Call it fate. Call it synchronicity. Call it an act of God. Call it . . . The Good Luck of Right Now. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook comes an entertaining and inspiring tale that will leave you pondering the rhythms of the universe and marveling at the power of kindness and love.
For thirty-eight years, Bartholomew Neil has lived with his mother. When she gets sick and dies, he has no idea how to be on his own. His redheaded grief counselor, Wendy, says he needs to find his flock and leave the nest. But how does a man whose whole life has been grounded in his mom, Saturday mass, and the library learn how to fly?
Bartholomew thinks he’s found a clue when he discovers a “Free Tibet” letter from Richard Gere hidden in his mother’s underwear drawer. In her final days, mom called him Richard—there must be a cosmic connection. Believing that the actor is meant to help him, Bartholomew awkwardly starts his new life, writing Richard Gere a series of highly intimate letters. Jung and the Dalai Lama, philosophy and faith, alien abduction and cat telepathy, the Catholic Church and the mystery of women are all explored in his soul-baring epistles. But mostly the letters reveal one man’s heartbreakingly earnest attempt to assemble a family of his own.
A struggling priest, a “Girlbrarian,” her feline-loving, foul-mouthed brother, and the spirit of Richard Gere join the quest to help Bartholomew. In a rented Ford Focus, they travel to Canada to see the cat Parliament and find his biological father . . . and discover so much more.
For thirty-eight years, Bartholomew Neil has lived with his mother. When she gets sick and dies, he has no idea how to be on his own. His redheaded grief counselor, Wendy, says he needs to find his flock and leave the nest. But how does a man whose whole life has been grounded in his mom, Saturday mass, and the library learn how to fly?
Bartholomew thinks he’s found a clue when he discovers a “Free Tibet” letter from Richard Gere hidden in his mother’s underwear drawer. In her final days, mom called him Richard—there must be a cosmic connection. Believing that the actor is meant to help him, Bartholomew awkwardly starts his new life, writing Richard Gere a series of highly intimate letters. Jung and the Dalai Lama, philosophy and faith, alien abduction and cat telepathy, the Catholic Church and the mystery of women are all explored in his soul-baring epistles. But mostly the letters reveal one man’s heartbreakingly earnest attempt to assemble a family of his own.
A struggling priest, a “Girlbrarian,” her feline-loving, foul-mouthed brother, and the spirit of Richard Gere join the quest to help Bartholomew. In a rented Ford Focus, they travel to Canada to see the cat Parliament and find his biological father . . . and discover so much more.
Never having to encounter this author before, I wasn't sure exactly what to think about Matthew Quick. I heard a lot about his novels and after seeing this at the library, knew that I had to give it a shot and see how it goes. Oh boy... I definitely could not have predicted the experience that I went through with this book...
The Good Luck of Right Now introduces us to some very interesting characters that are definitely nothing alike. You have Bartholomew Neil who seems normal all throughout the book but there is hints that he might be autistic. Along the story we meet Max, a guy who believes in aliens and is grieving about his dead cat. Oh and let's not forget the alcoholic priest with bipolar disorder and a lot of secrets.
The whole story is being told by Bartholomew writing a letter to Richard Geer. It's so random and absurd that it really shouldn't make sense but weirdly, it works perfectly with the story. I can't believe how much this book moved me and how sorry I felt for the main characters.
There was a scene in the story where the crew were discussing why they are weird and why can't they be normal. Bartholomew said that they are needed in this world to be weird because noone else can be. I just thought that was so beautiful and unique, it melted my heart.
With that said, I think I have found my new favorite author and definitely will need to pick up more of his books.
“When something bad happens to us, something good happens - often to someone else. And that's The Good Luck of Right Now. We must believe it. We must. We must. We must.”
The Good Luck of Right Now introduces us to some very interesting characters that are definitely nothing alike. You have Bartholomew Neil who seems normal all throughout the book but there is hints that he might be autistic. Along the story we meet Max, a guy who believes in aliens and is grieving about his dead cat. Oh and let's not forget the alcoholic priest with bipolar disorder and a lot of secrets.
The whole story is being told by Bartholomew writing a letter to Richard Geer. It's so random and absurd that it really shouldn't make sense but weirdly, it works perfectly with the story. I can't believe how much this book moved me and how sorry I felt for the main characters.
There was a scene in the story where the crew were discussing why they are weird and why can't they be normal. Bartholomew said that they are needed in this world to be weird because noone else can be. I just thought that was so beautiful and unique, it melted my heart.
With that said, I think I have found my new favorite author and definitely will need to pick up more of his books.
