How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper

How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper- 352 pages

Book Blurb:

Doug Parker is a widower at age twenty-nine, and in his quiet suburban town, that makes him something of a celebrity—the object of sympathy, curiosity, and, in some cases, unbridled desire. But Doug has other things on his mind. First there’s his sixteen year-old stepson, Russ: a once-sweet kid who now is getting into increasingly serious trouble on a daily basis. Then there are Doug’s sisters: his bossy twin, Clair, who’s just left her husband and moved in with Doug, determined to rouse him from his Grieving stupor. And Debbie, who’s engaged to Doug’s ex-best friend and manically determined to pull off the perfect wedding at any cost.
Soon Doug’s entire nuclear family is in his face. And when he starts dipping his toes into the shark-infested waters of the second-time around dating scene, it isn’t long before his new life is spinning hopelessly out of control, cutting a harrowing and often hilarious swath of sexual missteps and escalating chaos across the suburban landscape.

My Review: 4 stars

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How ToTalk To A Widower takes a thoughtful approach to being a widower and adds a substantial amount of humor. This is what makes Jonathan Tropper such a magician with words.
This is another well done, humorous and exceptionally written account of family, living and loss. My dear friend became a widower about 2 weeks after I read this book and I feel like Mr. Tropper was hands down perfectly in tune with reality as he narrated Doug’s story.

Fans of family fiction, with insight and sarcasm will love Troppers books.

Quotes I liked:

You swear you’ll never become your parents. You listen to edgy music, you dress young and hip, you have sex standing up and on kitchen tables, you say “fuck” and “shit” a lot, and then one day, without warning, their words emerge from your mouth like long-dormant sleeper agents suddenly activated. You’re still young enough to hear these words through the ears of the teenager sitting beside you, and you realize how pitiful and ultimately futile your efforts will be, a few measly sandbags against the tidal wave of genetic destiny.”

-“Sometimes you walk past a pretty girl on the street there’s something beyond beauty in her face, something warm and smart and inviting, and in the three seconds you have to look at her, you actually fall in love, and in those moments, you can actually know the taste of her kiss, the feel of her skin against yours, the sound of her laugh, how she’ll look at you and make you whole. And then she’s gone, and in the five seconds afterwards, you mourn her loss with more sadness than you’ll ever admit to.”