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How to Talk to a Widower (2007)

by Jonathan Tropper

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9995021,004 (3.86)14
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, Claire, 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 maniacally 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. Funny, sexy, and smart, How to Talk to a Widower is a novel about finding your way, even when you have no idea where it is you want to go.… (more)
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English (45)  Swedish (2)  French (1)  Italian (1)  Dutch (1)  All languages (50)
Showing 1-5 of 45 (next | show all)
This one got off to a Not-For-Me start with the widower trying to kill rabbits on his lawn by throwing stones.

He's basking in self-aware self-pity as he stupidly sets up adultery with a woman who will be related to his sister
Debbie when she gets married.

Turns out sadly unfunny and predictable. ( )
  m.belljackson | Jun 1, 2023 |
Rarely do I ever give 5 stars but this book held up from beginning to end. It has a combination of dark humor and heart that really hit the right balance with me. I laughed out loud reading this, something I so rarely do - I am reminded of the first time I read Naked by David Sedaris, the portrayal of a disfunctional family is fantastic. The dialog is sharp, the characters are consistent, and the plot resolves in a manner entirely consistent with the rest of the book. ( )
  ethanw | Jun 20, 2021 |
This was a funny, quick read. If you like Nick Hornby you'll enjoy this book. ( )
  baruthcook | Aug 26, 2020 |
You know what to expect from a Jonathan Tropper novel, and he didn't disappoint. Darkly funny and filled with compassion. He writes family drama as well as anyone. ( )
  KerryD1971 | Apr 3, 2020 |
Leuk om te lezen. Soms erger ik me wel wat aan de overdreven 'witty' dialogen. Zo praten mensen met elkaar in een sitcom of een komische film, maar niet in het echt. Ook de relaties tussen de personages vind ik soms niet helemaal realistisch. Dat had ik ook al bij 'This is where I leave you'. Het is duidelijk dat deze schrijver ook voor tv schrijft en eigenlijk al een film in gedachten heeft bij het schrijven van zijn boeken. Sommige scènes beschrijft hij zelfs letterlijk alsof ze in een film zitten (bv. het beeld waarmee het boek eindigt). Maar het is en blijft leuk om te lezen. Je wenst die personages het allerbeste. Er zitten ook wel mooie passages in over de complexiteit van rouw. Erg fijn om te lezen wanneer je nood hebt aan iets luchtigs, aan een pageturner of aan een boek om je uit je leesdip te sleuren.
  damngoodsoffie | Feb 19, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 45 (next | show all)
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For Alexa Rose, who hangs with me in the wee small hours with love
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Russ is stoned. You can see it in the whites of his eyes, which are actually more of a glazed pink under the flickering yellow porch light, in the dark discs of his dilated pupils, in the way his eyelids hang sluggishly at half-mast, and in the careless manner in which he leans nonchalantly against the pissed-off cop that is propping him up at my front door, like they're drinking buddies staggering out into the night after last call.
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The point is people become possessive of their grief, almost proud of it.  They want to believe it’s like no one else’s.  But it is.  It’s exactly like everybody else’s. Grief is like a shark.  It’s been around forever, and in that time there’s been just about no evolution.  You know why? Because it’s perfect just the way it is.
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Wikipedia in English (1)

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, Claire, 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 maniacally 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. Funny, sexy, and smart, How to Talk to a Widower is a novel about finding your way, even when you have no idea where it is you want to go.

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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 he 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.
samenvatting:
Doug Parker brengt zijn dag door met het gooien van stenen naar de wilde konijnen in zijn tuin, en het treuren om zijn overleden vrouw, die alweer een jaar dood is. Zijn familie vindt het tijd worden dat Doug weer iets met zijn leven gaat doen. Hij zou nu toch over de dood van Hailey heen moeten zijn. Alsof zij zo normaal in het leven staan! Doug's vader speelt buiten basketbal in zijn pyjama - volledig in de war na een herseninfarct. Zijn moeder is verslaafd aan pillen. Zijn tweelingzus is zwanger, terwijl ze in een scheiding ligt. En zijn stiefzoon Russ verwerkt de dood van zijn moeder met drugsgebruik en het uitlokken van gevechten op het schoolplein. LEVEN NA HAILEY is een hilarische, maar ook pijnlijk eerlijke roman over het verlies van je grote liefde en de pogingen daarna het leven weer op te pakken.
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