The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel

Matthew Quick

Apr 2010 · Sold by Sarah Crichton Books

About this ebook

A New York Times bestseller, The Silver Linings Playbook was adapted into the Oscar-winning movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. It tells the riotous and poignant story of how one man regains his memory and comes to terms with the magnitude of his wife's betrayal.

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. When Pat goes to live with his parents, everything seems changed: 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 and clinically depressed Tiffany, she offers to act as a liaison between him and his wife, if only 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.

Ratings and reviews

Hard to understand what is going on in the beginning, but, slowly, everything eventually comes into place, finally, when apart time was over. I've heard such greatness regarding the movie, but can't understand how this could be made into such a great movie. Well, I love Brad C. & Jenn L., & I bet they r the only 2 who could make this great, going to watch it now. Thank you! TO JASON DUNCAN BELOW: U HAVE GOT TO BE THE F'ING BIGGEST SQUARE & TOOL EVER! THX FOR THE GREATEST F'ING LOL THOUGH JASON!

It's such a touching story that I felt deep in my soul. The author really understands and captures the mind of a mentally ill person and his struggles. To me it was very relatable. The wording was simple yet intense and effective. As a person who watched the movie first, I can say both of them has it's quirks but my advice always would be "don't watch the movie if you haven't read the book yet."

I suffer some of the same mental illness but not so extreme like pat. I know how it feels to be left by your loved one. And the anxiety and hope to gain that person again. This book helps me cope with turning a new chapter. Thank you pat peoples for letting read me your mind lol. But thank you to the author, this book help me cope.

About the author

In the six months that followed his leaving teaching and the Philadelphia area, Matthew Quick floated down the Peruvian Amazon and formed ‘The Bardbarians' (a two-man literary circle), backpacked around Southern Africa, hiked to the bottom of a snowy Grand Canyon, soul-searched, and finally began writing full-time. His debut novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, was adapted into the Oscar-winning movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Matthew earned his Creative Writing MFA through Goddard College. He has since returned to the Philadelphia area, where he lives with his wife and their greyhound.