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poriland's review against another edition
4.0
Este es un excelente libro para hablar de las enfermedades psicológicas. Me encantó. Pat Peoples me parece uno de los personajes más especiales que he leído Advertencia: La Película no se parece mucho (nada) al libro.
drkottke's review against another edition
4.0
It's tempting to tag this as YA, despite the fact that the protagonists are in their mid-30s. The direct, memoir-like writing style and Pat's psychological journey from a Hollywood movie-informed worldview to a more nuanced, mature understanding (and acceptance) of life's messy ambiguities and contradictions are defining features of coming of age narratives. I've read the movie version described as a "dramedy" and the book described as "humorous," but those seem to me to be pretty deceptive descriptors of the reading experience, which is more often than not a painful view of mental and emotional illness from the inside out. It's also an exemplar of the power of an unreliable narrator.
hanneke_botervliegje's review against another edition
3.0
Right... so this book was quite the pageturner and overall kind of enjoyable in a what-the-heck-are-they-doing-now kind of way, but I was also annoyed with the main character's obsession and how it remained very superficial. We didn't really get into the deeper levels of psychology, for example with the very unhelpful father figure, which I think could have made the book more nuanced and given more insight into mental health issues. I feel like this was a missed opportunity. Now the crazy people are basically just crazy rather that people who have been through a lot, yes, despite the whole spelling out what happened that got them into therapy in the first place at the end of the book. So... meh.
ladynovella's review against another edition
4.0
I usually HATE literary fiction. As a rule, literary fiction is dry, depressing, pretentious and terrible. There are no good guys or bad guys and everything is so danged literal and there are no happy endings and it makes me want to throw things.
However, having heard good things about the movie "The Silver Linings Playbook," I wanted to give the book a shot and see if it's something I'd enjoy. And this is one literary fiction novel that I'm glad I picked up.
First of all, I don't know that you could count Pat Peoples as a character in literary fiction because he actually has a positive outlook on life. Yes, he's been in a mental health facility for (he thinks) months, but he's finally out and he feels like he can start fresh and try to get his old life back. He works out, he cheers for his Philadelphia Eagles, he tries to work things out with his family and, of course, his ultimate goal is to win back his wife, Nikki.
Thing is, none of Pat's plans go the way he wants them to. Especially when a woman named Tiffany comes into Pat's life. Tiffany has just as many problems as Pat does and that connection helps Pat realize what he ultimately wants in life. Plus, Pat is trying to reconnect with his family, who don't really understand him - even though they are trying in the best ways they know how. Pat's dad is the funniest grumpy old man ever. Pat tries to work things out, but his dad is just not wired to think that way. And then his mom tries to cope the best she can and the result is a very real family situation - everyone loves each other and tries their best for one another, but they still get on each other's nerves.
Another thing that made this book fun to read was the sports connection - and that I remember that season when the Eagles were doing really well and then hit a three-game losing skid (which Pat's dad and brothers blame on him). I remember that because I don't really like the Eagles and I was happy that they were losing. That really has no bearing on the story itself - I just got excited about the sports connection.
I won't spoil the ending (I don't know if I'd enjoy the book on a re-read just because the twists toward the end were so good and it might not be as fun to read, knowing what comes next), but there is a happy ending. A lot of other literary authors could take a cue from this novel. Then again, maybe this'll get kicked out of the genre because Pat reads Ernest Hemingway and Sylvia Plath and wonders who in their right mind would voluntarily read such dreck (Pat earned my respect for that literary assessment alone).
Bottom Line: "The Silver Linings Playbook" is a feel-good story without being too corny. It's also a rarity in that it's grounded in reality without making you want to shut your head in the oven. If I had to read more literary fiction like this in college, I might have enjoyed my literature studies a bit more.
However, having heard good things about the movie "The Silver Linings Playbook," I wanted to give the book a shot and see if it's something I'd enjoy. And this is one literary fiction novel that I'm glad I picked up.
First of all, I don't know that you could count Pat Peoples as a character in literary fiction because he actually has a positive outlook on life. Yes, he's been in a mental health facility for (he thinks) months, but he's finally out and he feels like he can start fresh and try to get his old life back. He works out, he cheers for his Philadelphia Eagles, he tries to work things out with his family and, of course, his ultimate goal is to win back his wife, Nikki.
Thing is, none of Pat's plans go the way he wants them to. Especially when a woman named Tiffany comes into Pat's life. Tiffany has just as many problems as Pat does and that connection helps Pat realize what he ultimately wants in life. Plus, Pat is trying to reconnect with his family, who don't really understand him - even though they are trying in the best ways they know how. Pat's dad is the funniest grumpy old man ever. Pat tries to work things out, but his dad is just not wired to think that way. And then his mom tries to cope the best she can and the result is a very real family situation - everyone loves each other and tries their best for one another, but they still get on each other's nerves.
Another thing that made this book fun to read was the sports connection - and that I remember that season when the Eagles were doing really well and then hit a three-game losing skid (which Pat's dad and brothers blame on him). I remember that because I don't really like the Eagles and I was happy that they were losing. That really has no bearing on the story itself - I just got excited about the sports connection.
