The Silver Linings Playbook

A Novel

By: Matthew Quick

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times bestseller, The Silver Linings Playbook was adapted into the Oscar-winning movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.

The Silver Linings Playbook is the riotous and poignant story of how one man regains his memory and comes to terms with the magnitude of his wife’s betrayal, an enchanting first novel about love, madness, and Kenny G.

During the years he spends in a neural health facility, Pat Peoples formulates a theory about silver linings: he believes his life is a movie produced by God, his mission is to become physically fit and emotionally supportive, and his happy ending will be the return of his estranged wife, Nikki. The problem is that Pat is now home, living with his parents, and everything seems off; no one will talk to him about Nikki; his old friends are saddled with families; the Philadelphia Eagles keep losing, making his father moody; and his new therapist seems to be recommending adultery as a form of therapy.

When Pat meets the tragically widowed, physically fit, and clinically depressed Tiffany, she offers to act as a liaison between him and his wife, but only if he will give up watching football, agree to perform in this year’s Dance Away Depression competition, and promise not to tell anyone about their “contract.” All the while, Pat keeps searching for his silver lining.

In this brilliantly written debut novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat’s mind, deftly showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. The result is a touching and funny story that helps us look at both depression and love in a wonderfully refreshing way.

©2008 Matthew Quick (P)2008 Blackstone Audio

Critic reviews

"This offbeat story has all the markings of a crowd-pleaser." ( Publishers Weekly)

I loved this book!!

This book was so good! Now I'm going to watch the movie! I have been waiting to finish the book!

Great Listen

Loved it. This isn't usually the type of books that I read. I saw the movie years ago soon after it left theaters (10+ years ago). But decided to listen to the book because the movie was enjoyable, and this book was free to me for some reason on audible .

But this was a fantastic book. I found myself laughing out loud at parts and holding back tears at parts. BTW, the movie and the book are very different than each other. VERY different. Almost to the point that if the movie would've just tweaked a few minor things and the title were different, people would not recognize they are of the same work.

If you find yourself mildly curious about this, get it! You will NOT be disappointed. Also, the reader does a great job with his delivery. I loved this book.

Wonderful story

Great story about the struggles of mental illness and knowing there are always still good things to live for.

Nick Hornby for my generation

What a refreshing and wonderful take on "love" in our time. Two broken souls find love in all the strange ways. I really enjoyed the narrator's interpretation on the character, esp. Pat. Definitely will listen to it again.

Wow!!

Never saw movie, but book was amazing. No wonder they made a movie from it. I would read again and again.

Highly Enjoyable

I struggled at the very beginning, but was soon enthralled. having enough mystery to Jeep me wanting more, not enough to call it a mystery.
the performance was good, strong with the make characters, female voices were a little week, but I got used to them about halfway through.

This is SO much better than the movie

Any additional comments?

When they made the film, they made a lot of "adjustments," adding this, taking away that, and generally screwing around with a phenomenal story. I don't often read realistic (non-fantasy/non-scifi/non-mystery) fiction, but this was SO worth my time.

Not quite as good as the movie...

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a wonderful portrait of someone with a diagnosed mental illness dealing with the real world and all of the undiagnosed crazy-making things that go on in that world. The movie did a good job with this as well but was able to achieve a more uplifting message in the end.

Inspiring

Such an inspiring story about a serious issue. Laughed and cried as the story unfolded

Different story Great narrator

I picked this up because I love to listen to Ray Porter. The story is different but enjoyable. I normally don't like this type of book but the twists made it interesting.