One word: quirky!
Very interesting premise. The author kept you interested and engaged. There were several twists and turns. You found yourself cheering on all the right people to do all the right things. Easy to pick up right where you left off, as each of the chapters is a unique letter to a specific somebody - you have to read it to find out who!!
Highly recommend.
Very interesting premise. The author kept you interested and engaged. There were several twists and turns. You found yourself cheering on all the right people to do all the right things. Easy to pick up right where you left off, as each of the chapters is a unique letter to a specific somebody - you have to read it to find out who!!
Highly recommend.
Full disclosure - I was chosen as a Goodreads first reads winner for this book.
I saw the movie 'Silver Linings Playbook' and loved it but haven't read the book yet so I was not familiar with Matthew Quick's writing style and not sure what to expect.
I think I fell in love with this book on the very first page! The story is told by 38-year-old Bartholomew Neil through letters he writes to actor Richard Gere. Bartholomew's mom has recently passed away and he is devastated. It has been just the two of them his whole life (according to his mom, his dad died a martyr when Bartholomew was young).
Bartholomew is not 'normal' - he has often times been referred to as retarded although he is definitely not. Because he is different, he has made no friends or socialized in any way while his mom was alive. The main people in his life now are Father McNamee from his church and Wendy who is his grief counselor.
What's captivating about this book is being inside the mind of this man and seeing the world through his eyes. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, humorous and maddening. All of the characters are flawed in different ways and it's impossible not to want to meet them and talk to them and maybe give them a hug.
You learn the meaning of the book's title about half way through and then look at the world a little differently if you weren't already doing so.
I will definitely recommend this to everyone I talk books with!! Enjoy!!
I saw the movie 'Silver Linings Playbook' and loved it but haven't read the book yet so I was not familiar with Matthew Quick's writing style and not sure what to expect.
I think I fell in love with this book on the very first page! The story is told by 38-year-old Bartholomew Neil through letters he writes to actor Richard Gere. Bartholomew's mom has recently passed away and he is devastated. It has been just the two of them his whole life (according to his mom, his dad died a martyr when Bartholomew was young).
Bartholomew is not 'normal' - he has often times been referred to as retarded although he is definitely not. Because he is different, he has made no friends or socialized in any way while his mom was alive. The main people in his life now are Father McNamee from his church and Wendy who is his grief counselor.
What's captivating about this book is being inside the mind of this man and seeing the world through his eyes. It's heartbreaking, heartwarming, humorous and maddening. All of the characters are flawed in different ways and it's impossible not to want to meet them and talk to them and maybe give them a hug.
You learn the meaning of the book's title about half way through and then look at the world a little differently if you weren't already doing so.
I will definitely recommend this to everyone I talk books with!! Enjoy!!
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
As this was my first Matthew Quick book, I wasn't sure about his style, but knew of him through his previous book being made into quite the hit movie. This book was told from Bartholomew's perspective through letters to Richard Gere - interesting, but it fit the character completely. I am not one to enjoy profanity, so I had a hard time reading the parts that included the character Max, but there again, I thought it fit the character so I agree with the author putting it in.
As this was my first Matthew Quick book, I wasn't sure about his style, but knew of him through his previous book being made into quite the hit movie. This book was told from Bartholomew's perspective through letters to Richard Gere - interesting, but it fit the character completely. I am not one to enjoy profanity, so I had a hard time reading the parts that included the character Max, but there again, I thought it fit the character so I agree with the author putting it in.
This book is interesting and a quick read. It's very clever, but not really my kind of book.
At thirty-nine, Bartholomew Neil still isn't ready to leave his mother's nest, but when he loses her to cancer, he's left with no other choice. His once-stable, once-routine worldof just him, his mother, and Godcrumbles to pieces when one of his biggest role models, Father McNamee, consequently denounces himself from the Catholic church, and in turn, becomes more than just a religious father figure to Bartholomew, by becoming a human being.
Convinced that his other beloved role model, Richard Gere, is watching over him now that God no longer is, Bartholomew begins a one-way correspondence; these letters are what make up the entire novel. This fantasy relationship he creates is the only thing that still connects him to his deceased mother, considering she was Richard Gere's biggest fan, and the sole belief that he is guiding Bartholomew as if they were old friends, leads to unexpected discoveries and profound self-inquiry.
The unique narrator is what stood out to me, first and foremost. It is not a shock that Quick would write a protagonist who isn't quite normalone who clearly suffers from a mental disorder, but internally, is the same as any and all of us: deeply, imperfectly human. Bartholomew isn't a grand hero, no, but he glows with sincerity and is a compassionate, warm character; his brilliantly observant and self-recognizing tone will capture the hearts of readers just as that of The Silver Linings Playbook did.