I won't spoil the ending (I don't know if I'd enjoy the book on a re-read just because the twists toward the end were so good and it might not be as fun to read, knowing what comes next), but there is a happy ending. A lot of other literary authors could take a cue from this novel. Then again, maybe this'll get kicked out of the genre because Pat reads Ernest Hemingway and Sylvia Plath and wonders who in their right mind would voluntarily read such dreck (Pat earned my respect for that literary assessment alone).
Bottom Line: "The Silver Linings Playbook" is a feel-good story without being too corny. It's also a rarity in that it's grounded in reality without making you want to shut your head in the oven. If I had to read more literary fiction like this in college, I might have enjoyed my literature studies a bit more.
dmg314's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. Different from what I usually read. DO NOT see the movie if you've read the book. It ruins it!
bex_0980's review against another edition
5.0
Quick’s almost “stream of consciousness” narrative draws you in to Pat’s life instantly and invokes the need to know what happened in his life that brought him to this point. A great illustration of mental illness, grief, loss and family disfunction, this book had me invested from page one to the end. Now that I’ve read the book, I’m anxious to see how Pat and Tiffany are brought to life by Bradley and Jennifer in the film adaptation.
yennedyk's review against another edition
5.0
Silver Linings Playbook is an adventure. It had a lot of heart and I was emotionally invested A LOT! I loved every single moment of it, regardless of how dull and slow it got. It was the kind of book that took me a while to finish, but only because I was deep-reading it, if you know what I mean. I needed to put it down at some points, just to really think about it.
This story was moving in the aspect that I felt a little bit of Pat in myself. Not the stalking my exes, coming home from the mental hospital part, but his emotions. I felt what Pat felt, saw what Pat saw and I was just...Pat. He is his own character and is a star in this book.
And, so we cannot forget about Tiffany. Tiffany is vulgar, angry and just so goddamn amazing. I fell for Tiffany a little bit myself. Her presence in the story, just made it better for me as well. I also enjoyed Pat's parents a little more in here than I did in the movie, and I usually hate book parents because they're just assholes, but not Pat's mom and dad. They were not just assholes, they were nice assholes.
Such nice assholes.
Well, not much more to say than I loved this book! I loved it. You know you loved a book when you have to think really hard about the fact you just finished a book.
This story was moving in the aspect that I felt a little bit of Pat in myself. Not the stalking my exes, coming home from the mental hospital part, but his emotions. I felt what Pat felt, saw what Pat saw and I was just...Pat. He is his own character and is a star in this book.
And, so we cannot forget about Tiffany. Tiffany is vulgar, angry and just so goddamn amazing. I fell for Tiffany a little bit myself. Her presence in the story, just made it better for me as well. I also enjoyed Pat's parents a little more in here than I did in the movie, and I usually hate book parents because they're just assholes, but not Pat's mom and dad. They were not just assholes, they were nice assholes.
Such nice assholes.
Well, not much more to say than I loved this book! I loved it. You know you loved a book when you have to think really hard about the fact you just finished a book.
kgstuckinabook's review against another edition
3.0
I watched the movie first, and I don't recommend watching any book turned movie first. I'm an advocate for reading before seeing it on the big screen, but I didn't get a chance to this time. I absolutely loved the movie, so I thought that I needed to read the book, of course.
It was great to be able to dive deeper into the depths of Pat and find out his inner most thoughts, especially when it comes to Nikki. Movies usually don't allow you to hear a character's thoughts, so books are always great at those details. Even though it's slightly different than the movie, it's quite enjoyable, and I found myself wanting to keep flipping through the pages. The fact that Pat had a mental illness was even more captivating, because I was able to see inside his mind throughout the book, and while some chapters I rooted for him, other chapters I wanted to shake him and tell him he couldn't possibly have those thoughts! Pat's journey is a long one, and by no means do I think his journey got easier after that kiss, but I do think he found someone that could help him through life, someone to help him control his thoughts, and help him understand. Some people just need more than others.
It was great to be able to dive deeper into the depths of Pat and find out his inner most thoughts, especially when it comes to Nikki. Movies usually don't allow you to hear a character's thoughts, so books are always great at those details. Even though it's slightly different than the movie, it's quite enjoyable, and I found myself wanting to keep flipping through the pages. The fact that Pat had a mental illness was even more captivating, because I was able to see inside his mind throughout the book, and while some chapters I rooted for him, other chapters I wanted to shake him and tell him he couldn't possibly have those thoughts! Pat's journey is a long one, and by no means do I think his journey got easier after that kiss, but I do think he found someone that could help him through life, someone to help him control his thoughts, and help him understand. Some people just need more than others.
jleone1002's review against another edition
4.0
If you're looking for a quick, funny, and touching read, this is it. At times it can be frustrating, but that's only because you're rooting for this guy with all you have, and you want him to pull through his problems. Some of the relationships in this book are really special, but the one that stands out most to me is between the protagonist and his therapist. Some of their interactions almost brought me to tears. Really good book!
jonimnewman's review against another edition
5.0
This book helped me understand my own struggles with depression. I loved it.