Ordinary People is a book by Judith Guest that explores life in the 1970s but also captures the essence of life out of that specific time and giving it eternal life. Guest’s excellent and unique writing provides life to the characters in a profound manner that is still intimate. She brings the reader into the book’s universe by delving deep into its characters without limitation.
The character’s emotional journey through isolation, self-discovery, love, lust, and hardships are documented in this mundane telling of how people live their lives as they do. Guest chooses to use her characters as specimens for understanding depression on a profound level without coming off as autobiographical or scientific, in keeping with the trend. Her words work as a self-help instruction for the betterment of the human condition.
Despite Guest’s obvious battle with depression, she moves away from exploring her battles with it and chooses to use her experience to mold characters that would better connect with the reader more profoundly. The result is a book filled with psychological tropes that are effective in the real world.
The character development is top-notch despite the monotonous and sometimes dragging ideas that don’t land quite right. Guest focuses on all her characters equally without overlooking their personalities. She keeps her character’s grounded to humanity no matter how far gone they might be into their depression. The balance in emotions that is envisioned in this book is within reach for all those who are willing to face their problems and find solutions.
For a fictional work, Ordinary People is deeply rooted in reality and strays away from reading like fiction. Despite the realism in the work, there’s plenty to be interested in and captivated about. It’s regarded as a classic for its unprecedented take on depression, mental health, and everyday life.
