiction of the coach, which could easily have dipped into the cliche-ridden, to be original, enlightening, and very true. (In fact, just about every character was true.) As I frequently address to my own students, a good piece of fiction makes the reader feel that he or she could enter the story and fit right in. A great piece of fiction makes the reader feel that he or she has already been in the story. The Book of Joe falls into the latter category. I felt like I had witnessed personally the events taking place in the story, and while I don't sympathize with the protagonist quite as much as the author may have intended, I did identify with many of the mixed emotions he experiences throughout.
I have recommended The Book of Joe to my students and colleagues as an entertaining novel, and one that exemplifies what a young novelist should aspire to. Certainly, this is the kind of writing Harry Chapin had in mind when he sang:
"Strum your guitar, sing it kid.
Just write about your feelings, not the things you never did.
Inexperience, it once accursed me.
But your youth has no handicap, its what makes you thirsty."

As a chick-lit fan and author, this book hit every requirement I look for in a book: a good story that flows and keeps me intrigued, an unlikely likeable character, sarcasm and wit, and the shedding of tears. If the back cover description doesn't suck you in, just start reading the first page. You won't be able to put it down. I locked myself away for two days so I could finish. The only bad part about this book was trying to find a new book that even came CLOSE to being as good once I was finished reading it. This book will really make you wonder just how much you really knew when you were a teenager, and what it would be like to really get back at people who burned you "way back when."

We city folk like to think of small town life as simple, placid predictable affairs. But people are complex "a-holes" where ever they reside; and, to paraphrase Tropper, you can learn a lot from an a-hole.

I have read all but one of Tropper's books and really liked all of them. Book of Joe may be my favorite!

Book of Joe was absolutely heart-warming, sad, funny and real. I cared about the characters and what happened to them. Savored every bit.

The ending was magnificent! Wonderful read!

"I just finished and enjoyed reading This is Where I Leave You and decided to read another Jonathan Tropper book. The Book of Joe was a modern masterpiece. After writing a best-selling novel in which he trashes a lot of people he grew up with (in most cases, rightly so), Joe comes back to his hometown because his estranged father is in a coma. Even though Joe had been gone for 17 years, residents still resent his depiction of them in his novel. In going home again, Joe endures a lot of insults and physical abuse but he finds himself by reconnecting with family and friends, thereby filling the empty void in his life despite his successful writing career. This is a winner of a book if there ever was one! Every page is full of Tropper's sarcastic wit and razor-sharp observations on life that are universally experienced."

Easy to read and enjoyable - I especially liked the 80's pop culture references. There was at least one loose end that I kept waiting to find out how it would get tied up, and it was never mentioned again (Wayne's online purchases) - I assume that was an editing oversight. The story did pull me in and make me want to find out what was going to happen next, though, and it made me want to go back and listen to all my old Springsteen music.

Why I love this book:

1. This book made me laugh. Out loud. A lot. Much to the chagrin of the poor gentleman I was sitting next to on the flight to San Fran. I couldn't stop giggling and doing the silent-shaking-while-trying-to-contain-my-laughter laugh.

2. Despite all the laughter, it's the first book in several years that had me in tears at the end. Major, embarrassing "please don't look at me" tears. So worth it. I think I actually hugged the book at the when I finished the last page.

3. It was well written and totally engaging from page one. It's one of those books you remember in pictures, like you saw it taking place right in front of you, instead of text.

I could go on and on, but I'm at work. Bottom line is, it's a great book, and I promptly bought his next one the same night I finished Book of Joe.

This was the first Tropper book I've read, and I am now working my way through the rest of them. I think what I loved about "Joe" was the full range of emotions I could feel over a very short range of pages. An author needs to be able to yank his readers around: build their hopes up, distract them with wit and humor, and then pull the rug out when they weren't expecting it (or better, let them expect it but make it hurt anyway). He likes to write about a limited set of themes, coming home, grief and loss, and being superficially successful in your 30s, but he tackles these themes very well. In the end, Tropper's books feel very good, but getting there is a quick roller coaster. He's a good writer and I'll keep buying his books.

I have recommended this book to several people--it is one of the most accomplished novels I've read in the past few years. Jonathan Tropper perfectly blends nostalgia, family drama (and trouble), frustration and longing with a wonderful, deadpan sense of humor. I laughed out loud and actually teared up at the end (there is one scene at the end of the book that is incredibly poignant and touching). I am definitely going to buy other books by this talented author.

