Ordinary People

Rating:
Summary: Emotional
Review: Ordinary People was an amazing book, it controled my emotions, it got inside of me. I could not put the book down and I am not a reader type of person. This is the first book which I can truely relate to. I hope all people read this book and understand the true feeling of people because I surely did.

Rating:
Summary: deeply moving novel full of hope
Review: i am amazed at this novel's ability to be so complex and yet the simplest, easiest, to read book i've ever read. ordinary people is everyone's story and it remains perhaps the best book i've ever read because it is a book everyone can understand. ordinary people is a novel full of all the complexity of life and the hope that keeps us together.

Rating:
Summary: A realistic novel for all ages!
Review: The characters in this book I found to be very realistic. Conrad has encounters with people any ordinary teenager would have. Conrad is exposed to drugs, pain, and confusion. The author shows you first hand about Conrad's thrilling life. Conrad has three main interests in his life are Karen(The girl he likes), swimming, and school. As you read through the book you will see the interest that Conrad builds up in his academics. The message I found when I read this book had to do with the attitude of Conrad and the control Conrad's parents have on him. The plot of this book really focuses on the life at home, and the life at school. I found this book to be really in your face on the life of a teenager. Even though the detail was great, I found the plot of the book to be a little misleading. I would recommend this book to an avid reader, who can follow a detailed plot. The meaning of the title Ordinary People is saying an ordinary family can have tradjedies and go through painful times. There is no perfect family in modern society today, and that is what impression this book puts in your mind.

Rating:
Summary: A real book
Review: I think Ordinary People is one of the best books that I have read. I am not big on book reading and I found my self excited to read this book. I feel that the book was very life like and real, the problems that were faced and the ways of fixing them were ones that families face. I loved it when the characters thought to themselves, because it was very much like how people actually think, what emotions some actually feel. I am in high school also and I could relate to Conrad, there was a good job done making him an actual student. The way that he involved himself with his parents, although sometimes mean, is much like the way the teenagers do today. I think that this book was very well written and thought provoking, I would recommend it to those who enjoy reading and even those who don't, like myself.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I thought that "Ordinary People" was phenomenal! I loved the quick changes of past tense to present tense by the author to show the thoughts of the characters and the constant use of the word "he", without ever telling who "he" was. I thought this book was very inciteful and truely outstanding.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: Ordinary People was a fairly good novel, but definately not one of my favorites. It is touching in the realistic portrayl of Conrad's depression. I probably would have liked it better if read on my own time, instead of in AP Communications, where one must analyze every last word.

Rating:
Summary: A delightful book that I could not put down
Review: My English class is reading Ordinary People at the present time. Once we started studying it, I found that I could not put it down!! I truly love the author's realistic portrayal of Conrad's plight; her description of Conrad's thoughts and hopes was fascinating. I also admire the character of Conrad's father, Cal. Cal was shown as a vulnerable yet well-meaning man who worries, cares for and truthfully loves his son. Aside from Cal and Conrad, I also really loved Berger, the scruffy psychologist. The precious advice and witty comments that Berger makes throughout the book made me laugh. Another aspect that I enjoyed about Ordinary People was the familiar setting of the book. Conrad lives in Lake Forest, Illinois. He travels to Skokie and Evanston on occasion. Many of the places he speaks of are places that I know; this provided an added bonus as I read! These lifelike characters, along with the familiar setting of the book, provided a wonderful reading experience for me! Ordinary People is one of the best books that I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: I have had depression for several years and I would have to say that this is one of the most realistic portrayals I have seen. I saw so many parallels between the Jarretts and my own family, it was frightening. Some of you out there who haven't dealt with this stuff might find this book boring, or unrealistic, or something, but if you are depressed this book is an incredible catharsis. It gives me hope that healing is possible.

Rating:
Summary: Great book telling a struggling tale
Review: Judith Guest does an alarmingly excellent job capturing the essence of adolescent struggles with emotions and feelings. The thoughts and flashbacks create a great feeling for Conrad. In addition, all the characters in the book are well-formed and have very believable personalities. It is easy for any person who has struggled in life to identify with one or more of the main characters - they are well-sculpted to create a great sense of pathos. The entire book is well-written and left me with few questions at the end. A truly excellent piece of literature

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: This book was not my all time favorite but it's kinda interesting. It's kind of wierd and hard to follow sometimes but in a way it's pretty cool. You see this kid tries to kill himself and all but I guess you should read it. If you like The Catcher in the Rye you'll like this one too.