RaveNPR... interior characterization drives these books, and both run to nearly 500 pages. But I defy you to leave either at home once you\'ve turned the first page ... It\'s a credit to French, and her knack for snappy dialogue and crisp prose, that the setup never feels convoluted ... the thrill comes in exploring the peculiar, collective psychology of the clique ... isn\'t about solving mysteries so much as exploring them ... Readers lost in their books may recognize a troubling likeness to themselves.
Matthew Quick
RaveNPRThe Silver Linings Playbook, Matthew Quick's much buzzed about debut novel, features a protagonist who is, for a change, earnestly doing his best to forge his way into adulthood … Pat is a fearless narrator; even his most outlandish delusions are so candidly expressed that the reader teeters between fear of heartbreak and the hope that Pat might actually yearn his way into happiness. It's a charmingly nerve-wracking combination … The book is cinematic, but the writing still shimmers. This nimble, funny read is spiked with enough perception to allow the reader to enjoy Pat's blindly hopeful philosophy without irony. After all, Pat's masculine ideal requires several traits that aren't always considered manly: kindness, wisdom, grace. You'll find it refreshing to learn that whatever the outcome, Pat's journey toward self-improvement is a silver lining in and of itself.
