Ordinary People: A Novel

Judith Guest

Oct 1982 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

One of the great bestseller of our time: the novel that inspired Robert Redford’s Oscar-winning film starring Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore

In Ordinary People, Judith Guest’s remarkable first novel, the Jarrets are a typical American family. Calvin is a determined, successful provider 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. Ordinary People is an extraordinary novel about an "ordinary" family divided by pain, yet bound by their struggle to heal.

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

"Rejoice! A novel for all ages and all seasons." -The Washington Post Book World 

Ratings and reviews

I read many books in my school year, but the book ordinary people is something different than other books because this book shows us some reality that we never believe in it in our life. I know that good time and bad time comes in our life always but we should try to get out from the peroblems that we had. This books help me to understand that don't be over expect things that is hard to get it but yes try to get it. All characters are different than each other but they teach us things that we should know in our life.

Ordinary people by Judith guest is a great book to read if you're in need of growing up. I read this book when I was a senior in high school and I related to many of the events happening in the book. It helped me realize many things and anything that I can do, I can do it on my own without anyone's help. The book is interesting with each character A different personality. I like how this book relates to many real life situations such as suicide awareness, families that deal with divorce, depression etc.

The book was amazing. I loved how it shows that no matter what happens you will always get through the hard times. The book goes in depth about how death in the family can affect you in negative ways and that having family problems is not bad it's normal. Their are many personalities presented in the book to sarcastic, sad, angry, annoyed etc. The ending was good because it wasn't happily ever after it was more realistic the wife left and son and father were left to love each other. It's well put in point of views. I loved it! I recommend it to others.

About the author

Judith Guest won the Janet Heidegger Kafka Prize for her first novel, Ordinary People, which was made into the Academy Award-winning 1980 film of the same name. Her other novels are Second Heaven, Killing Time in St. Cloud(with Rebecca Hill), and Errands. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Harrisville, Michigan.