Ordinary People

“Guest has the ability to move a toughened reviewer to tears.” —Newsweek

“Admirable . . . touching . . . full of the anxiety, despair, and joy that are 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

“Stirring, powerful . . . It mines marriage, family, and sexes with meaning, rejecting sarcasm, bite, and snark. . . . This is good writing.” —Classic Chicago Magazine

“Excellent . . . It manages to resonate deeply with readers fifty years after its publication . . . because it captures the truth that being human is complicated, and fragile, and also worth it. It was ahead of its time in exploring mental health, family dysfunction, and the longing for understanding. . . . The therapy scenes . . . are important ones in modern American fiction. . . . [They] remain fresh and moving. . . . This is a book for and about ordinary people, living through extraordinary pain, disappointment, and the difficult, beautiful journey of being human.” —Amy Bloom, from the Foreword