This morning I was awakened to a delightful Maccy D’s breakfast, and to accompany my bagel and hashbrown I decided to finish ‘The Silver Linings Playbook’ by Matthew Quick. After watching the film I was in love with the storyline, so of course I chose to also read the book.
This book is about Pat Peoples. He just left a psychiatric hospital, and has great determination to re-build his life. One of his priorities is to be reunited with his wife, Nikki. Actually, scrap what I said about ‘one of his priorities’. It’s his life mission. Part of Pat’s therapy was to drain his memory. Not all of it, just how he winded up in the ‘bad place’ as he calls it. So when he befriends Tiffany, who is also mentally unstable, the secrets that his family have been keeping him begin to unravel.
Firstly, in an earlier post I published about silver linings, that was inspired from this particular book. Pat Peoples is incredibly positive and a huge believer of silver linings. Before you read the book, I’m sure you would expect him to be all depressed. Nope! He’s a positive ray of sunshine. Which I think is a good thing, as it defeats your assumption plus lightens the mood of the book. Pat’s desire to see Nikki again is very believable. Imagine if Pat only brought up Nikki one or two times. That would be a little bit pants as he is trying to make himself a better person so that she will love him again. So I am glad that Matthew Quick stuck to that theme consistently. Also, the author has a quirky sort of writing style. I love quirkiness, so that was another good little thing:)
This book was also realistic. Another pre judgement towards The Silver Linings Playbook is that Pat’s family are going to be all happy and want to hug him 24/7 etc. That’s not exactly the case. His dad doesn’t talk to him, and is very to himself. His mother is very lovely, but struggles at times. His brother is doing well though, and has his own life, but does get a bit lairy at the football games they go to. That’s a real family, not exactly perfect.
Okay, just a few more happy pointers about this read:
-It’s such a pleasure to see Pat develop throughout the story.
-Pat is privileged to have the best therapist ever, Dr Patel. Seriously, he’s just great. I even learnt a little lesson from him, reminding me that it is your actions which make you a good person, not your desires.
-Tiffany is a very interesting, mysterious character.
-When reading, you ask questions. These questions are not answered all at once, they are answered as you progress through the book, so it keeps you reading.
Unfortunately, the beginning does lack some excitement. By beginning, I mean the first 3 chapters. Tiffany only really gets involved at the end also. After seeing the film, I was excited to get to know her character in greater depth, but you only develop emotions for her at the end of the book. Finally, I got bored of the football talk and football game chapters. Probably because I don’t really like sport, so it’s just my opinion! Although Matthew Quick did add in some interesting moments at the football games, so that made it more bearable for me.
I can’t decide if I prefer the book or the film. Usually it is the book, but this one has really been an on going battle for me all day so far. The film is actually pretty different to the book, there are quite a lot of details left out. I really cannot choose. Hmmm.
Just a quick disclaimer: When I do my book reviews, please remember that it’s my personal thoughts on the book. That doesn’t mean that you will feel the exact same way, and that’s fine! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions! So please don’t think that I am trying to brainwash you with my opinion!:)
Overall, I award the book 3.7/5. Very precise, I know.
Have a good day!:)
Gracie x
elfypie 