Apr 26, 2005 06:14 AM
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(Updated May 08, 2006 06:10 AM)
Rare are masters in the literary world, who can, with their pen and sleight of hands, paint the vignettes of life and make their readers commiserate with their characters. Rarer are works by such rare masters, which can give a vicarious feel of every single emotion ever defined and experienced by men. Erich Segal and his 'love story' unequivocally qualify for such rare distinctions.
Erich Segal’s 'Love story' starts with these words...''What would you say about a twenty five year old girl who died, that she was brilliant and beautiful, that she loved Mozart and Bach, that she loved Beetles and me...''
There are a few things common to fictions and incidents of life: they take unexpected turns and the climax never unwinds till you get there.
The author gives the gist of the tale in the first few lines, there are no unexpected turns, no surprises and yet thanks to the author, this book filled with the litany of woes of the protagonist, turns out to be a best seller; a best seller read at least a half a dozen times even by non-bibliophiles. Yes, but if you have not experienced the class of Segal, it would come as a pleasant surprise as you read through.
The story revolves around a rich Oliver Barret IV (who despises his name as much as he despises his father) and the love of his life, Jenny Cavilleri, a music major from Radcliffe. Oliver is portrayed as an emotional and an athletic teenager, who hardly knows that his first acerbic encounter with Jenny, would turn into a deep emotional bond. A strange emotional bond that haunts, startles and waylays, not just Oliver Barret IV, but every single reader who inadvertently steps into his shoes, during the course of the tale. Oliver’s love blossoms into marriage, that is blessed by Phil Cavilleri (Jenny’s father) and abhorred and deprecated by his father. Oliver defies his father and wealth for jenny’s love. The couple face all financial odds and when they are all set to lead a prosperous life, they seem to have everything but time. Erich Segal from this point takes the tale in a very poignant fashion. And a tale of love, like its every other counterpart ends it tears. It is so well scripted that the ocular humidity for most readers could not go unnoticed.
Although the tale ends in a tragic note, it leaves a strong message to all the readers,” Love means never having to say you are sorry”.
This book from Segal is a must read. I would recommend this book to everyone. I have not known a single person who has disliked this book. To put it in a nut shell, ‘Love story’ by Erich Segal is a brilliantly written tragic tale that moves all the readers and that exhibits the mark of the author’s genius.
P.S: Please leave your comments and ratings. Thanks for reading.
