Although I admit I enjoyed both the book and the movie thoroughly
352780
I first watched the movie due to previews being everywhere. I was so hooked on the movie, I watched it three or four times before buying the book. Although I admit I enjoyed both the book and the movie thoroughly, the book was a little better. I enjoyed this book because it focuses on the positive silver linings in life by a guy whose life is less than pleasant.

The Silver Linings Playbook is more than just some love story gone wrong, there is a deeper purpose and meaning. It's not just another girly romance where guys like myself cannot find interest. I have read the book at least twice and loaned my copy out to a handful of friends and family members. I highly recommend this book to anyone else who would enjoy a positive, funny, and enjoyable story.
4911097
The book isn't necessarily better than the movie. However, the book provides a lot more detail than the movie does (which is to be expected). This is both good and bad--good because the book sometimes draws things out longer than they need to be; bad because the book allows you to know the characters better.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how Kathryn Stockett didn't remain too serious on a very serious topic. Too often people think books like this can't be funny. Stockett has a gift of knowing when to be serious and when comedy is appropriate.

Something that impressed me with this book was the character development. It's hard to think of many characters who didn't grow from the first page to the last. While some of the characters may seem over-the-top and highly exaggerated, that is part of the fun and helps place emphasis on each individual's growth.

If you are planning on seeing the movie, make reading this first a priority--they are the perfect match for each other.
968457
Having seen and throughly enjoyed the movie version of this, I found the book to be about the same story, only told with more emphasis on the characters.  Paul, Tammy, Tracy and Lisa are given a greater emotional  range than they are allowed in the film, which is interesting, but dillutes  the satirical impact of the material. In some cases, the characters' fates  are even worse than the film, although the ending is more hopeful.
The  film, however, is one of my favorites for this year, and you should by all  means go and see it (having died a quick death in theaters, it deserves a  new life on video and DVD). A good read, though, and I think I might check  out some of the author's other work.  This is one of those rare cases,  however, where the movie is better than the book.
3862090
I didn't know much about this book prior to reading it, just that it was being turned into a movie and people liked it overall.  So I came into the book with few expectations, and although it took me awhile to get used to the format of it simply being a snapshot of the lives of Emma and Dexter on their "anniversary" every year, I quickly understood why people enjoy this book so much.  Because it's just a lovely, honest story.

Admittedly, I spent a lot of the book wondering why on earth Emma would put up with Dexter.  He is such a stereotypical, slightly famous jerk - alcohol, drugs, women.  A very frustrating guy to read about!  But I feel like he's someone we all know a variation of, which ultimately lends credibility to the real-feel of this story.

Emma, on the other hand, can be pretty endearing at times.  Like all of us, she makes mistakes and I definitely found myself shaking my head at her, but Emma is the kind of lady I'd like to know.  Why she maintains a lingering love for Dexter for so long is honestly beyond me, I don't think I could do it, yet I think we all know that person we are always there for despite their bad behavior.

The romance between the two of them is largely one-sided for much of the book, but I did find myself coming around to Emma's way of thinking as we watch Dexter grow throughout the course of their friendship.  As a reader, I found myself just wanting them both to be happy, regardless of how they necessarily get there.  I guess you could say that not too far in, they felt like friends of mine as well.

I was a bit taken back by the end of the book, but then again, much of this book wasn't what I expected.  To say the least, I adored the journey it took me on, the range of emotions I felt, and the way it seemed like this could maybe even be my own life.  I was very impressed with the author, in fact I went straight to my goodreads list and added his other novels to my list.  I can see myself becoming a devoted fan of David Nicholls as time goes on, and I hope you will be too.

Oh, and I'm rather disappointed that the movie isn't in my local theaters anymore, so I'll have to wait to see it when it's out on DVD!
2265165
I don't often like a movie as much as I like the book it's based on, but this is an exception. There were enough subtle changes to this story that I was able to look at it as a separate entity from the book, and I love both stories! Highly recommend this movie and the book.
366041
Overall, an excellent book.  The movie was also a great take off on the book.
507403
I have had this book sitting on my bookshelf, as it were, and wanted to read it for a while. My plan was to read the book before going to see the movie, but life had other plans and I didn't get a chance to do so.

