Throwback Thursday: Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

by:  Matthew Quick
published by:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux
publish date:  September 2, 2008

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 therapy. Plus, he's being hunted by Kenny G!

I've read several Matthew Quick books now and I've liked them all.  I had been putting off Silver Linings Playbook because I think I was worried I was going to be disappointed.  It seems like I always am when there's a books that's hyped big time.  I succumbed, obviously.  And I wasn't let down.  I really liked it.  I think Matthew Quick handles mental illness in a wonderful way.

When I read the book, I had not seen the movie.  I was like the only person in my peer group that hadn't seen the movie, but still.  The whole time, I kept wondering "how in the world is this book going to translate into a movie??"  Much of the book is narration in Pat's head.  How do you get that out in to the big screen?  When I finished the book, I watched the movie and the answer is: you don't.   I felt like so much of this book was lost in the movie.  

I would definitely recommend the book over the movie!  It was a fantastic book and I really loved all the characters in it.  It might be a throwback, but worth seeking out.  I also recommend all of Matthew Quicks other books.  Excellent writer!

Joint Review: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

by:  Matthew Quick
published by:  Little Brown Books for Young Readers
publish date:  August 18, 2013

Today is Leonard Peacock's birthday. It is also the day he hides a gun in his backpack. Because today is the day he will kill his former best friend, and then himself, with his grandfather's P-38 pistol.  But first he must say good-bye to the four people who matter most to him: his Humphrey Bogart-obsessed next-door neighbor, Walt; his classmate Baback, a violin virtuoso; Lauren, the Christian homeschooler he has a crush on; and Herr Silverman, who teaches the high school's class on the Holocaust. 

No one has remembered Leonard's birthday.  His one-hit-wonder rock star father has abandoned him and his mother has moved in with her boyfriend and left him to live on his own.  Leonard spends his days with his elderly neighbor and avoiding bullies at school.  For his birthday he's decided he's going to kill his biggest tormentor at school and then himself.  

The story is centered around Leonard Peacock giving these 4 gifts out to the people who matter most to him.  There are actually 5 gifts because Leonard cuts off his hair to give to his mother, which was kinda funny.  Most of the book is somewhat on the sad/dramatic sad with a bit of sarcasm and dry humor to break things up a bit.  The part with Lauren, the Christian, was pretty funny, I think that was probably the best part.    This book was a little angsty and I think teenagers will probably identify more with it than adults.  

I almost didn't finish this book.  I absolutely did not like Leonard in the beginning.  I knew that he was being a typical self centered teen, but I kept thinking to myself "Get over yourself".  Autumn convinced me to keep going.  As the book progressed and I learned more of Leonard's story, I started to like him and really feel bad for him. What he reveals about his best friend was horrifying and heartbreaking.  I could kind of understand how hw got to that point.

I think this would be a great book for teens.  The overall message that it does get better if you are willing to put in the work is one I think will appeal to a lot of teens. While Leonard isn't a very likable kid,  I think most readers will end up rooting for him.  I think this is a book that will sit with me for a long while.