The Book of Joe

A Novel

By: Jonathan Tropper

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Right after high school, Joe Goffman left sleepy Bush Falls, Connecticut, and never looked back. Then he wrote a novel savaging everything in town, a novel that became a national best seller and a huge hit movie. Fifteen years later, Joe is struggling to avoid the sophomore slump with his next novel when he gets a call: his father's had a stroke, so it's back to Bush Falls for the town's most famous pariah.

His brother avoids him, his former classmates beat him up, and the members of the book club just hurl their copies of Bush Falls at his house. But with the help of some old friends, Joe discovers that coming home isn't all bad - and that maybe the best things in life are second chances.

Fans of Nick Hornby and Jennifer Weiner will love this book, by turns howling funny, fiercely intelligent, and achingly poignant. As evidenced by The Book of Joe's success in both the foreign and movie markets, Jonathan Tropper has created a compelling, incredibly resonant story.

©2004 Jonathan Tropper (P)2004 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A beautifully crafted book of enormous heart, humility, wit, honesty, and vulnerability. You want to call your friends at 3 a.m. and read whole passages out loud. You want to press it into the hands of strangers. You cannot stop thinking about it because it has rearranged your very molecules. You know that kind of book? This is that kind of book. The Book of Joe is utterly magnificent. I wish I'd written it myself. "(Augusten Burroughs, author of Running with Scissors)

"The Book of Joe is an elegiac, wickedly observant look at a small town and its secrets. In Jonathan Tropper's highly readable novel, the problem isn't that you can't go home again, it's that eventually you have to, whether you like it or not." (Tom Perrotta, author of Election and Joe College)

"[Tropper] does it with wit, insight, and a lot of fun cultural references." (Booklist)

The Reader picked it as his favorite book

Thus, I decided to try it. I have never listened to his reading as I am fairly new to audio books. He truly brings this book to life, as someone else said. I too, laughed out loud several times. I did not feel that this was a “boy” book. There were a lot of jerks in HS and those that still think they are something other than what the real world sees. That is exactly why I went to one reunion (940 in the class) and said “never again.” That is also why I never went to any of my college reunions. This book pretty much shows what real life is like.

loved this book...

What made the experience of listening to The Book of Joe the most enjoyable?

I liked the characters. The plot was realistic since we have all burned bridges at sometime in our lives and have to make amends.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was emotional and deep, but funny dialogue at the same time.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when Joe took his dying friend to play basketball.

Any additional comments?

This is the first book I read by Jonathan Tropper, but will not be the last.

enjoyed the narrator and story line

What did you love best about The Book of Joe?

The story kept going so that you would want to keep listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

His gay friend

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Character to the characters, although I have a pretty good imagination !

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

yes, its made me sad for the bullying and upset with the author for exportating his town where he grew up.

Unexpectedly touching

Sat down for what I thought would be a quiet afternoon reading, what I received instead was an emotional ride that I hadn't experienced in many years. I found myself at 75 experiencing all the emotions from this book. I finished it with a mixture of tears and smiles. I had never heard of Jonathan Tropper before, but you can be sure that I will be searching more books by this author and as for Scott Brick, he gave life to the character and made him come alive and making us feel the raw emotions.
I recommend this book that shows compassion, hate, forgiveness, guilt and love. There are segments of sex, but it wasn't gratuitous, nor tasteless. Read this book and you tell not regret doing so.

Glad I took a chance

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I chose this title - I actually was drawn to it initatilly because Scott Brick is the reader and he has always done a good job on other books I've listened to. This is no exception - his reading brings the book alive.
But I also found myself fully engaged in the story and characters - I laughed out loud too many time to count, and felt moved to tears at other times. Throughout the reading I tried imagining Joe, and I could see John Cusack playing him if it was a movie - kind of a quirky smart aleck but trying to do the right thing.
There is one unfortunate sexual scene that I thought was unnecessary and unrealistic - probably what a previous reviewer meant when she described this as a boy's book. But it was just one scene and not enough to condemn the whole story. Ultimately I'm glad I took the chance on this book.

Just so-so

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This isn't a book that I'll be recommending. It wasn't one of the rare few that I couldn't finish, but it was certainly lacking.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

From the opening lines of the book, I kept thinking that Fred Sanders should have narrated this book. I've only listened to one book narrated by Sanders, but it was his voice that I kept hearing.

Was The Book of Joe worth the listening time?

The Book of Joe wasn't worth my listening time, but that being said, it might really appeal to someone else. I know that books strike us differently at different places in our lives and I have recommended a favorite of mine to my mother who hated it and had the same thing happen the other way around, too. So...as other reviewers mentioned, if you don't mind the frequent flyer F-bombs and a lot of thoughtless sex, then it might be a story for you. BUT be prepared for a lot of eye exercise during the descriptions of the sex scenes because you'll be doing a lot of eye rolling.

Highly Entertaining

Perhaps it's the time of life I am in (just faced my 20th high school reunion), but this book made me laugh and kept me highly entertained. There was no unnecessary tearful reunions or sudden epiphanies...just a slow unfolding of the story. I also like the way Tropper told a "story within a story" in the same, unhurried way. HIGHLY entertained...

A little slow at the start, but it pays off big...

It's entertaining, touching, and funny. Parts of the plot are somewhat predictable, but there are also a lot of little twists and surprises. The beginning was a little slow, and I wasn't sure I was going to connect with any of the characters. However, once I was hooked, I grew to love them and the weird little town called Bush Falls.

Whoa Nelly, what a start, middle and end

A prude might turn off the book in the first five minutes but then they would miss a fun twisting story about life, friendships and how hometowns change over time.

Sarcasm Reigns Supreme

What did you love best about The Book of Joe?

I enjoyed the author's sarcastic tone on the journey through Joe's story, laughing out loud and crying at the end. I felt the author turned some stereotypes upside down. It was a thrilling ride.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

The narrator embodied the main character perfectly. His voice sounded sardonic, bemused, pleased with himself, and sympathetic at times. Good match.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. The book gave me cause to need to stop and process my emotions. I did enjoy listening for long periods of time.