‘The [marvellous] Silver Linings Playbook’ by Matthew Quick

I’ve had the honor to read this magnificent book, though this may have been the first time I've ever read a book after seeing the movie adaptation. So of course, I have pictured both Academy Awards nominees (and incredibly talented), Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, in every single passage of the book.

I can start with a lighter subject, that is the discovery of a few differences between the movie and the novel. The movie has made a number of significant changes to the story as presented in the book. Some of the important scenes are missing in the movie as well as the issues that the family of Peoples (Solatanos in the movie) is dealing with. Yet still the plot has put some more objects to it and somehow managed to stay in balance and true to the novel and developed in a way also book with its character would do.

But let's focus on the novel. It has something more to it than a very compelling storyline and perceptive depiction of the characters. There is this strong underlying context about human nature, about how easy it is to fall on your knees and how difficult is to stand up again and face the reality, not even talking about integrating into your former life. Be a good son and daughter, be a good brother, a good friend, a good person, embrace all the roles you "played" before this huge reversal, be kind and in the same time struggle with your own demons and conquer them.

This process or let's say a journey the main characters are on, is an absolute exposure of human weak spots, deep feelings, scarred hearts and only one big goal to achieve – be normal and happy. Of course, Pat’s biggest goal is to get back his ex-wife but after reading the whole novel, the reader realizes, his ex-wife only reminds him of the happy moments of his life.

Silver Linings Playbook also has a strong power that overwhelms you and you suddenly find yourself laughing at some little jokes or sayings, or crying over the characters’ misfortune. You root for them, you listen to them, you get what they want to say and understand them. Last but not least (and I relate to this one very closely) is that you want to help Pat to move on, to find his own spot under the sun and be able to start a new chapter of his life with this strange girl Tiffany. I may be weird but I found it absolutely honest and beautiful that she „lied“ to Pat about the letters written by Nikki (Pat’s ex-wife) to him. I understand it has been considered a lie in the first place, but still it has been used for the rightest cause.

As I said, there are differences between the book and the movie, and yet I couldn’t decide, which one of them has touched me more in my heart. Because, in the end I would say it was the novel that had  a bigger impact on me, especially the last declaration that was touching and absolutely took my breath away. 

“In my arms is a woman who has given me a Skywatcher's Cloud Chart, a woman who knows all my secrets, a woman who knows just how messed up my mind is, how many pills I'm on, and yet she allows me to hold her anyway. There's something honest about all this, and I cannot imagine any other woman lying in the middle of a frozen soccer field with me - in the middle of a snowstorm even - impossibly hoping to see a single cloud break free of a nimbostratus.” 

But on the other hand, seeing perfect impersonations of these two rare but still loveable characters portrayed by both fabulous Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, is a really HUGE and unique experience. It has been for me..

~Tina Valley