Love Story by Erich Segal – A Tale of True Love

Book Review
Title: Love Story
Author: Erich Segal

No mushy descriptions and no fairy-tale sequences, yet incredibly romantic.

‘You look stupid and rich,’ she said, removing her glasses.
‘You’re wrong,’ I protested. ‘I’m actually smart and poor.’
‘Oh, no, Preppie. I’m smart and poor.’
‘What the hell makes you so smart?’ I asked.
‘I wouldn’t go for coffee with you,’ she answered.
‘Listen – I wouldn’t ask you.’
‘That,’ she replied, ‘is what makes you stupid.’

He is Oliver Barrett IV, a Harvard student and a law aspirant hailing from a riches-of-the-riches clan.

She is Jenny Cavilleri, an outspoken, confident and wisecracking music student at Radcliffe from a poor progeny with a dad baking cookies somewhere in Rhode Island.

Cupid strikes between two individuals with contrasting personalities and progenies. Rich dad disapproves the union and the rich lover defies its progeny. Poor dad gives a reluctant nod and soon they get married.

The once-a-rich-lover without progeny becomes a poor husband. The poor girlfriend works and pays the rent. But in their self-invited misery and adversities what never runs out of stock is their love for each other, which continues to prosper. They continue to grow richer in love with every passing day.

But soon this phase of poverty is also over. The poor husband becomes a rich lawyer. Life becomes a bed of roses again. Just when you start to believe that everything’s fallen in place and long to see them living happily ever after, there comes the heartbreak that replaces the smiles on readers’ face with shock. Lump chokes the esophagus and you ask only one question, ‘Why?’

No, it’s not a plot of some Bollywood movie; it is, in fact, an inspiration of a thousand movies across the world. It’s Love Story by Erich Segal, the saga of true love inspiring millions and millions of lovers throughout the globe for decades.

It’s a classic novel not for some sophisticated, complicated literary standards but for its soul that’s pure. The witty conversations that begin with arguments but end as romantic notes simply take my heart away.

‘Fuck ‘em, Oliver. I don’t want to waste two days bullshitting with a bunch of vapid preppies.’
‘Okay, Jen, but what should I tell them?’
‘Just say I’m pregnant, Oliver.’
‘Are you?’ I asked.
‘No, but if we stay home this weekend I might be.’

No mushy descriptions and no fairy-tale sequences, yet incredibly romantic. It makes you smile, even laugh, at some situations and then the heart break.

Though I am apologetically late to say this but I have to – do read this classic love story if you haven’t yet.

‘Jenny, I’m sorry’.
‘Stop!’ she cut off my apology, then said very quietly, ‘Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.’

Love Story is available online in Amazon and Flipkart.

About the Author

Pankaj Sharma ( 20 Posts)

Pankaj Sharma is an avid reader, an active blogger and a passionate writer who wishes to read all the classics written by the literary geniuses of 19th and 20th century.
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