How to Talk to a Widower

By: Jonathan Tropper

Narrated by: Eric Ruben

Doug Parker is a widower at age 29, 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 16-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.

©2007 Jonathan Tropper (P)2007 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Alternately flippant and sad, Tropper's book is a smart comedy of inappropriate behavior at an inopportune time." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Tropper has the twentysomething guy thing down to a science. His prose is funny and insightful, his characters quirky and just a bit off-balance but decent enough to take to our hearts." ( Booklist)

The Characters Have Character

Jonathan Tropper created such memorable characters, I can't seem to shake them and I'm hopeful he'll write about them again. The book was wonderful -- he captured how annihilating losing a spouse can be. There are some very poignant moments. The family was a stitch as well as a heart breaker.

I have read Tropper's books and find them hysterical and thought-provoking. I listened to one other of Tropper's which was narrated by Scott Brick. He is a very talented and popular narrator. However, in my opinion, he does not have comedic timing. Eric Ruben, on the other hand, is terrific and I found myself laughing out loud many times. He was excellent. He really added to the book and I'm hopeful that future books by this author will be read by Ruben or others rather than using Brick.

This is a book I will listen to again and encourage you to spend the credit.

Moving Story Told with Humor and Understanding

Barely able to hold himself together after the death of his wife, 29-year-old Doug finds himself responsible for his 16 year old stepson who badly needs a functional authority figure in his life. Well-written with real, sympathetic characters.

Fun book about a heart breaking time.

Forget about learning how to talk to a widower. Just get comfy, and get ready to hear the few ups and a lot of downs in this funny tale of the life after. This book includes true to life dating fiascoes with plenty of side kicks to keep this widower from drowning in his year old depression. The widower's family has all the quirks necessary to make your family look better. Spoiler Alert: The hero of the book turns out to be a teenager. Who would have thunk it?
As a widow I can not relate to most of his grief but then everybody's grief is different. However, we see eye to eye on many and for that reason I love this book.

Good story...by the end

Last couple of chapters were good. First half of the book dragged as protagonist wallowed in his misery. Yeah, we get it... His wife is gone and so is he. Didn't need to take so many pages to make that point.

Crappy narrator

Narrator sounds like he has a tennis ball in his mouth. It's very off putting and the ultra thick sounds of his voice, to me, are even disgusting. It's amazing to me that bad narrators are still hired. Good god producers show some discernment, some savvy. Pathetic.