By Judith Guest Source: enotes.com Ordinary People By Judith Guest Source: enotes.com

INTRODUCTION Published in 1976 by Viking Press First unsolicited manuscript published by VP in 26 years Remained popular for over 30 years among both adults and teenagers for sensitive characterizations of a troubled teenager and his confused father

Story of a teenaged boy’s struggle to recover psychologically from a suicide attempt following his older brother’s death in a boating accident Conflict: family is torn apart by grief and guilt Instant best-seller Award-winning film (R-rated) Timely themes: alienation, search for identity, coming of age

Author criticized by some for using a tightly controlled structure and for having a contrived ending Author’s universal insights into grief and complex family relationships will probably assure the popularity of the book for years to come

The Author: Judith Guest Draws from personal experience White, middle-class, suburban background Married with 3 sons Public school teacher Delayed writing career while raising family but drew heavily upon her ordinary family experiences

Based on her own family experiences as a child, developed an interest in cold, emotionally-distant characters Ordinary People instantly successful Selected by 4 book clubs Serialized in Redbook Paperback rights sold for $635,000 Award-winning film in 1980 made book even more popular

Also wrote Second Heaven (1982), Killing Time in St Also wrote Second Heaven (1982), Killing Time in St. Cloud (1988), and Errands (1997). All books are about ordinary people enduring extraordinary circumstances, dealing with loss and grief while struggling to maintain connections with other people