Dysfunctional families. Lovable comedy. Imperfect heroes. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper reigns as one of the best fictional works of 2014, with a movie adaption that came out this September. “It was very realistic, the way he [the main character, Judd Foxman] reacts to things,” sophomore Heba Sandozi said. “I liked how it portrayed connections between people.” This is Where I Leave You is about the life of Judd Foxman, the main character, and the many terrible things that happen to him, including but not limited to: his wife cheating on him, his father’s death, and the comical way he deals with his issues and the presence of his incredibly bizarre family. Although Sandozi thought this book was definitely meant for more mature audiences, she viewed it as a pleasant and easy read. “It’s told from the view of the main character. It felt like he was talking in his head,” she said. Sandozi gave this novel 4.5 stars out of 5, mostly because of the depth of the characters and the author’s writing style. “I he portrays sibling relationships,” she said, referring to Judd’s collection of odd brothers and sisters. However, the element of the novel she loved the most was the heartfelt way the author was able to write about family, something nearly everyone struggles with. “[This is Where I Leave You] is really honest about human emotion,” she said.

List of Recommended Books from Heba:

1. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen  “It’s a cute, easy read. There’s definitely a couple things to think about, but it’s not overly complicated. I fell in love with it as a kid, and I still reach for it all the time.”

1. Wonder by RJ Palacio  “For younger audiences…surprisingly poignant.”

1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks “Be warned: this book can get to be a little much at times.”

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger “People love, hate, and love to hate this one. I think everyone should just read it and decide for themselves!”

1. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult “Many people recognize Jodi Picoult as the author of My Sister’s Keeper, which was made into a movie,  but the first of her novels I read was called The Storyteller, a Holocaust novel. I don’t think I can ever read her books without thinking of The Storyteller, which was incredibly powerful.”

From the book: “That’s the thing about life; everything feels so permanent, but you can disappear in an instant.” Jonathan Tropper wrote.