Silver Linings Playbook: From "Failing Like Dimmesdale Did" to "Balanced Very Carefully" (Contains Spoilers)

[Jodi]

This is the thread to discuss Silver Linings Playbook. The chapters discussed here start at "Failing Like Dimmesdale Did" up to "Balanced Very Carefully, As If The Whole Thing Might Topple When The Heater Vents Begin To Blow Later This Fall".

[JoJo]

Seems like no one's up to me yet. I'm getting curious but maybe I'll wait for others to catch up.

[Berit]

I will start reading this part in the morning, I'm not really good at waiting to find out. It seems like a quick, fun, and easy read.. I think there's probably some darkness in it as well.

[Berit]

I just finish this part, really enjoying the book. I like pat and I don't know why.I just want everything to work out for him. I still really have no idea what has happened to lead up to this point. Curious to see where his relationship with Tiffany goes. I think I'm just going to blow through this book and finish tonight. I will be around for all the discussions, nothing better then discussing a good book!

[Jennifer]

I enjoyed that this section started off with The Scarlet Letter, as I just reread it myself last week, for the first time since high school. I would like to learn more about what happened to Pat, why he ended up in the "bad place," why Nikki really left him, why he's missing so many years, but Pat and Cliff's discussion about The Bell Jar has made me think that maybe I don't really need to know. Maybe I just need to be sympathetic to the harder experience he has had.

I am finding more sympathy for him as the story continues. He has a childlike innocence when it comes to wanting to improve himself and to be "kind instead of right." The bizarre relationship with Tiffaany is progressing, although I'm not certain what it is that is motivating Tiffany at this point. I am looking forward to see how this continues.

[Heidi]

I agree, Jennifer, about sympathizing for Pat because of his childhood innocence. Makes me wonder what happened before that was so traumatizing that Pat can't seem to remember.

Another thought I had was I keep trying to figure out Tiffany's significance. I feel as if there is something important about her character, but I am not sure what. When Tiffany rages against Pat's “wife” Nikki, I definitely rooted for Tiffany. I don't know what happened so I don't want to make any conclusions just yet. Since, so far, we have only see the side of Pat that is trying to improve, I can't help but feel a bit angry at Nikki for not being there for him during this tough time.

I wonder if Cliff is truly trying to test Pat when he asks questions about Tiffany or if there is another reason as to why he asks those questions. Does he know something about Nikki that Pat (and us, readers) do not know?

[Megan BG]

My opinion of Pat is definitely improving. Not that I disliked him; I just didn't know how I felt about him.

I like Tiffany. Everyone else seems to do whatever they can to avoid Nikki, but maybe she's the dose of reality he needs to realize his marriage is over (I'm assuming, since she's been MIA for 4 years). Tiffany told him what she thought of Nikki when everyone else had been avoiding telling him what is going on. She may also be avoiding telling him the truth, but at least she (by swearing in the middle of a diner) told him he's being unrealistic.

As far as his dad goes, he's a man. I'm sure it was hard for him to see his son as weak. I'm not making excuses for him, but I think it's how a lot of men who aren't comfortable with emotions and sensitivity would act. I know there's more to what he's thinking.

[Kim]

I am enjoying the mini reviews that Pat does of the classics. The reason he is reading them is also interesting to me. I am really suspicious of and sort of afraid to know where Nikki is and what happened.

[Karen]

I'm really enjoying this book so far! I want to find out what happened to Pat before "the bad place" and I'm interested to see what happens within his family, especially since the latest fight between his mom and dad.

[Berit]

Is that when his mom went on strike? LOL, what a great book :-)