Matthew Quick is skilled not only at providing perspective, but also at conveying the necessity of pretendingnot out of delusion, but out of self-preservationand the sheer magic of believingwhether through faith or through faithlessness. While the book is stylistically simple, it will make you think hard and think long; Bartholomew's introspection on religion, political correctness, and the nature of existence, will make your mind turn. There are moments where you'll disbelievingly relate, and resultantly be touchedfateand the way the story proceeds rather messily, but falls into place, piece by piecesynchronicitywill provide immense comfort; this is a story for the soul. Whether through acts of God or through coincidence, Bartholomew's life changes gradually at the discovery of an unlikely cast of new friends, and through little achievements that propel him forward further than he could imagine; it is you, the privileged reader, who gets to go along for the ride.
Pros: Requires deep thinking // Will make you reconsider the stigma of mental health disorders // Interesting perspective of a man's "delusions" // Casual, mellow style // Moves quickly; easy to read and keep reading // Story itself is synchronous as it comes into full circle // Distinct, unforgettable characters // Emotional, heartfelt
Cons: Plot isn't terribly exciting; it's more the details and Bartholomew's day-to-day observances that make it interesting // Rushed, inconclusive ending
Verdict: Pensive, honest, and appropriately quirky, The Good Luck of Right Now meditates upon the power of correspondence, the catharsis of confiding, and the definition of believing. Through writing descriptive, intimate letters to his lifelong idolthe ultimate coping mechanismBartholomew learns about independence, acquaintance, and ever-burning hopea remedy for both him, and for readers all around. Fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime will rejoice in Matthew Quick's newest novel for its genuine, thoughtful reflections and its propensity for happy outcomes in the tumbling-together of stray paths.
Rating: 8 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): An engaging read that will be worth your while; highly recommended.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Harper Collins and TLC!).
Convinced that his other beloved role model, Richard Gere, is watching over him now that God no longer is, Bartholomew begins a one-way correspondence; these letters are what make up the entire novel. This fantasy relationship he creates is the only thing that still connects him to his deceased mother, considering she was Richard Gere's biggest fan, and the sole belief that he is guiding Bartholomew as if they were old friends, leads to unexpected discoveries and profound self-inquiry.
The unique narrator is what stood out to me, first and foremost. It is not a shock that Quick would write a protagonist who isn't quite normalone who clearly suffers from a mental disorder, but internally, is the same as any and all of us: deeply, imperfectly human. Bartholomew isn't a grand hero, no, but he glows with sincerity and is a compassionate, warm character; his brilliantly observant and self-recognizing tone will capture the hearts of readers just as that of The Silver Linings Playbook did.
Matthew Quick is skilled not only at providing perspective, but also at conveying the necessity of pretendingnot out of delusion, but out of self-preservationand the sheer magic of believingwhether through faith or through faithlessness. While the book is stylistically simple, it will make you think hard and think long; Bartholomew's introspection on religion, political correctness, and the nature of existence, will make your mind turn. There are moments where you'll disbelievingly relate, and resultantly be touchedfateand the way the story proceeds rather messily, but falls into place, piece by piecesynchronicitywill provide immense comfort; this is a story for the soul. Whether through acts of God or through coincidence, Bartholomew's life changes gradually at the discovery of an unlikely cast of new friends, and through little achievements that propel him forward further than he could imagine; it is you, the privileged reader, who gets to go along for the ride.
Pros: Requires deep thinking // Will make you reconsider the stigma of mental health disorders // Interesting perspective of a man's "delusions" // Casual, mellow style // Moves quickly; easy to read and keep reading // Story itself is synchronous as it comes into full circle // Distinct, unforgettable characters // Emotional, heartfelt
Cons: Plot isn't terribly exciting; it's more the details and Bartholomew's day-to-day observances that make it interesting // Rushed, inconclusive ending
Verdict: Pensive, honest, and appropriately quirky, The Good Luck of Right Now meditates upon the power of correspondence, the catharsis of confiding, and the definition of believing. Through writing descriptive, intimate letters to his lifelong idolthe ultimate coping mechanismBartholomew learns about independence, acquaintance, and ever-burning hopea remedy for both him, and for readers all around. Fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime will rejoice in Matthew Quick's newest novel for its genuine, thoughtful reflections and its propensity for happy outcomes in the tumbling-together of stray paths.
Rating: 8 out of 10 hearts (4 stars): An engaging read that will be worth your while; highly recommended.
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Harper Collins and TLC!).
