OFHS Student Group discussion

The Silver Linings Playbook encompasses the journey of a fallen man who has vowed to begin again, fight his way to redemption, and win back the affection of the love of his life. Pat Peoples has faced it all—he has known embarrassment, shame, joy, love, anger, torment dealt by his own mind, and endless fear. Being trapped by the swirling rage of mental demons is nothing new to Pat, and they become the ultimate obstacle in his path to victory and redemption. After his return to society and the life of loved ones, Pat is nurtured by his mother, in hopes that he will take his meds and regain a fragment of his stable life back, while being given the cold shoulder by his less than compassionate father. The reappearance of his brother Jake gives Pat a sense of belonging, during a time when his friends and family refuse to acknowledge the past that has caused Pat’s fall from grace. His father’s conditional love for his son causes Pat to feel ashamed of the man he is, while also making him strive to become a man his father would be proud of. The motivation Pat feels to reshape himself to please others is easily relatable for most people, as a majority of people have self-conscience insecurities and want to be liked and desired by others. Pat’s newfound obsession with health and fitness is part of his grand scheme to transform himself into the perfect man for his ex-wife, Nikki, and his constant workouts are driven by his undying optimism that his wife is waiting for him on the other side of his mission, waiting for him to reach his goal and rekindle their marriage. This optimism is fostered by his belief that his positive thinking and lifestyle would drive away his mental illness and push him to
his greatest potential. Pat’s unshakeable perseverance in his intense mission to win his life back is not only admirable but shows the selflessness he obtains due to his strong desire to please the woman he loves. But what makes this story so beautiful is the bond that is formed between Pat and Tiffany, two people who are so good inside, but are constantly battling their inner demons, pulling them deeper into the dark abyss in each of their minds. Both of these misfortunate characters have hit rock bottom, and they need each other to pick of the pieces of their shattered lives. Tiffany has been stuck in a dreadful state of depression preceding Pat’s unexpected entrance into her life, and Pat’s character blossoms into a candlelight in her dark cave of sadness that wouldn’t seem to end. The loyalty that is gradually spun between the two is touching, a sign of unconditional love, which eventually mends both of their broken lives. The devotion of these characters to each other is what makes them such an invaluable team and a perfect match. Pat’s narration is honest, empathy-evoking, and casual, talking to the reader like he/she is a friend. The reader can’t resist rooting for Pat and feeling torn to bits when he has been knocked down. The book has just the right balance of pain, joy, sneaky plot twists, light-hearted jokes, and thought provoking philosophies on silver linings and the way of life. This is not an average love story; this is the story of everyday people with human flaws. This is a story of loss, redemption, teamwork, and love. The journey is hard, but the outcome, unexpected as it initially would have been perceived, was worth the effort. Pat Peoples found his silver lining.