When Amazon and Barnes and Noble put the eBook on sale for 2.99, I decided it was time to dig into it and get it read.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to having seen the movie first. I had some preconceived notions and ideas about the characters and the storyline, and some of those did not become reconciled in my mind. But I will make every effort to not let that cloud my feelings about the book. After all, it is not the fault of the novel that Hollywood takes creative license, now, is it?

I found the characters enthralling. I loved Rose and Lissa, and I hatred Mia with a pure passion. Dimitri, well, I like the book version better.

The story flowed and the characters felt very real to me. I almost felt sorry for Natalie. She wanted so badly to belong and to be loved. But such emotion will always get us into trouble, doesn't it?

While I enjoyed the book, there were wire a few poorly edited bits, and that always has an effect on how I view a book. My inner editor cringed quite a few times. There were points where I had to stop reading and try to figure out what the missing word was, and anything that distracts from the story will sadly lower my rating.

Nonetheless, I do look forward to seeing what the Academy has in store.
141385
I am really sorry I missed the book when it came out.  I enjoyed both versions of the movie before I read the book, and was really looking forward to the read.  A lot of fun.
3849526
I loved the movie, I'm positive this book is great!
3333316
I hadn't realized that the move of the similar title was at first a book. I had always loved the movie and when I found that the store came from a book I had to have it.

I'm pleased to say that the book is as great as the movie. There are differences and those differences allow one to enjoy both the book and the movie.
3558447
I liked the movie so much that I decided to read the book too. The book is great - of course they altered the movie quite a bit from the book, but both were good.
2361641
I've watched the movie but after reading the book  I thought the book was a bit better than the movie.
4154074
I'd seen the movie and was curious to see how close they came to the book.  Although the book had much more in it, it was pretty close so I enjoyed them both.  I would recommend either or both.
2261519
Before I start I'm going to say that the movie and the book are a bit different.  So if you're the reader that likes the two to be the exact same then you're in for a surprise.  If you prefer the two to be the same I would suggest buying the movie-tie-in version.

The book itself is great.  The premise is easy to follow and the characters support the story nicely.  The author seemed to be very detailed in some scenes while glazing over others in as few words as possible.  There is some recurring lines and scenes throughout the novel, but that's to be expected from the situation that the story takes place in. It's not the characters that make the book great but the plot and the inevitable ending you know is coming (which is way better than the movie).  There are a lot of hugs and kisses and hand holding but that's the extent of the romance.  The majority of the book is a lead in to the climactic battle at the end of the novel.

Overall the book was very good and I enjoyed reading it.  I felt like maybe a bit more character development could have been done, but what was there satisfied the story.  I have a feeling that the next book will be better because everything changes (environment, locations, number of characters, etc.) as the story progresses.
424737
I like it and it delves into some things the movie didn't go in to. I usually like the book better than the movie but not this time - the movie is definitely better.
750471
I love the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" (with Mary Louise Parker, Mary Stuart Masterson, & Kathy Bates, among others) and have watched and enjoyed it numerous times, but this was the first time I read the book.

I have to say that the book is a delightful accompaniment to the movie (I know, I should say that the book is so much better, blah, blah, but honestly I think that both are good in their own right). The movie focuses mainly on the four main female characters, while the book includes the stories of many more diverse characters. This can be both a benefit and a drawback: To some degree, the multitude of characters in the book can get a little overwhelming. However, it was interesting to read more about the perspectives of the large black community, military members and others that aren't examined as thoroughly in the excellent (but shorter) movie version.

Overall, I really liked the folksy, Southern style of writing and the detail of the characters in the novel by Fannie Flagg. I enjoyed comparing and contrasting the lives of the characters in the book to those in the movie and learning more about their backgrounds than is revealed in the movie itself. Definitely recommend, even if (or especially if) you've already seen the movie version of the story.
2509658
One of the pleasures that I enjoy is reading a book and then watching the related film to see what choices the screenwriter and director of the movie made.  The book has some wonderful moments and details that did not make it to the movie but the choices made for the film are brilliant.  One subtle change, the kind of vehicle the lead character drives was a nice improvement in the movie.  Hard decisions about leaving out certain scenes from the book were good choices too.  With that said, the book has grand moments of writing and really captures an aspect of American maleness well.  A fun read.