{Book + Movie Review} Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Silver Linings Playbook
by Matthew Quick
Pages: 289
Release Date: October 16, 2012 (movie tie-in edition)
by Sara Crichton Books

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A HEARTWARMING DEBUT NOVEL, NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE! Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him -- the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat's now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he's being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of theraphy. Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G! In this enchanting novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat's mind, showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. As the award-winning novelist Justin Cronin put it: "Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut."

*SPOILER.  (For more info go to my About page and it will explain how to view the spoiler).

This book…wow.  Just wow.  I have never, ever read a book like this, and I still have a book hangover (I finished this on Monday, literally a week ago).  This book is just amazing, and totally lived up to all the hype.  Even though it was kind of hard to get into at first, it completely sucked me in after about 10 pages, and I COULD NOT STOP READING.  This book was so adorable, but at the same time so heartbreaking.  The outrageous things in this book (like Pat’s family always doing that Philadelphia Eagles chant), but there was still a very strong message underneath the outrageous exterior.  I really loved the writing and how it flowed perfectly, and had just the right amount of humor.  The story line was just amazing, what with the little hint at something that had happened earlier (which we find out later) that just added a little something.  [SPOILER: AND WHO ELSE STARTED SQUEALING WHEN TIFFANY TOLD PAT SHE LOVED HIM?  I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE MOST PERFECT THING EVER!]

This cast of characters is best described as crazy.  You have Pat, who is obsessively working out to get his wife, Nikki back.  Then you have Pat’s parents, his mom and dad.  The mom is pretty normal, but the dad is just downright mean.  Then you have Tiffany, the crazy sister-of-a-friend who is as, if not more, messed up as Pat.  And I loved every single character.  Pat is just such a (gah, I can’t find the words to describe him) pathetic character, in that he’s kind of childish, but it’s a good thing.  I mean, he’s got some issues with his mind, and it came through in this book.  Tiffany is just an awesome, AWESOME character!  I loved how she was confident, but she still had her issues, and she was a flawed character (you don’t usually see flawed and characters who aren’t completely good in YA books, so it was kind of a breath of fresh air to read about a character who is kind of messed up).

All in all…just wow.  I can definitely see why this book was made into a movie, and I seriously can’t wait to see the actors on screen doing that Eagles cheer.  I am going to laugh my head off.

5 pink flowers

Movie Review:

Wow!  Wow wow wow!  That's all I can say.  This movie is one of the best I've ever seen.  It didn't completely follow the story line of the book, but I'm actually kind of glad they didn't.  It would be like watching the same story twice.  I really loved the little twists they put into the story, and how they manipulated the actual events to make the movie more tense and engaging.  And the acting...OMG  don't even get me started.  I totally see why Jennifer Lawrence won that Oscar, and why Bradley Cooper was nominated.  And then you have Robert DeNiro and the mom (dang it, can't remember her name. Jackie Weaver?  Idk).  Amazing cast, amazing story line. I could seriously go on and on about how awesome Jen and Brad were...gosh I just love this movie so much.  It was funny, it was dark, it was tense, it was uplifting, it was depressing...so many emotions.  I know this is a really bad review but ....I just can't. I LOVE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH!!!!