Oct 02, 2006 02:56 PM
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(Updated Oct 04, 2006 11:57 AM)
Eric Segal’s ‘Love Story’ is indisputably one of the best love stories ever written. Therefore, it might come as a surprise to many to learn that he had originally written the story for a movie of the same name starring Ryan O’Neal and Allie McGraw, which was released back in 1970. It was only in 1988, 18 years after the runaway success of the movie did the author publish it into a bestselling novel.
“Love means never having to say you are sorry.” This is the one most touching line in the book and forms sort of the backbone of the whole story. The protagonists are Oliver Barrett IV, a preppie Ivy League lawyer and Jennifer Cavilleri a seemingly nerdish, ebullient music major. Both are from as different worlds as possible. But you know what they say about love breaking all barriers. So does the love in this tragic story.
It is a short book by usual standards. An average accomplished reader might finish it in an hour or two. The best selling author of ‘Doctors’ and ‘Acts of Faith’, Segal has kept the narrative devilishly simple and to the point, yet there will be times when the reader will have to backtrack and re-read a page or two to get a grasp on what actually transpired between the characters amidst all the abuses they keep hurling at each other. Maybe the book is pointedly short to bring into glaring perspective the fact that depth of love is hardly dependent on time, as is the case with Oliver and Jenny’s all encompassing love for each other.
It is the quintessential love-story-line. ‘Rich boy’, Oliver meets and falls for ‘Poor girl’, Jenny and they get married amidst opposition from his parents. Their whole saga is an apparent love hate one, at least that’s what’s evident from the language they use, but it’s all on the surface. The story moves at a rapid pace yet covers a period of only a few short years. It is a story of selfless love and loss, of sacrifice and poignant anguish. By the end, there are quite a few moments liable to bring on the water works.
It’s a simple tale told in a simple manner. Nevertheless, the emotional punch it packs is quite a strong one. The author has tried to simulate the style of writing in his other books ‘Oliver’s story’, which is a sequel to ‘Love story’ and ‘Only love’, with only partial success.
It is a wonderful heartfelt tumultuous story, which everyone in love should read. And yes, it is true…Love, does mean never having to say you are sorry.
