This Is Where I Leave You: A Novel - PDF
نویسندگان: Jonathan Tropper
خلاصه: Dad’s dead,” Wendy says offhandedly, like it’s happened before, likeit happens every day. It can be grating, this act of hers, to be utterly unfazed at all times, even in the face of tragedy. “He died two hoursago.”“How’s Mom doing?”“She’s Mom, you know? She wanted to know how much to tip thecoroner.”I have to smile, even as I chafe, as always, at our family’s patentedinability to express emotion during watershed events. There is no occasion calling for sincerity that the Foxman family won’t quickly diminishor pervert through our own genetically engineered brand of irony andevasion. We banter, quip, and insult our way through birthdays, holidays, weddings, illnesses. Now Dad is dead and Wendy is cracking wise.It serves him right, since he was something of a pioneer at the forefrontof emotional repression.“It gets better,” Wendy says.“Better? Jesus, Wendy, do you hear yourself?”“Okay, that came out wrong.”“You think?”“He asked us to sit shiva.”“Who did?”“Who are we talking about? Dad! Dad wanted us to sit shiva.”2 J o n a t h a n Tr o p p e r“Dad’s dead.”Wendy sighs, like it’s positively exhausting having to navigate thedense forest of my obtuseness. “Yes, apparently, that’s the optimal timeto do it.”“But Dad’s an atheist.”“Dad was an atheist.”“You’re telling me he found God before he died?”“No, I’m telling you he’s dead and you should conjugate your tensesaccordingly.......