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.
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!!
