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Like Normal People
The Washington Post reporter describes his retarded brother and sister-in-law's attempts to lead a normal life in a time when notions about the retarded's potential have greatly changed
- GenresMemoir
203 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2020
Absolutely wonderful, TRUE story about 2 people with special needs who find each other, fall in love, want to marry - and face obstacles on the way. A "made for TV" movie based on this book starred Shaun Cassidy and Linda Purl, sometime in the late 70s/early 80s, which was my introduction to this touching tale.
January 7, 2026
I've been dipping into my personal "library" some and came across this book I forgot I had. I saw a movie based on this story years ago, No Greater Love starring Richard Thomas but had never read the book. (The original movie based on this book starred Shaun Cassidy.)
It was hard to read a book where people were constantly referred to as "retarded" but we have to remember that this book was published in 1978, and this was the correct term in those days.
It was interesting to see the beginning of the movement to recognize and help people who have mental slowness (for lack of a better word.) For many, many, years the "retarded" populations was shunted into institutions and sometimes allowed to die by withholding medical treatment. If they were allowed to work, it was in a sheltered workshop doing extremely menial labor for only pennies an hour. There was no concept that just because someone had a lower-than-normal IQ that they would have abilities that could be nurtured and allowed to reach their full potential. The story of Roger and Virginia shows what can be done, and even though I am not fully aware of all the options/treatments/programs available now, I know that there is more help today than ever before.
This is not the same as mental illness. These are two entirely different conditions and require different approaches.
If you have ever had any interest in learning more about the mentally challenged and how to help them, you might enjoy this book. Especially if you're interested in the early history of how this movement was developed.
It was hard to read a book where people were constantly referred to as "retarded" but we have to remember that this book was published in 1978, and this was the correct term in those days.
It was interesting to see the beginning of the movement to recognize and help people who have mental slowness (for lack of a better word.) For many, many, years the "retarded" populations was shunted into institutions and sometimes allowed to die by withholding medical treatment. If they were allowed to work, it was in a sheltered workshop doing extremely menial labor for only pennies an hour. There was no concept that just because someone had a lower-than-normal IQ that they would have abilities that could be nurtured and allowed to reach their full potential. The story of Roger and Virginia shows what can be done, and even though I am not fully aware of all the options/treatments/programs available now, I know that there is more help today than ever before.
This is not the same as mental illness. These are two entirely different conditions and require different approaches.
If you have ever had any interest in learning more about the mentally challenged and how to help them, you might enjoy this book. Especially if you're interested in the early history of how this movement was developed.
August 10, 2011
The made-for-TV movie of the same title was based on this book. A true story, written by the brother of one of the main individuals in the book, this is a good example of how a family might deal with a disability. At the time, it was very unusual to look at the siblings of people with disabilities.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews