- Paperback
- Publisher: Fontana (1981)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0006163602
- ISBN-13: 978-0006163602
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.7 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 100 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Inside This Book
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Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
To have a reason to get up in the morning, it is necessary to possess a guiding principle. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
To have a reason to get up in the morning, it is necessary to possess a guiding principle. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ordinary People,
By Anne (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ordinary People (Paperback)
Ordinary People suits its title in an honest, yet ironic way. This novel, written by Judith Guest, narrates the life of a typical Midwestern family. The characters are ordinary, not by the storybook definition of "normal", but they are realistic. The family falls from their high-middle class "American Dream" when the eldest son, Jordan, dies in a boating accident. His brother, Conrad, subconsciously blames himself for the incident and tries to commit suicide. He is admitted to a mental institution and lives there for the year prior to the story's setting. The novel covers his recovery and readjustment to the world he once lived in. Ordinary People shares the truth of life: that it is not always easy. Conrad continues to have suicidal thoughts at times and grows as a person as he overcomes them. He has a tough time getting back in line, with his school work, his friends, and even his family. Conrad finds that he needs to stop trying to "be" his deceased brother and needs to discover himself. While doing that he develops wonderful relationships with his psychiatrist, Jeannine Pratt, and even his own father. I really enjoyed this book because it gave an honest evaluation of human nature. The characters grew and affected each other realistically. The only thing I disliked about the novel was the ending. Everything fell in place for Conrad. I would definitely recommend Ordinary People as a book to read and you can decide how you feel about it on your own. It is a great story filled with honestly about life.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ordinary People hit the spot,
By Katie (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Ordinary People (Paperback)
They had two sons: now they have one. It used to be Conrad and Buck, but now it is just Conrad. What do parents feel like when one of their children gets killed in a freak boating accident? And how does the one that survived feel?Conrad Jarrett was a normal teenager. He liked to swim and chase girls. He had good grades, often, A's. But before this book starts something drastic happens. His older brother drowns is a boating accident. He was on the same boat, and yet he survived. He tries to commit suicide, but fails. He has been through many shrinks and almost a year at the hospital. Now he is back at school: the A's have gone to D's and he has withdrawn and become very secluded. This tells about him getting out of the shell. It almost seems like his parents keep him in the shell. His mom makes him feel unwanted, and his father makes him feel too loved. But this story is not only Conrad's: it is the story of his family of not so 'ordinary people', changing after their oldest son dies. The story really touches your heart and makes you think.......
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be my Guest,
This review is from: Ordinary People (Paperback)
Saw the move-loved it. Then read the book and loved it even more. Actually, I went back and saw the movie again, and re-read the book, just to see if it would hold up. While there were some dated elements, the entire thing came off great. The book is much more intense and the writing style fits perfectly in with the tale-just the way that the style marries with the elements in such other great books such as SOPHIE'S CHOICE or McCrae's THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. The only sad thing about OP is that too many people will be able to relate to it; to the dysfunctional family and their environs. I know I can. Sad, but true.
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