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The Silver Linings Playbook Audiobook
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(4.09) - 68 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
The Silver Linings Playbook has an intriguing plot in which the story is revealed little by little to the reader. It starts out with Pat Peoples, who has just been released from hospital, but doesn't have all his memories. He thinks he's only been in the hospital a short while but, in fact, he's been there for four years and, we later discover, he was put there because he nearly beat a man to death after finding him in a compromising position with his wife.
As Pat is released from hospital, he determines to become the kind of man his wife Nikki would want to be with. He starts a rigorous physical and mental regimen, jogging everyday and reading great works of literature. He also begins a friendship with Tiffany, a widow who has just lost her job. Tiffany invites him to open up and try new things, coercing him into taking part in a dance competition with her, in exchange for taking his letters to his wife.
However, we later discover that Tiffany doesn't actually take the letters to Nikki but responds to them herself. When Pat discovers what she's done, he's angry and shocked, but he soon realizes that Nikki is happy with her new life and family and determines to leave her alone. Meanwhile, our two neurotic protagonists are given a chance to come together despite their mental problems or, perhaps, because of them.
This is a moving and well-plotted book where the reader gets just enough information to keep him/her going. You don't know Pat's past right away and the process of discovering who he really is takes you into the mind of someone who has deliberately pushed away his memories. Tiffany's manipulative nature is also, at heart, well-intentioned, and serves to endear her to the reader. Quick shows us how you don't have to be successful in the eyes of the world in order to find solace in the company of another human being.
The Silver Linings Playbook was made into an acclaimed movie entitled "Silver Linings Playbook" appropriately enough. The film received eight Academy Award nominations and garnered an Best Actress Oscar for Jennifer Lawrence.
Matthew Quick grew up in Oaklyn, NJ, got a Bachelor's in English Literature from La Salle University and an MFA from Goddard College. At first, he worked as an English teacher, giving impassioned speeches about living the life of your dreams. Eventually, he realized that he was not living the life he dreamed about and left his job. After a great deal of traveling and soul-searching, he disappeared into his in-laws' basement and reemerged three years later with the manuscript of The Silver Linings Playbook which was published and made into an award-winning movie of the same name. He has also written a young adult novel called Boy 21.
"Didn't see the movie . . . I was pleasantly surprised to read a much better story than I expected. I gobbled the pages up in less than two hours. The insight into the minds of emotionally challenged people was unique and enlightening. The words were easy to digest and very palatable. My emotions rode a roller coaster as I went from intensely disliking the characters, to wanting to mother them, to eventually loving them. This is a must read for anyone desiring to understand the erratic nature of the human psyche. ;-)"
— Becky (5 out of 5 stars)
Publisher 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.
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Quotes
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“Ray Porter’s performance is top-notch…Porter lets listeners feel Pat’s confusion and struggle…The movie is good. Porter’s narration makes the audiobook even better. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut.”
— Justin Cronin, PEN/Hemingway Award–winning and New York Times bestselling author -
“[A] plucky debut novel…Quick fills the pages with so much absurd wit and true feeling that it’s impossible not to cheer for his unlikely hero.”
— People -
“Charming…It is hard not to be moved by the fate of a man who, despite many ordeals, tries to believe in hope and fidelity, not to mention getting through another day with his sanity intact.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“Heartwarming, humorous, and soul-satisfying.”
— NPR -
“A zig-zagging, dizzyingly page-turning tale of self-discovery.”
— Psychologies magazine -
“Pat Peoples is the protagonist and the narrator of The Silver Linings Playbook. I found him compelling and fascinating, and I found myself not only caring about him but rooting for him unashamedly, which, for an author is, I believe, what they mean by scoring a tour de force…From the beer-soaked Bacchanalian tailgating to the black holes of despair into which Iggles fans plunge themselves after a defeat, Quick is dead-on.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“[A] touching and funny debut…Pat is as sweet as a puppy, and his offbeat story has all the markings of a crowd-pleaser.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“In Quick’s immensely likable debut novel…its judicious blending of pop-culture experience with richly persuasive characterizations make the book a winner…Most readers will find Pat just about irresistible.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Matthew Quick is a natural storyteller, and his Silver Linings Playbook—honest, wise, and compassionate—is a story that carries the reader along on a gust of optimism…More than a promising debut or an inspiring love story, this novel offers us the gift of healing.”
— Roland Merullo, author of In Revere, in Those Days -
“This is a funny, touching performance on the part of Mr. Quick—and the beginning, I hope, of a big career.”
— Dave King, author of The Ha-Ha -
“Entertaining and heartfelt and authentic, The Silver Linings Playbook magically binds together love, madness, Philadelphia Eagles football, faith, family, and hard-earned hope into a story that is both profound and wonderfully beguiling. This is a splendid novel, written by a big-time talent.”
— Martin Clark, author of The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living and The Legal Limit -
“I loved The Silver Linings Playbook. It is warm, funny, and moving.”