This is the 2nd book of his I've read. The 1st being, "This is where I leave you", and I am a huge fan! His stories are touching, hysterical, ands REAL. Nearly everyone can relate to situations he writes. My only "complaint", if you can call it that, is you want the story to go on just a bit further. You become attached to his characters & want a kind of Epilogue of what happens after the story ends.

Predictable? Maybe. But all in all - This book was absolutely, totally enjoyable! Joe was a hoot! and deserved every bad thing that happened to him. He also deserved every good thing that happened to him!!! Loved his story, loved his friends - loved his nephew. Finished the book a while ago and I still worry about Wayne! I wrote a little ditty about Wayne - - "Wayne's gonna die and I'm gonna cry on that sad and gloomy day. Wayne's gonna die and I'm gonna cry and there's nothing more to say." How many books have you read where you get so involved with a character, you write a little ditty about them???

This book is about a man, who writes a book about his hometown, with such fury, and with enough artistic liberties about the actual deeds of the people, that he's pretty much hated and loathed by all the townspeople he left behind. When his Father dies he comes to town for the funeral, and stays to patch up things with his old flame, and watch his high school best friend live out his last few days before he dies of AIDS.

For Joe, his book was made into a movie, and for the author of this book, you can practically hear him saying "Cut" and "end scene" through-out (And don't worry, he's already cast DiCaprio and Dunst in the lead).

This book is akin to a net, where the actual plot and good storytelling are just thin lines, but it mostly amounts to big gaping holes in the story. His romance with his dead high-school friend's Mom, where she turns up and ravishes him with playboy-esqe escapades is so fictitious it's silly, the bully that pushes him off a sheer cliff into a waterfall and he rises "reborn", farfetched, the abuse his car suffers, or the rain of books thrown onto his front lawn from disgruntled townspeople - you can practically hear the laughtrack running rotation to this, for some of the sentimental parts - it's the stuff Hallmark movies are made of.

There are a few solid lines, a few really well written observations and statements, about growing up, and going home. But sadly too few.

This book was just a lot of laughs! I loved it! When you're looking for a funny fast read, this is the one! His writing style is "on" while providing great entertainment. You will laugh out loud and want to share it with a friend.

This book grabbed me from the very start...3 pages in and I was hooked. Tropper has a very approachable writing style that is like a voice inside your head...I just started my third book by him....he's great.

What fun! This book had me laughing out loud one chapter, then got serious in another. You could sum it up as coming of age all over again. Near the end it got heavier to deal with but a quick read and the dialogue is hysterical at times.

If you liked this book, check out these similar ones--
Tom Perrotta's Joe College Joe College: A Novel
Nick Hornby's High Fidelity High Fidelity: A Novel

Great read. Cleverly written, fun, and engaging. My only bone to pick, as someone who is actually FROM a small CT town is that Tropper clearly has never actually BEEN to a small CT town. I got a good laugh out of the descriptions of "small" Bush Falls, with large shopping centers and a major corporate headquarters.

If you've ever thought it would be fun to write a book slamming all the people in your hometown, think again! As much as I felt sorry for the guy, who has to return to his hometown when his father has a stroke, I laughed every time he woke up to the sound of his own book hitting the front of his family house. Both hysterical and poignant, The Book of Joe is a charmer.

The Book of Joe seems to try a little too hard to be prolific, and comes short in its' slightly overdone tale of an objective journey through life. One can appreciate, however, the sweet story of family relationships and perspective, as well as the witty illustration of a gossip-ridden small town community. Some bits are funny, some bits are sweet, but some bits were filled with unfulfilled potential to be potent and thought-provoking, and Joe could have been better developed as a character. All in all, 3.5 stars for lovely passages and humor, but not worth a reread. Look for The Book of Joe in theaters in 2006, folks- the general fear is that on screen, the story will reverberate exactly like Zack Braff's recent Garden State.

This book is truly the trip down memory lane that has been to long overdue for all of us. Tropper rates in an elite class of contemporary writers. I certainly recommend this book for fans of Augusten Burroughs.

I read This is where I leave you by Tropper and enjoyed his humor so decided to read The book of Joe. I can say this book was as enjoyable as the first. I remember setting all alone laughing right out loud.

First of all, I LOVED Plan B by Mr. Tropper. So, I excitedly forced my book club to read and review Book of Joe. I was surprised at the similarity between Mr. Tropper's two books. (ensemble cast, family disputes, nostolgic circle of friends, trying to reconnect to the past, etc.) But that didn't really bother us, since every good writer has a "formula." Most of us, however, felt the novel was too shallow. The kissing teenager has braces, the local cop is a former sports hero whose father was the town sheriff, the gay guy gets aids, etc. In other words, very very predictable. But the real problem is that Mr. Tropper spends 9/10ths of the book carefully creating this hatred and tension between Joe and everyone else, and then, suddenly, and magically, in the last 5 pages, his brother, the Coach, and his girlfriend, all forgive him and have a hallmark moment. It's like Mr. Tropper ran out of ideas, or was reaching his word-limit and just decided to have a hollywood ending. Mr. Tropper writes beautifully and poetically. It is a shame he has already sold out after only one book.

It takes a white to get going--and then doesn't. This is the third book I've read of Tropper's and while there is a degree of sex and drugs in his other books, this one is only about teenage sex and pot (despite any claims to the contrary). It's quite egregious. I'm not a prude but there's only so much you can take and then it's just a bad joke--pointless, embarrassing and boring. I couldn't even finish the thing.

I bought this book because the premise sounded like one I would enjoy having left my hometown at 18 for bigger and better things. I never expected to both laugh out loud and be brought to tears. One of the best books I've read in years.

I guess sometimes this is what we have to show for allowing poppy little english grammar ditties to be so catchy. I can see Mr. Tropper as the kind of writer motivated by two things: Schoolhouse Rock and vocab-building page-a-day calendars. The writing here was laughable at times, overly flowing and several syllables longer than needed. The vocabulary used was over the top for what was required, and all the more jarring in that the author tends to use (or wants to use) a seemingly accessible, pop-culture-riddled, casualness to the story-telling. The story itself is ok, though nothing exceptional here. For a better, albeit surreal, look at the "voyage-to-the-hometown-of-renowned-author" genre, try Jonathan Carroll's *The Land of Laughs*.

READ THIS BOOK! A great book modern book with the reflections of childhood and the opportunity to get it right on the second try. It was one of those stories out there that I connected with, it was blunt and harsh, and forginving and soft. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved this book -- couldn't put it down. Tropper combines a fast moving plot with complex characters woven together with wit and depth. Packed in between are thought-provoking observations about everyday life that are themselves worth the price of the hard cover. I don't know how a movie can possibly do the book justice -- but I'll be sure to watch it!

My first Jonathan Tropper experience was with And This Is Where I Leave You and I absolutely loved it. However, this one was a miss for me; I did not enjoy it at all. If I read this one first, I would have never tried to read another one of his books.

So this is what it's like to be a successful author. I thought the story's premise was interesting, and it kept me interested, especially since I'd just had my high school reunion. Fortunately, I don't think I burned so many bridges as this Joe Goffman character did in The Book of Joe. The writing was good, and I can't help but picture John Malkovich as Wayne and Paul Rudd as Joe, but that's just me. The book had plenty of dry humor and pop culture references. If I was a Bruce Springsteen fan I probably would have given this 5 stars. Given the name of the book, I expected more coffee.

I enjoyed reading this book; there were surprising plot turns and twists and I was a bit by the suddenly. I felt a bit of regret that is came to an end, but I felt good about the ending. I recommend it as a fun read. Thanks
Michael Walcott

Usually you can tell if a book is going to keep your interest right away but not with this book...this one started out promising but really fizzled by the end. The characters all turned into saints...The plot turned lifetime for women. The joe character was totally not realistic...falling off a cliff.. getting beaten up all the time but not sustaining major injuries...all the gay characters must die for some reason..couldn't they just have had regular lives as most gay people do??/ Wow was this a waste of time....

I read this on vacation in 2 days, very entertaining. Parts were hysterically funny, some a little depressing, but overall a book that you always want to pick up and finish. Would highly recommend it.

First off, this was a difficult book to rate. On the plus side, it made me laugh; it made me cry. I was caught up in the character's lives and cared about them. The author has a winning and simple way with prose. The negatives are what made me downrate it so much. Aside from the main character's intense self-pity that we're hammered over the head with, I had trouble suspending my disbelief for his best friend, Wayne, who deserved a much fresher and more thoughtful approach. Wayne is one of two gay characters in the book; the other dies as a teenage suicide. And, of course, Wayne himself is dying of AIDS, KS, wasting, the whole nine yards. The problem with this, and the place where the author loses credibility for me, is that Wayne's full-blown AIDS occurs in 2004. In 2004, a whole array of live-saving and health-maintaining drug cocktails were on the market to treat HIV. As someone very familiar with the HIV/AIDS landscape, I had trouble believing Wayne. His character would have been more believable in the early 90s, when such cases were much more common. In 2004, it was much rarer to find someone with full-blown AIDS, especially in a relatively affluent part of the US. I'm not saying people still don't die from AIDS (or didn't in 2004), I'm just saying it's rarer. The author, at the very least, should have had a conversation wherein Wayne laments that none of the cocktails worked for him. It happens. But the way it is now, I just think the author was ignorant about gay people and the disease and that made it hard for me to enjoy what otherwise was an enjoyable book. Even better, though, would have been not to saddle the gay main character with something as stereotypical as AIDS, but something like Stage 4 cancer. The same results could have been achieved without resorting to the cliche.

"I just finished and enjoyed reading This is Where I Leave You and decided to read another Jonathan Tropper book. The Book of Joe was a modern masterpiece. After writing a best-selling novel in which he trashes a lot of people he grew up with (in most cases, rightly so), Joe comes back to his hometown because his estranged father is in a coma. Even though Joe had been gone for 17 years, residents still resent his depiction of them in his novel. In going home again, Joe endures a lot of insults and physical abuse but he finds himself by reconnecting with family and friends, thereby filling the empty void in his life despite his successful writing career. This is a winner of a book if there ever was one! Every page is full of Tropper's sarcastic wit and razor-sharp observations on life that are universally experienced."

This is my last Tropper book. While they are entertaining and even mildly funny I feel like he just repeats the same story over and over. Main character unhappy with life, relative sick or dying, has to go home and confront dysfunctional family, old high school girlfriend makes an appearance.....

Joe Goffman has spent most of his life shunned by those around him. He wasn't a big shot basketball player like his brother, he didn't get along with his dad, guys in school constantly picked on him, he lusted after his best friends mom, and the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with ended up returning to their hometown after things didn't work out between them. Joe writes a fictional novel, but basically it's a book bad mouthing pretty much everyone in his small hometown. Seventeen years later, Joe's father has a stroke and Joe returns to the town he's not so welcome in anymore.

The last book I read by Tropper, This Is Where I Leave You, was okay. How to Talk to a Widower by him is still my favorite out of his books, and The Book of Joe turned out to be pretty good. Joe was very witty, tired to be a good friend, and wanted nothing more out of life than to basically be loved. Sometimes I laughed at the situations he got himself into and other times I wanted to cry. I wished he's stood up for himself more, but he tended to use smart comments as a defense rather than getting physical. Joe's life could actually be half the lives of teenagers in America which makes it easy to relate to things in the book. It's not a happy, feel good book. It's somewhat depressing and left me feeling sad for Joe throughout most of it. Once again questions remain at the end leaving the reader to wonder what happened, but guess like his other books you can imagine what you want. At times I got tired of reading the long narrations, but the book was well written.

Although some of the story has been told time and time again--guy has no friends, mother kills herself, dad doesn't like his son, brother doesn't like him either, true love leaves him, best friends gets Aids, this book is still funny, clever, smart, and heartbreaking.

Another famous author who wrote about his small town comes home again to a mixed reception when his father takes sick. Father and son have been estranged and Joe has been away 17 years. Older brother Brad by 5 years shares the town’s obsession with high school basketball with the father. Then there’s Brad’s 18-year-old son Jared, Joe’s nephew. Wayne, his best friend from high school and a former team member. And various and sundry other players plus the coach still at it in his 70ies.

The story flashes back to the high school years Joe wrote about in his best selling novel. At least the flash backs are clearly identified.

This is not my usual preferred genre, but it turned up in my BookBub suggestions, and I'm glad it did. The author's approach to first person narrative was a little jarring at first, but once I got to know Joe, it worked. The characters are so authentic I remember their real names from high school. Unless you're entirely comfortable laughing out loud and crying in public, read this book on a lazy Sunday at home.