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This Is Where I Leave You Book Club ~ Giveaway

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My first book club meeting was a success. We may not have all exactly finished the book. We may not have all exactly been in the same room (fevers, lice — mom stuff). But it was a success, and here is why — for the first time we all picked up the same book and read together. The book, This Is Where I Leave You, got us all talking about the story, life and relationships. 

And here’s the best part — we are all super excited to go see the movie together when it comes out September 19!

This Is Where I Leave You Book
Do you know why being excited to see the movie is the best part? Because it means we get to hangout together for a second time. Because really, isn’t the point of having a book club to hang out with your friends and get to know them better through discussing reading material? I think it is!

This Is Where I Leave You 

For those who aren’t familiar with the story yet, here’s a little bit about the book:

The dramatic comedy “This is Where I Leave You” is directed by Shawn Levy, and based on the hilarious and poignant best-selling novel by Jonathan Tropper. It features a starring ensemble cast including Golden Globe winner Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development”); Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Tina Fey (“30 Rock”); and two-time Oscar® winner, multiple Golden Globe honoree and 2013 Emmy Award nominee Jane Fonda (“Klute,” “Coming Home,” HBO’s “The Newsroom”).

When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

I don’t want to spoil the book (or the movie), but we all agreed that we enjoyed Judd’s dry humor. There were some graphic parts to the book that were more or less glossed over, but putting those parts aside we all seemed to enjoy the story and the relationships between the family members. People aren’t perfect, and what we liked about the Foxmans is that despite their faults (and the way they beat up on each other) they are family. And at the end of the day, that matters the most. 

This Is Where I Leave You Shiva
In addition to discussing the book, I put together an easy craft to make while we chatted. Inspired by the colors from the book cover and notebooks that sent to me along with the books, we decorated journals. The craft was easy to assemble while we chatted, and at the end of the night everyone had a nice book to take home for themselves or to give as a gift. 

I am going to write-up a tutorial for these DIY journals soon because they really are the perfect book club craft.

Book Club Craft Idea

This Is Where I Leave You Book Club Inspiration

There are still nine days until the movie comes out, which gives you plenty of time to host your own book club. If you want to host a book club for This Is Where I Leave You, here are a few questions to get the conversation started with your friends. 

1. Discuss Judd Foxman, the novel’s protagonist, from his very ironic and dry sense of humor (shared also by his brothers and sister), to his anger and vulnerability regarding his wife’s infidelity, to his conflicted emotions regarding his immediate family. What was your first impression of the protagonist/narrator of this novel? What did you find the most engaging aspect of his character? Did you find any aspect of him off-putting?

2. What was your first impression of Judd’s wife, Jen? Because you see her almost entirely from Judd’s perspective, was there any chance to see her as a sympathetic character before Judd finds her so? Do you think that Judd and Jen have a chance at salvaging their relationship, with or without a baby girl to raise?

3. Discuss Judd’s mother and her relationship with each of her children. Do you think that Hillary Foxman was truly a bad mother? Was there any real irony in her being a child-rearing guru? What was your opinion of her character?

4. For all of their faults, is the Foxman clan a likeable group of people? What makes them an endearing group of people? Who did you like the most, and who did you find the least appealing, and why? Were there any characters you would have liked to see developed further?

5. What did you think of Judd’s exit at the end of the shiva? Was his disappearance in Phillip’s Porsche realistic? Appropriate? Did you find it a satisfying resolution to the book?

It has been a long time since I have read the book before the movie, but I am glad I did. I am now invested in the characters and can’t wait to see their story played out in a movie. 

I highly encourage you to grab a copy of the book, This Is Where I Leave You, and a few girl friends to share the story with. You still have time before the movie comes out — perhaps you can even host your own book club meeting at dinner before you see the movie. 

Don’t forget This Is Where I Leave you comes out in theater September 19!

This Is Where I Leave You Book Club
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This Is Where I Leave You – In Theaters September 19 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $25 Visa gift card to go see This Is Where I Leave You. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends September 24, 2014.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. Tracy Robertson says

    I am currently reading The Onion Field. It’s a real old one, I think it was published in 1972, but I came across it on the library free table 2 weeks ago and have been engrossed in it ever since I opened it.

    Reply

  8. Amanda Temple says

    I am currently reading The Book of Life (3rd book in Discovery of Witches trilogy) and really don’t want it to end! I was not completely into the first book, but it has become something I can’t put down!

    Reply

  18. michelle oakley warner says

    i am reading carrie by stephen king, we just saw the second remake of carrie and i had to refresh my memory that the book was so so much better

    Reply

  23. Nichole says

    I am a firm believer in reading the book before you see the movie. I’ve only broken that once (The Help) – and it was worth it. I can’t wait for This is Where I Leave You to come out!

    Reply

  26. Christina Foley says

    I am currently reading Top Secret Twenty One by Janet Evanovich… the last book I finished a little over a week ago was The Fault in our Stars

    Reply

  41. Amy M says

    It’s funny that it’s also a movie tie-in, but I just finished “Labor Day” by Joyce Maynard. Didn’t see the movie, though I’d like to… it’s an interesting novel with a curious voice, and I love Kate Winslet.

    Reply

  62. Kelly Tupick says

    I just finished reading a fault in our stars. I wanted to read the book before i saw the movie. I can’t wait to see the movie now.

    Reply

  74. Starla B says

    Ahh, I really want to read that book and then see the movie. I think I would love it. I am currently reading The Body Book by Cameron Diaz. I LOVE it! Such a good, information read!

    Reply

  118. Laura J says

    The last book I read was Safe Haven…which I LOVED! I am not reading anything right now….but cannot wait to start a new book!

    Reply

  153. Melanie Comello says

    I am currently reading Rose Madder, it has been a few years since I’ve read it. So it’s just a Lil reread until I find something new to read.

    Reply

  155. Amy Sund says

    I am always reading the bible. But I am also reading How to Raise Grateful Kids. I highly recommend Rescue the Captors.

    Reply

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