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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I really like the story, and I think that the narrator's voice will appeal to a lot of people - I guess it just didn't appeal to me. I get that Pat matures throughout the story, and even acknowledges that he's emotionally immature - but I still found him grating to listen to sometimes.
However, I think this is an important story, because it does explore what being mentally ill means - and in particular what it means to be a mentally ill man in our society. An important concept to discuss, for sure, and I think the book does a good job looking into those issues without being flippant or preachy.
However, I think this is an important story, because it does explore what being mentally ill means - and in particular what it means to be a mentally ill man in our society. An important concept to discuss, for sure, and I think the book does a good job looking into those issues without being flippant or preachy.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Pretty good! Curious how the movie will be in comparison.
In a nutshell: He’s trying to get back his old life, she’s trying to create a new one.
Recommendation: I loved this and I think everyone should read it to get a better understanding of mental health.
I read this for a recommendation swap. I’m so glad it was recommended to me! It was so different from the movie in a good way and really helped me understand things that went over my head when I watched it.
Pat just got out of the “bad place” and he only has one thing on his mind: getting back with his estranged wife, Nikki. He doesn’t know exactly how long he’s been in the bad place, but he knows that as long as he keeps looking for the silver lining and playing out the movie of his life that God directs, everything will be okay. He is just going to run and get fit, watch the Eagles play, and try and repair the relationship with his family in the meantime. One night at his friend Ronnie’s, Pat meets Tiffany, who is so confusing. She starts chasing after him when he runs every day and then acts like she hates him. But Pat is trying to practice being kind instead of being right, and maybe befriending Tiffany will help him get back with Nikki.
So I watched the movie long before I read the book before really understanding what the plot of both was supposed to be. When I watched the movie, I understood the point was to get people to think differently about mental health, but there was a disconnection to me. The movie didn’t really go much into the inner workings of Pat’s mind… At times it did, but I feel like in novel form, the inner workings of the mind are better represented. And then in the movie you also never understood where Tiffany was coming from because she doesn’t really up and say it.
The movie is more about entertainment and drawing more attraction to the actors while I found the book’s focus was much more about mental health. I thought Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were true to the characters but they weren’t given the most effective material to work with. The movie definitely added more “climaxes” and pivotal aspects than were in the novel. So while I always found the movie entertaining, the whole point went over my head.
As stated, the book is much more about mental health issues. And I think everyone should read it to get a better understanding of mental health. Aside from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or The Catcher in the Rye, personally I think this is one of the most effective books i’ve read that really gets the point across.
Recommendation: I loved this and I think everyone should read it to get a better understanding of mental health.
I read this for a recommendation swap. I’m so glad it was recommended to me! It was so different from the movie in a good way and really helped me understand things that went over my head when I watched it.
“Life is hard, and children have to be told how hard life can be…So they will be sympathetic to others. So they will understand that some people have it harder than they do and that a trip through this world can be a wildly different experience, depending on what chemicals are raging through one’s mind.”
Pat just got out of the “bad place” and he only has one thing on his mind: getting back with his estranged wife, Nikki. He doesn’t know exactly how long he’s been in the bad place, but he knows that as long as he keeps looking for the silver lining and playing out the movie of his life that God directs, everything will be okay. He is just going to run and get fit, watch the Eagles play, and try and repair the relationship with his family in the meantime. One night at his friend Ronnie’s, Pat meets Tiffany, who is so confusing. She starts chasing after him when he runs every day and then acts like she hates him. But Pat is trying to practice being kind instead of being right, and maybe befriending Tiffany will help him get back with Nikki.
So I watched the movie long before I read the book before really understanding what the plot of both was supposed to be. When I watched the movie, I understood the point was to get people to think differently about mental health, but there was a disconnection to me. The movie didn’t really go much into the inner workings of Pat’s mind… At times it did, but I feel like in novel form, the inner workings of the mind are better represented. And then in the movie you also never understood where Tiffany was coming from because she doesn’t really up and say it.
The movie is more about entertainment and drawing more attraction to the actors while I found the book’s focus was much more about mental health. I thought Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were true to the characters but they weren’t given the most effective material to work with. The movie definitely added more “climaxes” and pivotal aspects than were in the novel. So while I always found the movie entertaining, the whole point went over my head.
As stated, the book is much more about mental health issues. And I think everyone should read it to get a better understanding of mental health. Aside from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest or The Catcher in the Rye, personally I think this is one of the most effective books i’ve read that really gets the point across.
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
A really well written book that I enjoyed immensely. I feel like I should do a full review on that but right now I am really busy, so maybe later :)
I love it.
Whenever I want to pick a book to read, I follow my instincts. And usually, my instincts would be able to recognise a book calling me, asking me to read them. (This is why I also rate most of the books I pick-read, four or five stars: I follow my instincts, not by recommendation. My instincts never failed me.)
And while I'm not in the mood to read anything English, I had picked up this book and began reading nearly 80% of it in a day: this book is such a page turner. I love Pat, the main character, and I love him with all my heart and I am sorry that he has to go through more hardships despite his everyday effort of trying to be a better person for himself and for his mother, and for his father, and for his brother, and for his best friend, and especially, for his ex-wife whom he didn't remember divorcing.
It's such a sad book, but it's also a curious book. I could hardly believe that I would be so immersing in reading the life of a 34-year-old man who is divorced and lives with his parents, but I did that. I know nothing about American football but I sat and did that.
I can't find a thing that I don't like about this book. (Maybe the American football... just a little. I don't follow sports.)
P.S. Thank you Zahin for selling me this book.
Whenever I want to pick a book to read, I follow my instincts. And usually, my instincts would be able to recognise a book calling me, asking me to read them. (This is why I also rate most of the books I pick-read, four or five stars: I follow my instincts, not by recommendation. My instincts never failed me.)
And while I'm not in the mood to read anything English, I had picked up this book and began reading nearly 80% of it in a day: this book is such a page turner. I love Pat, the main character, and I love him with all my heart and I am sorry that he has to go through more hardships despite his everyday effort of trying to be a better person for himself and for his mother, and for his father, and for his brother, and for his best friend, and especially, for his ex-wife whom he didn't remember divorcing.
It's such a sad book, but it's also a curious book. I could hardly believe that I would be so immersing in reading the life of a 34-year-old man who is divorced and lives with his parents, but I did that. I know nothing about American football but I sat and did that.
I can't find a thing that I don't like about this book. (Maybe the American football... just a little. I don't follow sports.)
P.S. Thank you Zahin for selling me this book.
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced