Apr 29, 2003 01:42 AM
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(Updated Apr 29, 2003 01:46 AM)
Ali Mcgraw captured millions of hearts with her eternally famous line - '' Love means never having to say you're sorry.'' That was addressed to Ryan O'Neal for the movie based on this same novel way back in 1970. The movie went on to claim the Oscars and the Golden Globes while the book continues to claim millions of young hearts with its poignantly sculpted story of a rich-boy-meets-poor-girl-saga. Been there done that? Think again!!
She loves Chopin, He loves the Cleary Brothers:
Based in Boston and surrounding areas, the story is a first person account of Oliver Barrett IV, an economics student at Harvard and the son of a rich banker, Oliver Barrett III (who else?!!), who meets Jennifer Cavilleri, a music student at Radcliffe, and his entire world is turned upside down. Her wisecracks ensure that he takes her out to coffee where more wisecracks follow - and that ensures they stick together as a pair.
The story follows his tumultuous ride with Jenny, the eventual proposal for marriage, his meeting with her father Phil, her meeting with his parents, the resultant clash of ideas and standards, the eventual separation of O.B. IV from O.B. III. The circumstances in which Oliver proposes marriage to Jenny are quite amusing and touching too.
This is where the novel takes a very interesting turn. Although many may brand it regular 'masala' Love story stuff, Segal has beautifully scripted Oliver's struggle to get through to Law College while Jenny sweats it out for the first three years of their marriage.
Eric Segal explores the two characters of Jenny and Oliver in amazing detail. Since it is a first hand account, it is the two main characters that are highlighted throughout. Each and every statement of Jennifer is vintage - no discrepancy of any sort whatever, is seen, in her thought process. Oliver, too, is strongly sculpted; the first person account provides for his insight into Jenny and his lives in greater detail. Other characters find little or almost no description, except a passing mention somewhere along the pages. There are moments when one feels strongly about the plot - especially the way things turn out. If you are one of the All-love-stories-have-a-happy-ending believers, you are in for a shock!
A warning:
The story may not end where you would quite like it to. Nevertheless, it transports you back to an age where love was still a feeling and not just about things, like it is today. For people with an emotional background - Keep lots of tissues ready. You will REALLY need the, especially at the end. If words have the power to heal and to move this novel not just exemplifies it but buttresses it with lots of 'solid' proof! All in all makes for a pleasant reading if you dare to take it without emotions or else, be warned...
Recommended: Buy and Keep if you wish to. Else Borrow and Return.
