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eBook editions

Ordinary People

by Judith Guest

Ordinary People Cover

ISBN13: 9780140065176
ISBN10: 0140065172
Condition: Standard
All Product Details

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The Jarrets are a typical American family. Calvin is a determined, successful provdier and Beth an organized, efficient wife. They had two sons, Conrad and Buck, but now they have one. In this memorable, moving novel, Judith Guest takes the reader into their lives to share their misunderstandings, pain...and ultimate healing.

Review:

"As has already been noted, all happy families are alike. All ordinary ones are not: some have extraordinary things happen in them. The extraordinary events here include the death of one son and the attempted suicide of the other. The focus is on 17-year-old Conrad, who struggles to understand himself, which necessitates coming to terms with his brother's death.
It is not a very good novel. At times the dialogue is unconvincing; it is almost always trite; one senses, always, the sun ready to shine through the storm. The best writing concerns Conrad's mother, who damns others as she damns herself. There are painful scenes, very convincingly done, between husband and wife over the way to handle their son. He, alas, remains too much the stereotyped troubled adolescent for us to pay too much attention to. With everyone else trying so hard to help and understand, the reader guiltlessly dissociates himself.
Is Robert Young looking for a new TV series?" Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)

Review:

"Admirable...touching...full of the anxiety, despair, and joy that is common to every human experience of suffering and growth." The New York Times

Review:

"Guest has the ability to move a toughened reviewer to tears." Newsweek

Review:

"A writer's novel. A reader's novel. A critic's novel. A very importanrt novel." Detroit Free Press

Review:

"Rejoice! A novel for all ages and all seasons." The Washington Post Book World
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
lover of books, April 3, 2008 (view all comments by lover of books)
I love the suspension of this book we are reading it in english class and i love the way she wrote this. But, not to be a downer T_T but i thought the way that she switched characters between each chapter a little confusing at first but i find this novel the best. She should make a sequel the title could be "Ordinary People: Just another child" it could be about Conrad and Jeanene haveing a child and Lazenby marrying "Pratt" and they could before all of the marrying and children they could go to college and be all getting into the same college and temperarily lose touch but later meet up at a high school reunion ^_^ . That is just a sequel from a 17 year old girl, i guess you could say it is just a dream BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK. ^_^ bye-bye
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kissme143, November 9, 2006 (view all comments by kissme143)
This was a very good novel, that I enjoyed very much. Guest really has a way with words and brought me to tears many times throughout her story.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780140065176
Author:
Guest, Judith
Publisher:
Penguin Books
Location:
New York :
Subject:
General
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
Death
Subject:
Teenagers
Subject:
Brothers
Subject:
Illinois
Subject:
Death -- Fiction.
Subject:
Literary
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Copyright:
1982
Edition Description:
Trade Paper
Series Volume:
no. 33
Publication Date:
19821031
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
from 12
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
272
Dimensions:
7.74x5.02x.50 in. .41 lbs.
Age Level:
from 18
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Related Subjects

Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » Family Life
Languages » Foreign Languages » Spanish » Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Languages » Foreign Languages » Spanish » Fiction and Poetry » Literature » Family Life

Ordinary People Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$5.50 In Stock
Product details 272 pages Penguin Books - English 9780140065176 Reviews:
"Review" by , "Admirable...touching...full of the anxiety, despair, and joy that is common to every human experience of suffering and growth."
"Review" by , "Guest has the ability to move a toughened reviewer to tears."
"Review" by , "A writer's novel. A reader's novel. A critic's novel. A very importanrt novel."
"Review" by , "Rejoice! A novel for all ages and all seasons."
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