Ordinary People
by Judith Guest

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Book Summary Information

• ISBN13: 9780140065176
• Condition: New
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Book Reviews of Ordinary People

Book Review: ...
Summary: 4 Stars

I borrowed the book from a classmate during "free time" in history and I started to read it. I got to chapter two before the bell rang and after school i went to the library to pick it up. I managed to finish it in three days.

I related so much to this book in ways that I thought I would never relate to a book. I felt that Conrad was one of my friends; I felt that I had known him for a long time.

The only confusing thing about this novel was the way that Guest switched between Conrad and Mr. Jarrett narrating the story. After a while, though, I could figure out who was talking because the very different points of view.

I thought that the title was very appropriate for the whole book. Each character--Beth the mom, Calvin the dad, and Conrad the son-- are striving to be "normal"; they also want to become a normal family. At the same time, it made me question what a "normal" person was, what a "normal" family was. Is a normal family the family with both the parents happy with each other and their child or children? Or is it some other living arrangement and living conditions? I think it's the latter. In this day and age I haven't met very many people who are happily married.

I feel that Guest did a good job of expressing each characters perspective. I felt myself asking the same questions Calvin asked of himself, wanting the same things Conrad wanted of himself, and feeling the same coldness that Beth felt.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It has such a simple plot, but such real characters. Guest also has a beautiful way of writing and depicting each character, major or minor.

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