One Last Thing Before I Go

By: Jonathan Tropper

Narrated by: John Shea

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The best-selling author of This Is Where I Leave You returns with a hilarious and heart-rending tale about one family's struggle to reconnect.

You don't have to look very hard at Drew Silver to see that mistakes have been made. His fleeting fame as the drummer for a one-hit wonder rock band is nearly a decade behind him. He lives in the Versailles, an apartment building filled almost exclusively with divorced men like him, and makes a living playing in wedding bands. His ex-wife, Denise, is about to marry a guy Silver can't quite bring himself to hate. And his Princeton-bound teenage daughter, Casey, has just confided in him that she's pregnant - because Silver is the one she cares least about letting down.

So when he learns that his heart requires emergency, lifesaving surgery, Silver makes the radical decision to refuse the operation, choosing instead to use what little time he has left to repair his relationship with Casey, become a better man, and live in the moment, even if that moment isn't destined to last very long. As his exasperated family looks on, Silver grapples with the ultimate question of whether or not his own life is worth saving.

With the wedding looming and both Silver and Casey in crisis, this broken family struggles to come together, only to risk damaging each other even more. One Last Thing Before I Go is Jonathan Tropper at his funny, insightful, heartbreaking best.

©2012 Jonathan Tropper (P)2012 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Tropper’s characters are likably zany and fallible, and perhaps more important, funny. One Last Thing Before I Go is a poignant story about facing death and celebrating life, even when things seem well beyond repair." (Newsweek/The Daily Beast)

"The richly talented Tropper (This Is Where I Leave You) has created an acerbic, middle-aged lost soul who will ultimately illuminate the reasons we stick around on this lopsided planet despite significant temptation to let it go. Readers will love Silver and want to throttle him in equal measure. Eminently quotable, hilariously funny, and emotionally draining, this arresting tour de force will entertain well after the book is done." (Library Journal)

"...a bristling, witty tale of woe that'll make you appreciate whatever good things, no matter how few, have come your way." (Entertainment Weekly)

DIDN'T WANT IT TO END!

Where does One Last Thing Before I Go rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I devour audio books and have read a ton, from David Sedaris to David Halberstam. Jonathan Tropper is one of my favorite authors, for his contemporary voice and incisive views into human foibles. I loved, loved, loved, this book. It drew me in from the first sentence. I got to the point where I didn't want to listen becaues I knew the ending would come sooner than I wanted.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the idea of this middle-aged loser, so sweet and basically kind, but so lost. And how he finds his way. The way we all want to find ours. This book is also funny, even laugh-out-loud funny in places.

Have you listened to any of John Shea’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I'm not sure if I've heard this narrator before, but he did an outstanding job.There is a very fine line between giving one's characters unique voices--or ruining the listener's experience by giving secondary characters weird voices that stand out and destroy the book. Shea navigated this line with aplomb. I enjoyed his narration tremendously.

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

I laughed, I cried. I have "liked" it on FB. I want all my friends to read it. I want the world to read it! My husband, who tends to stick to thrillers by Baldacci, Demille, Grisham, Coben and Child) read this book. And LOVED it! It's a book that everyone can enjoy and gain something from.

Any additional comments?

I stumbled on Jonathan Tropper by accident, but what a happy accident it was. I've read all his books and think this one might be my favorite. I loved the writing so much, I have put all my other Tropper books back on my iPod for a second listen.

Good Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Listened to it on a car ride, it was a good story but somewhat perdictable.

Have you listened to any of John Shea’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

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

Made me laugh in spots.

Just a wonderful book.

As you listen to this book you can't help but start to feel that you know this main character like a friend and when the book ends you feel as if you've lost one. I couldn't stop listening and rooting for him the entire time. You'll grieve when it's over.

Rye and real

A wonderful and engaging listen.. great characters and a hilarious take on the modern family.

Hated It, Then Loved It

Would you consider the audio edition of One Last Thing Before I Go to be better than the print version?

This book was definitely enhanced by being in audio version. The narrator sounds a lot like Garrison Keillor, which is a good thing, in my estimation.

What was one of the most memorable moments of One Last Thing Before I Go?

I almost ditched the book after listening to the first 40 minutes or so. I couldn't seem to connect to the characters, and it just didn't grab me. Not too much later, I was in love with the book. The plot premise was intriguing: the protagonist, a royal screw-up in life, faces a decision about his own death. As the book progressed, I couldn't wait to hear what would happen next. The dry humor of the author crept up on me, and his mercilessly clear yet mercifully understanding approach to the characters rang true. The author has an eye for multifaceted human beings, deeply flawed and yet somehow familiar and engaging. Once I started enjoying this book, I feel in love with it and couldn't wait to hear the next installment.

Classic Tropper

Would you consider the audio edition of One Last Thing Before I Go to be better than the print version?

Loved hearing the voices of the different characters. Made it all the more interesting as a story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Silver. The classic underachiever who has to come to grips with his issues

Which scene was your favorite?

The party at Jeremy's house. Everyone gets a BIG surprise in different ways.

It holds you to the end

and even after that. Loved it. I hadn't been that engulfed by a novel in years.

Loved it!

What did you love best about One Last Thing Before I Go?

It's real, ugly & painful, yet still beautiful. Just like life, not always what we expect, but worth it!

Which character – as performed by John Shea – was your favorite?

Casey, definitely the bright light and redeeming character that brings everyone else together.

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

Absolutely!

Never to Late to change your ways,

Its A wonderful Life type story. Loved it, will be searching more for authors work as well as narrators.

Tropper Always Makes Me Laugh

This was not my favorite by Jonathan Tropper, but still worth the listen. The narration was great and kept me listening. The story was a great blend of sad and funny. The only thing I didn't like is that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. I've read almost everything by Tropper and usually find myself sympathizing with his characters. This time i just hated all of them. That being said, the book was still touching in parts and made me laugh. I'd definitely recommend it.