The Silver Linings Playbook

by Matthew Quick

"Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of therapy. Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G!"

Pat Peoples is such an interesting protagonist. His love for working out, being nice, reading books, and ultimately finding the silver lining characterized him so distinctly that he is unlike anyone I have ever read about. His incessant hope is inspiring, and I was rooting for him to find his happy ending the whole way through.

The Silver Linings Playbook is written in a tone unique to Pat, as well, and I found myself laughing at parts that were meant to be serious, taken aback by other parts that were meant to be humorous. I really enjoyed getting inside his mind, as he is mentally unstable and his rationale is quirky and his thought processes are intriguing. His insistence in his belief that his life is a movie is a reminder of his optimism and dedication in abstaining from watching other movies.

Pat's family played a large part in the novel and their involvement developed Pat's background as a mental hospital patient. His mother, longing for his return, has become affectionate and caring until the point of treating Pat as a child, while his father has done quite in the opposite in becoming increasingly detached and rarely showing emotion. These polarizing personalities make things difficult for Pat, as he attempts to find the balance between each parent, all the while dealing with his own traumas.

Tiffany was the perfect counterpart to Pat, for as she claims in the novel, the two have many things in common. The two of them need each other, as exemplified by their daily runs and wonderful partnership in their dance recital. They can open up wholeheartedly only to each other, and for that reason the conclusion to the story fit extremely well and made me feel happy for them.

The way that the facts of this story are unraveled is very effective, and this was something that was significantly changed in the movie adaption. In the book, I feel it worked really well. All the while I was wondering why this particular jazz song made Pat feel so terrible, and when he finally allows himself to relive the memory he has carefully hidden away, it made sense. 

The Silver Linings Playbook explores issues of the mental state, simultaneously maintaining a lighthearted tone and telling a love story; a complex contrast that made for an insightful, highly enjoyable read.

5/5 stars.