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)

3rd time listening to this book

I've enjoyed revisiting this book several times. I find something new in the story and a layer I hadn't thought about. This is a lovely story!

Book vs. Movie

I first saw the movie, then read the book. The book is 10x better!!!

Engaging and Original

An engaging and original story.
The characters are well developed.
An entertaining listen.
I recommend.

There Are Silver Linings

Where does The Silver Linings Playbook rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This audiobook ranks at 3.

What other book might you compare The Silver Linings Playbook to and why?

This audiobook was so different from anything else I have listened to it is hard to find a comparison. However, the closest similarity is Charles Martin "When Crickets Cry".

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

I really liked his overall performance. He kept each character separate by slightly changing his tone and pitch. Porter made each character stand apart.

If you could take any character from The Silver Linings Playbook out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would take the main character Pat Peoples out to dinner. He was disconnected from reality to the point that he was willing to think his wife still loved him and wanted to be married to him. Through it all he saw the glass half full.

I've never said this before, but...

...the movie was better.

Immediately after watching the movie, I got on Audible to buy the book. Most of the reviews I read said the book was so much richer and more detailed than the movie. I couldn't wait to listen to it. But I found that I didn't like it as much. First, anything is better with Bradley Cooper. Second, the characters were so much harder to like in the book, especially the father and Tiffany.

I'm not at all disappointed that I listened to the book, though. I'm not saying it was in any way bad. Just not as good as the movie. And the narrator did a fantastic job.

Love LOVE LOVE

Would you consider the audio edition of The Silver Linings Playbook to be better than the print version?

Absolutely

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Silver Linings Playbook?

The dance performance

What about Ray Porter’s performance did you like?

Great!

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

Yes. And I could not wait to get back to listening. Very sad when it ended

Any additional comments?

Soooooooo Goooood!

wow

quite a story.
it doesn't give itself away too easily.
it is a detailed glinpse into the mind and family of one suffering with mental illness. but not all bleak, it shows that life really is, what you make it.

Very Enjoyable

This was one of the first audible books I have listened to. The story was great kept my attention. I couldnt wait to get back to it. The narration was pleasant to listen to. I would reccommend this book. (there is some foul language, that may offend some, but it goes along with the story line well)

Best audiobook I have ever listened to

I have never listened to an audiobook in such a short time--I found every possible opportunity to listen. I have not yet seen the movie -- and now I am glad I experienced the book first, as I am not able to imagine how this story could be fully captured on screen. The narration was excellent, and the story interesting and engaging at every step. I did not want it to end.

What a treat!

Where does The Silver Linings Playbook rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

That's tough because there have been so many. I can't say it's my favourite, just as it's so hard to say a print book is your favourite. But it's very, VERY well done.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Silver Linings Playbook?

I think the sessions with the protagonist's therapist were cumulatively the most memorable moments - the narrator perfectly captures every nuance of those often painfully difficult exchanges, from the character's humming whenever Kenny G is mentioned to their shared love of Eagles football. I could picture the therapist's office and overhear their dialogue perfectly; what an awesome fly-on-the-wall vantage point!

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favorite?

I'd have to say the protagonist, Pat Peoples. Porter does such a great job capturing specific quirks of his voice - like the awed way he says "Stomach Master 6000" every single time.

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

Indeed - listening to the audiobook made me want to devour this book so completely - and prolong the experience - that I also got the ebook version, which I'm enjoying on my tablet now.

Any additional comments?

The only downside I've found is that since this is the post-movie release version, there are pictures of the characters on the "cover" and on the Audible/Amazon site. They are not at all how I envisioned them, listening to the story and I find the film-inspired images distracting.