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)

Enjoyable listen

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

Among the best. It combines a good story with a good narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how he made it clear that the "sane" people were all crazy in their own ways.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were a few laugh out loud moments, but the whole book was strong.

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

Yes. I listened to it over two days on a road trip.

Great!

Really enjoy this book, the complexity and dysfunctional nature of the characters makes for a really unique plot. The narrator is excellent!

Liked the book more than the movie

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

Probably not... Just wasn't a fan.

Did The Silver Linings Playbook inspire you to do anything?

Be more cautious of the books I get.

Any additional comments?

Like I said in the headline, I liked the book more than the movie, but that isn't saying much.

This book is great!!!!

This book blew me away and is a great listen for anyone seeking a good time

Enjoyable, yet left me confused

I never saw the movie so I had no preconceived notions about the book, not even it's subject matter. I enjoyed the book and thought the narration was good, but in the end I was left confused. From the narration I made assumptions about the age of Pat which was revised constantly as I listened. In the end, I felt I must be missing something. My final thought was he suffered more from a brain injury then having mental health problems as opposed to Tiffany who was dealing with severe depression. There was more to Pat's medical past I felt the author needed to let us in on. Maybe I just need to be able to read between the lines more. #mentalhealth #bittersweet #contemporary #goeagles #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Excellent narration

Pathos. Warm, bewildering, funny, insightful, and entertaining. I enjoyed listening and learning about these well-crafted characters and their dilemmas.

Moved to tears

I couldn’t stop listening. The ending was so moving, I cried.
I struggle with depression. Great read for those who suffer from mental illness. We are not alone!
I also recommend it to any Eagles fans out there.
“Fly Eagles
Fly
On the road to victory
E-A-G-L-E-S!
Eagles!”

Incredible

Very good book. The narrator is excellent. The first 10 min caught me and I just kept listening in the car,at work, while cooking and in bed. Watched the movie as well. Don’t like that Tiffany did not tell him until after he had sat all day waiting for Nikki and he was robbed but it’s a dramatic part of the book I guess.

Thank you!

Better than the movie. So so much better. One of the best books I’ve experienced in a long time.

Well Done

Seldom do I read a novel after seeing the movie adaptation, but I was interested, and did so...though the screenplay altered things a bit, the writing is well done, and any expose of just how difficult families can be, and what a struggle mental illness can be, is worth reading.