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A review by sighclopss
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing style was easy to read, it flowed well, and didn't have pages of description (which is such a pet peeve for me.) I could follow the story line well due to its fairly one track goal; Pat wanting to end 'apart time.'
The biggest critique I've seen has been Pats child-like naivety, how he understood things, how he spoke, the words he used. I do agree that this can make people feel that his (and in general) mental illness is infantilized, but also mental illness can affect us all differently, especially if we don't have the right support systems in place to navigate the world. And him potentially having a traumatic brain injury can also help explain why he reacts the way he does. I also felt like the other characters really let Pat down, before, during and after his institutionalisation.
The book also surprisingly had spoilers for classic American literature, I know they've been out for decades but I'm slow okay! And an honestly embarrassing amount of football talk, but I could appreciate that it was the only way Pat was able to form connections.
For me, this was a story about mental illness and how hard it is to pick up the pieces of your life after an episode.
A relatable and emotional read.
The biggest critique I've seen has been Pats child-like naivety, how he understood things, how he spoke, the words he used. I do agree that this can make people feel that his (and in general) mental illness is infantilized, but also mental illness can affect us all differently, especially if we don't have the right support systems in place to navigate the world. And him potentially having a traumatic brain injury can also help explain why he reacts the way he does. I also felt like the other characters really let Pat down, before, during and after his institutionalisation.
The book also surprisingly had spoilers for classic American literature, I know they've been out for decades but I'm slow okay! And an honestly embarrassing amount of football talk, but I could appreciate that it was the only way Pat was able to form connections.
For me, this was a story about mental illness and how hard it is to pick up the pieces of your life after an episode.
A relatable and emotional read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence