Love is forever... Review on Love Story - Erich Segal

Why I chose to write this review…

The recent events leading to Rizwanur Rehman’s death for making the mistake of marrying the person he loved, and the eloping of Telugu MegastarChiranjeevi’s daughter with a commoner(from Chiranjeevi’s point of view) were the two high profile events that covered a lot of real estate on the front pages of newspapers, and also used up a lot of prime time on the News Channels.

Rizwanur had paid the price for his indiscretion with his life, and the new runaway bride and bridegroom know pretty well the power and influence Chiranjeevi wields which could prove detrimental to their future peaceful existence.  That prompted me to ponder as to which way we are heading as a modern developing society.

Even in this 21st century where celebrities boast of an open and broad minded attitude towards life people can be so callously threatened or killed for what one would think is a personal matter entirely in the hands of two people who are grown up and legally entitled to make their own decisions.

These past events took me back to the days of Erich Segal’s Love Story, and that prompted me to write a review on this most talked about story.  Wonder whether love stories look good only in books.

One word that still makes the world go round…

What is love…?  Love is not infatuation towards a celebrity, it is not a childhood crush on some school teacher, it is not falling head over heels for your classmate, and love is definitely not the yearning for the physical touch.  Love is to give without expecting… Love is to endure, to draw all the pain on to yourself so that your partner lives happily… and dies happily.  Love is not mushy, it is sublime.  And who can write better on love than Erich Segal.

The Story:

There are countless reviews on this book and so I shall not dwell too much on the story.  Suffice to say that Oliver Barrett, the rich millionaire Harvard boy meets lowly Jennifer Cavilleri who is beautiful and brilliant.  Socio economic differences fade away as the two come closer.

Ollie and Jenny find bliss in their relationship but their fathers aren’t convinced it’s an ideal match for their children.  Ollie’s father is adamant and doesn’t budge from his stand forcing Oliver to walk out on him renouncing his rights to the family empire.

Ollie and Jenny go ahead and get married despite all odds.  The rest of the story is about their toils and struggles to build their love nest.  Just when they feel that they have overcome all obstacles and can relax and enjoy each other’s company, tragedy strikes in a most unexpected way.

Oliver learns that Jenny is dying and can’t do anything about it.  Jenny dies when she so desperately wanted to live, and Oliver lives on when he would have gladly accepted death if only he could save her.  Ultimately, Oliver has to live with the pain of parting silently believing that a part of him too has died along with Jenny.

Why you should read this book…

Two persons from unequal strata of society come to together in the most unlikely way only to cement their association with love that no power on earth could break them.  But, Death is greater than any mortal power on earth and only it could have caused them to part.  Unfortunately, in this story, the Angel of Death decided to flex his muscles.

The story is short, simple enough, and free from dramatic twists.  It is also a tragedy and a real tear jerker.  But, what makes this story such an absolute ‘must read’?  Well, it has the inimitable magic of Erich Segal.  The silly but enjoyable banter between the two, the witty replies of Jenny, and the deep brooding nature of Oliver all makes you wanting to read more.

Love Story is comparatively short, but the memories will linger for a very long time.  Most people may be tempted to regard this as a mushy love story, but those who have read, and re-read it countless times will vouch for the fact that it is far from mushy.  In fact, it is the best tribute to love and the pain that comes with it.  I guess love and pain go hand in hand without which it could never reach the sublime state.

It is a book that is a must for all those people who are in love… and, also, for those who know nothing of love.

Love Story is the kind of book you will cherish for a long time, if not forever.

mbfarookh