Quick Matthew, The Silver Linings Playbook; Informal Buddy Read ; Starts 7 July, 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Synopsis
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!

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.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

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[Jammin Jenny]

Looking forward to this BR! I have the book on hold/favorites on Hoopla!

[Christina]

A friend lent the book to me a couple of months ago, but I still haven't started... Have you seen the movie?

Team Lockhart here :)

[Jammin Jenny]

Yes I loved the movie. I hope the book is as good (or even better).

Team Draco here

[Sassafrass]

I hope I can join this one. I've been wanting to read this and this BR gives me the perfect excuse.

I haven't seen the movie.

Team Newt here

[Mary X]

I'll join this from team Minerva.

I loved the movie.

[Jammin Jenny]

Cool. Getting a good bunch of people for this buddy read :-)

[Sarah]

I'll join in, too! Just saw the movie for the first time semi-recently.

Team Hermione : )

[Christina]

started about an hour ago, I think I'm up to Chapter 10 now?

I have to admit when I started I was a bit (view spoiler)[annoyed by Pat's "obsession" with Nikki, but I guess I got used to it by now. I feel bad for him, but I really don't know yet how I want this book to end.

I can't believe he had no idea he was at 'the bad place' for almost 4 years?? like w o w ! do patients not get birthday presents annually? what about a christmas tree each year? how can they keep this?????? (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Ok what is going on with (view spoiler)[Dr. Patel? Is he actually a therapist? He seems soooo off, I'm so confused! (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

I am listening on audio and about 15% in right now. I think Pat must have been on some heavy meds at the "bad place" in Baltimore. Wonder if he was at Sheppard Pratt? I'm from around that area and that is one of the psych hospitals.

I saw the movie a long time ago so the story is new to me. I look forward to watching the movie when I'm done the book.

[Sarah]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "I am listening on audio and about 15% in right now. I think Pat must have been on some heavy meds at the "bad place" in Baltimore. Wonder if he was at Sheppard Pratt? I'm from around that area and ..."

Wait a sec...is this based on a true story?

[Mary X]

It's not based on a true story. The author was a teacher who worked with people with mental health issues and that's where the book idea came from. I read an interview with him yesterday.

I'm enjoying the book so far. It's really heart breaking what people go through. You wonder why their family and friends would want to fix up 2 people who clearly have mental health issues. But then you can see that they just want so badly to create normalcy for their loved ones. Like maybe if they get involved they can fix each other.

[Mary X]

and apparently Eagles fans are really that fanatical.

I'm about half-way through and just started yesterday. I took a break from it today because while the book has light-hearted moments, it's still a bit of a hard read. Just from what the characters are going through.

Kenny G: (view spoiler)[At first it seemed funny that hearing Kenny G's music would put him into a rage. But that seen where he's in the hot attic, trying to sweat off weight to make Nikki happy and he has that hallucination about Kenny G was just heart breaking. (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

I'm 75% done with the book. I agree Mary it is a hard read when the characters are struggling with mental health issues.

(view spoiler)[It's funny to me (in a sad way) when Pat is trying to remember which meds to take when his Mom goes out for the night after his dad gets the big TV - what colors are they? I also take meds for depression and anxiety and am often commenting on which colors I need to take - Matthew Quick is really good at writing about mental health issues. I wonder where he gets that knowledge?? (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

I can't find the article now, but I read an interview with the author and I thought he said he worked with people with mental health issues when he was a teacher. He also said that he personally dealt with anxiety and depression.

The main thing I get from reading this book is that they are all just trying to make life seem as normal as possible. So as not to upset the status quo and not to upset or trigger the mentally ill person (Pat and Tiffany). I'm picking up that maybe the father has some un-diagnosed issues himself.

[Jammin Jenny]

Yes the father definitely seems to have some issues...

[Christina]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "and apparently Eagles fans are really that fanatical.

I'm about half-way through and just started yesterday. I took a break from it today because while the book has light-hearted moments, it's sti..."

damn those Eagle fans are crazy! (and probably some other NFL fans too :P)

[Christina]

I'm about half way through the book now, and while it isn't very hard to read for me I did just fly across (view spoiler)[the last Kenny G. hallucination. sometimes it's just very repetitive (I swear if the book mentions one more time that Pat doesn't want to watch any movies, just be in his for now, I'm gonna flip) (hide spoiler)]

I also started thinking that Nikki (view spoiler)[actually passed away, maybe it even had something to do with Pat, which led to him having a mental breakdown. (hide spoiler)]

I haven't seen the move yet btw. obviously lol.

[SandyL]

I just started this book (I'm listening to the audio version.) I'm up to Ch 14. I never saw the movie and had no idea it was about mental health issues.

I'm interested to find out more about what happened (view spoiler)[between Pat and Nikki that he ended up in a mental hospital. His obsession with her and references to 'apart time' is so heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]

His narration sounds like he's still (view spoiler)[ on some pretty heavy meds. I admire his mom for getting him home and I'm sad his dad is not supportive. (hide spoiler)]

I love Dr. Patel!

