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)

Great book! Movie does not do it justice

If you could sum up The Silver Linings Playbook in three words, what would they be?

MEANINGFUL, HEART FELT, ENCOURAGING

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed how real the 2 main characters are. They have so many negative qualities that most would find almost impossible to look past to find any sort of connection or love. But they are the 2 most perfect human beings in the world that fit together at that one moment in each other's life. Possibly the worst moments in each other's life. The book leaves you with a incredibly warm feeling of peace and resolvement which contrasts the out of control way the 2 characters behave most of the book.

What does Ray Porter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really enjoyed the feeling in his voice. I truely felt what he was feeling while he read the words.

Who was the most memorable character of The Silver Linings Playbook and why?

Pat. His struggle is understandable and relatable to many. His father didn't help his illness at all so I felt pity for him.

I love this book

I really loved this book. I watched the movie first, which I think helped visualize things in the book which sometimes it's usually the opposite when watching a movie before the book. I recommend this audiobook. The reader was great.

A wonderful book...

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

I really enjoyed this audible. I bought it because I had seen the movie and loved this book. The narration fit with my impression of the character.

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

First by him and this one was great.

If you could rename The Silver Linings Playbook, what would you call it?

I would not rename it. The title is suitable.

Fresh story concept

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

If your tired of the same old plots and story lines this is the book for you.

What did you like best about this story?

Enough mystery to hold interest. Enough romance to please. Everything with a twist.

So great, but a lot like the movie...

I love this story. I loved the book, I loved the movie! I literally laughed out loud several times. Although I wasn't a fan of his female voices, the narrator was pretty good at the dead pan voice of the main character and the therapist which made it even more hilarious, but it was also very touching. I loved the whole football thing which I saw was mentioned in the reviews as often a negative aspect of the book and I'm not even a fan but I get the neurosis of being a "fan" of something, anything and that is the point. We're all a bit neurotic in our own way and so are a lot of people, you're not alone! Some neurotic tendencies are just more accepted than others...clever and interesting. A great listen.

Like all good books

Like all good books I was sorry when this one was over. It had helped me through a really bad day.

Agreed!

I rarely bother to read a book after seeing the movie. Even more rare will I finish such. This book was definitely a great listen and did indeed flesh out what was a truly great movie. That said, Ray Porter's performance was also 5 star!

Perfect!

Would you listen to The Silver Linings Playbook again? Why?

I would definitely listen to Silver Linings Playbook again. There was so much detail and interesting characters.

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

I would compare Silver Linings Playbook to Life of Pi because of the detail.

Which scene was your favorite?

Any scene from the football games.

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

Pat. I would just love to hear his thoughts and see his reactions to things.

Language

I love the story but the foul language was not pleasant..
I don’t think there has to be all that for the story to be good.

great insight into the working mind of characters

I love that we get to get inside the minds of people that have problems (mental problems) I thought that the book fleshed out how these characters minds connected the dots and and put forth a map to understand how they got from points a to b. I loved it. the movie was great, and the reason i read the book, but as always the books far surpassed what the movie could put forth. I finished this book on two sessions, I couldn't "put it down"