— Shawn McBride, author of Green Grass Grace
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A 2009 PEN/Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award Honourable Mention
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An Audible.com bestseller
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An NPR Pick of Summer's Best Books
The Silver Linings Playbook Listener Reviews
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" I would've given this book 4.5 stars if I could because it was really beautiful. People who saw the movie and liked it: I recommend you read the book too. It's different from the movie and in my opinion more beautiful (although it might be the combination of seeing the movie first so already having the pictures in my mind while reading the book). Yeah. I am touched and impressed. "
— Cindy79, 2/19/2014 -
" I am ranking this book based on my level of enjoyment, rather than perfection. I got 5 stars of enjoyment out of it, despite the fact that the dialogue sometimes sounded unrealistic -- not like a real person talking. The characters, on the other hand, were SO REAL. They could be frustrating and I sometimes wanted to slap some sense into them (just like in real life), but I was rooting for them from Chapter One. Funny, sad, heartbreaking, heartwarming. I loved this book! "
— Jennifer, 2/12/2014 -
" Overrated. Hated the voice! Didn't find it particularly inspiring, nor did it inspire "hope" in me. "
— Meghan, 1/28/2014 -
" Quick read...kept my attention...loved the characters "
— Rochelle, 1/22/2014 -
" I couldn't put this down. I saw the movie first. I loved both. The book was very different from the movie and I'm glad they changed a lot of it because although it was a fantastic book, I don't think it would have been a very good movie if it had been translated more literally. Recommend! "
— Sarah, 1/15/2014 -
" The book was very different from the movie, but they were both excellent. :) "
— Kim, 1/12/2014 -
" good story - but too much language "
— Sherry, 1/2/2014 -
" I thought the book was very easy to read and very good! "
— Haley, 12/20/2013 -
" Would not have picked this up but for my book club. SO GLAD I DID! Loved the movie, then loved the book. I would not recommend it in reverse order. There are definite plot differences, but I'm okay with that. Just a sweet story, either way. It lives up to the title. "
— Kris, 12/8/2013 -
" Loved it though I wish I read the book before I watched the movie (better to imagine). However, the Eagles are the best, so as a Philadelphia fan, how could I not love it?! "
— Caitlin, 11/28/2013 -
" This is one of the best books I have ever read. I love the way Pat thinks throughout the book and how he never stops trying "
— Alexiiaa, 11/28/2013 -
" As true as a book can be! Definitely read the book instead of seeing the movie, justice cannot be done to this book "
— Tara, 11/11/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It was a great love story but had a lot of F words. "
— Julianne, 9/22/2013 -
" Wonderful book and a journey into the mind of a troubled Pat Peoples and how he deals with his life out of a mental institution. "
— Vikas, 8/3/2013 -
" Loved this so much that I am scared to watch the movie. "
— Dsbarringer, 7/19/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book! It was touching and funny and sweet. "
— Vicki, 6/22/2013 -
" I'd have given it 5 stars if I was a bigger football fan... "
— Kayla, 2/19/2013 -
" A book anyone can enjoy "
— Mitch, 12/12/2012 -
" So I liked this book, in a way. But I did not like that it had so much bad language. I can't really recommend it for that reason. Still, I found Pat to be an endearing character and the story in general interesting. "
— Vicky, 9/24/2012 -
" Loved the movie, now loved the book too! Made me feel like I was back in Conshy, rooting for The Birds...or cursing them out, depending on the week, that is. Great look at coming out of the dark side of depression and finding your silver lining in the unlikeliest of places. "
— Marybeth, 6/28/2012 -
" My expectations were high after hearing friends rave about the movie. However, I felt like I was reading the diary of a 10 year old boy. The author offered small glimpses into his writing ability in the letter exchanges with Nikki but it wasn't enough for me. "
— Melissa, 4/14/2012 -
" Amazing book!! Finished in 24 hours! "
— Stacey, 2/7/2012 -
" I read this book in one day. I could not put it down. I was happy for Pat at the end of the book. Although it caused him pain, I felt that he finally got the closure he needed so he could heal and get on with his own life. "
— Jennifer, 2/4/2012 -
" I am so happy I read this book before seeing the movie. I read it in two days, I just couldn't put it down. Written from the eyes of the main character- it is an amazing, uplifting story on the triumph of betrayal, loss, family dysfunction and finding friends in the most unlikely places. "
— Elisa, 6/28/2011 -
" Not so special though very friendly book on a former psychiatric patient on his way to recovery "
— Josefien, 4/22/2011 -
" Narration is very similar to that of the Curious Incident & if you enjoyed that afternoon you will love this one too. It shows how you can change from having a 'normal' mind to becoming in psychological depair because of one incident. An enthralling read. "
— Claire, 3/8/2011 -
" I thought it was great! I had lots of questions while reading the book but in a good way. Interesting characters, like Tiffany. Pat gets closure on his marriage and still has some recovering to do but I like how he sees silver linings. "
— Eriko, 2/21/2011 -
" its a great book. Sometimes things in life are out of our control but its important to look on the bright side. "
— Toni, 12/13/2010 -
" I thought it was enjoyable enough and most importantly I thought it was extremely quick and easy to read. One evening and done! "
— Colleen, 12/9/2010 -
" If you liked The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, you'll love this. "
— Diane, 10/21/2010 -
" A unique book. You must enjoy American football to fully appreciate this book. I had to skim those pages, as I have no interest in this. Less football, I would have found it much more enjoyable. <br/><br/>Saying that, it was heart warming, quirky and quite an enjoyable read. "
— Lolly, 10/15/2010 -
" A book about an Eagles fan who is recovering from a head injury. A heartwarming tale for those who like football. "
— Ann, 9/22/2010 -
" 2 pages in I was forcing myself to read on. 20 pages in I was forcing myself to stop! A very good read. "
— Mary, 9/15/2010
About Matthew Quick
Matthew Quick is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including The Silver Linings Playbook, which was made into an Oscar-winning film, and The Good Luck of Right Now. His work has been translated into thirty languages and has received a PEN/Hemingway Award Honorable Mention. He earned an MFA in creative writing at Goddard College. He floated down the Peruvian Amazon, backpacked around southern Africa, and hiked to the bottom of a snowy Grand Canyon before returning to Philadelphia and beginning to write full time.
About Ray Porter
Ray Porter has garnered two Audie nominations as well as several Earphones Awards and enthusiastic reviews for his sparkling narration of audiobooks. A fifteen-year veteran of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he has also appeared in numerous films and television shows.