Regarding Tiffany (view spoiler)[ Like Mary mentioned above, it's surprising that their friends and family are trying to fix Pat and Tiffany up. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Jammin Jenny]

I agree with your Sandy. (view spoiler)[I am also interested to see how Pat and Nikki came apart, and his use of "apart time" is heartbreaking (hide spoiler)]

[SandyL]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "and apparently Eagles fans are really that fanatical.

I'm about half-way through and just started yesterday. I took a break from it today because while the book has light-hearted moments, it's sti..."

I have to agree with Pat about Kenny G (view spoiler)[ Not to make fun of his stressors, but I can't stand Kenny G either and I'm sure back when this story was happening it would have been hard to get away from him! (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

I am really fighting the urge to spoil what happened between Pat and Nikki. It's revealed fairly early into the book.

[Christina]

'FAIRLY EARLY IN THE BOOK'?? 😲

[Jammin Jenny]

Huh??

[SandyL]

I just finished - this was a really quick book to listen to!

Wow! (view spoiler)[ While I was reading the letters between Pat and Nikki I did wonder if Tiffany was writing them. And poor Pat when he found out the truth about them and then gets mugged! But I'm so glad he found Danny!

I really like how things unfolded at the end, with Pat remembering things and then meeting with Tiffany. My favorite character is still Dr. Patel!! (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

I just started with the letters and I don't know what to think. (view spoiler)[ is Tiffany actually writing 'Nikki's' letters??

I'm so happy everyone (except the dad of course) showed up at the dance thingy, but I already knew Pat's brother, mum, Cliff and even the Asian Invasion would be there... (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

Pat and Nikki(view spoiler)[I have the audio and can't go back and find it now but Nikki had a lover and Pat nearly beat hum to death. Now i wonder if I read that in an article. (hide spoiler)]

Early in the book Pat does say that he wasn't very nice to his wife.

I really need to stop googling things about books until after i finish them. I give myself too many spoilers.

[SandyL]

You must have read it somewhere else, Mary - this doesn't come out until almost the end of the book. 😊

[Christina]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Pat and Nikki[spoilers removed]

Early in the book Pat does say that he wasn't very nice to his wife.

I really need to stop googling things about books until after i finish them. I give myself to..."

excuse you, that's like a massive spoiler! thanks :b

[Mary X]

I did put it in spoiler tags. (I have a bad habit of reading those in reviews and discussion as well.)

[Mary X]

The father (view spoiler)[While he doesn't say much to Pat, I think he does care. It shows in him leaving the sports section in the morning when he took to work for years and playing the TV really loud so Pat can hear it in the basement while he works out. You can kind of understand that he might get frustrated sometimes in that the's probably retirement age but has to keep working to support an adult son with a mental illness he doesn't quite understand. Although that's non excuse for how he sometimes treats his wife. Pat may have grown up thinking that's how you treat a wife and so treated Nikki in a similar way. (hide spoiler)]

[Christina]

Now I don't dare read anything anymore before I finished the book lol

[Jammin Jenny]

Yes I just finished the book. I was surprised (view spoiler)[ about Pat nearly killing Nikki's lover to death, but I liked his brother Jake driving him to Maryland to see Nikki's new life, and I like that Pat didn't go out and talk to her but just finally accepted that his life with Nikki was over. (hide spoiler)]

I also love Tiffany's final disclosure about what happened in her life to send her down the road to mental illness. I think that people in similar situations can help each other heal and I have hopes for their silver lining...

[SandyL]

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "The father [spoilers removed]"

I agree Mary - I think Pat (view spoiler)[ wasn't a great husband to Nikki because he didn't have a very good role model. (hide spoiler)]

[SandyL]

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Yes I just finished the book. I was surprised [spoilers removed]

I also love Tiffany's final disclosure about what happened in her life to send her down the road to mental illness. I think that pe..."

Me too Jennie. I liked how the author (view spoiler)[ tied up all the loose ends. Sometimes this doesn't work - you just feel like you've been strung along throughout the book, but it did work here. I also liked how Tiffany was helping Pat's mom stand up for herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

I finished this morning. I liked the book a lot but I think I liked the movie just a little better.

I do have to say it was nice picturing Bradley Cooper shirtless and in yellow tights.

I agree with the points made about the ending. It's not a neatly wrapped up, certain HEA. But like Pat says in the book, his old movie is ending and some in it got a happy ending. The book leaves you with the hope that Pat and Tiffany will find peace and happiness together.

[Christina]

I finished last night and gave it 3 stars as I wasn't sure how I felt about it all. I too am sort of happy (view spoiler)[ to have found out more about what had happened with Tiffany before. It's also nice that Pat and Danny were able to reconcile even though they found each other again under the worst circumstances. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

Anyone about to start this soon? Or are just at the beginning? I'm hoping to find somebody else to read this with!