Rating: 
Summary: The One that Started It All
Review: "Love Story" by Erich Segal shamelessly follows a well-known, Shakespearean-esque plot involving two star-crossed lovers separated by tragedy. The catch? The characters are NO fluffy Romeo and Juliet.
Set in the Harvard University of the late '60s/early '70s, "Love Story" is the tale of Oliver Barrett IX, a polite, well-spoken hockey jock heir to a pretentious Barrett fortune. His father, Oliver III, is a Rhodes Scholar, national rowing champion, and successful businessman. HIS grandfather, Oliver I, was a tycoon who donated the fictional Barrett Hall to Harvard. So, needless to say, Oli's got more than a couple of expectations to fulfill.
Oliver, a senior at Harvard's undergraduate school, has his hopes set on maintaining his solid academic record in order to gain admission into Harvard Law School. It seems everything is set out for Barrett, until Jenny comes along. Jenny Cavilleri, a wisecracking music major at Harvard's presitigious Radcliffe college, is everything Oliver is taught to shun: artsy, liberal, non-Jewish, and poor. But Jenny is also ridiculously smart, quirky, amusing, insightful, and naturally beautiful. Her charming demeanor keeps Oliver interested, and he soon forgets the original contempt he felt for her in their first encounter.
To make a long story short (without spoilers), a friendly relationship b/w Jenny and Oliver soon blossoms into a sweet, intimate romance, not excluding the predictable obstacles (Oliver's father, Oliver's social elite, law school, and one that will not be revealed here...read the book!).
Erich Segal writes a short page-turner, but unlike most romance novels, "Love Story" does not lack in intelligence or in depth. My favorite aspect about the novel is the character development, especially noticable in the two lovers. At the novel's conclusion, you feel sad and a bit weary in parting with Jenny and Oliver, almost like saying good-bye to close friends. Also to be appreciated is Segal's knack for developing UNIQUE characters. With "Love Story", he didn't do the typical thing and make Oliver a bratty rich kid, he actually gave the guy some heart, passion, and BRAINS. And he didn't make Jenny so far-fetched that you couldn't relate to her - she is, perhaps, the best character in the book. She is not a damsel in despair, or a silly girly girl, but a witty individual with honesty and compassion. She's an awesome character, and a great example for girlfriends everywhere. Ali McGraw played her to perfection in the 1970 film. Even Oliver Barrett III, with all his snobbery and professionalism, is relatable, and even makes some good points.
I call "Love Story" the 'one that started it all' because it started taking the star-crossed lover story to new heights, adding realistic characters in realistic environments and situations. Far better than its spawn, Nicholas Sparks' sugary "A Walk to Remember", "Love Story" is a book for the ages, to be read and enjoyed by lovers everywhere. A perfect V-Day gift!
Rating:
Summary: A excellent story
Review: This „love story" is a really great thing. It's interesting to read for young and old people.
A book which is an experience. It will never leave you and will be in your heart forever. It is one of the best love stories I have come across. A perfect book to give someone special and a jewel to treasure for you.
The story is about two young people who fall in love although they notice at first that they have hardly anything in common. They have two very different characters, and their social background could not be farther apart. But at least they have found each other and they become happy. The relations between their parents are also very important in this book. The end of the story is hinted at in the very first sentence. So it's not a surprise what the end must be like. However, after every page you have read you want to read on and that's something that makes a book really great I suppose.
Besides the vocabulary is very well chosen! The writer uses a modern language and sometimes even some words in a foreign language like French or Italian.
To sum up my impression I would like to stress the fact that if you have the chance to read this story do it!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A great story
Review: This story reads very well. I really like the different persons with their special characters. Above all Jennifer, the young woman who falls in love and then dies so early. She always says what she thinks. She's a tough woman and although sometimes her honesty is hard, it makes her stand out as an extraordinary character. There's one comment from a reader written in a review about the novel saying the story was kitsch, which I don't share at all. The end is well done! It would have been kitsch indeed if Jenny had been cured of her cancer in the last few pages. But this way the end is excellent, above all if you consider the reconciliation that takes place between Oliver and his Father. Oliver doesn't say it directly to his father that he loves him, but in a way everybody understands that they have somehow found each other again.
Rating:
Summary: Short, but absolutely amazing
Review: A friend of mine recommended it saying it was a short read, but such a good book. I have to agree. I am not one to cry and I read the last few chapters with tears in my eyes. I recommend this to anyone looking for a great but short love story. It isn't mushy like the others, just straightforward and to the point. The best kind!
Rating:
Summary: A short love story indeed
Review: Most of the customer reviews seem to have been written by females, so here is at least one fella's opinion. I was flying from Atlanta to Dallas the other day and was looking for a quick book to read. My friend tossed "Love Story" in my bag, and I'll admit that I was actually a little embarrassed when I pulled it out on the flight and saw the title. So I quickly planned on reading only a page or two and then burying it in my bag before anyone could catch me reading it. But I couldn't put the darn thing down! Lucky for me it's so short (I don't think anyone saw what I was reading), but it's still a wonderful little story, nonetheless. Some of the customer reviews seemed to create a lot of hoopla for the book, but I wouldn't set the expectations too high. If you are looking for a quick read, however, just a simple love story between two total opposites that will make you laugh outloud and maybe even cry a little (but not me, of course!), "Love Story" won't disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: This book touches your "Heart" !!
Review: This book would take you through the different emotional phases. The saddness in this book actually reflects the happiness that every person wants or seeks. It is sure to take you to your past memories, no matter what your age be.
A must read for everyone who believs in love.
"Love means never having to say you're sorry..."
Rating:
Summary: A easy, quick read!!!
Review: Love Story by Erich Segal is very far away from everything I usually read. It has a romantic aspect & is just mainstream. Usually I would be so exasperated by this sort of book but I really enjoyed it.I read it really quickly & easily. I thought the whole plot was just soooooooo cute. The way the 2 main characters had a "love to hate" relationship & started out arguing & realized they loved each other. I couldn't give this novel a 5 by far because it was so obviously written by a man. There was no depth into the characters feelings or thoughts for it including such a tragic time. That is why it is 4 stars. :)
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Review: Any time that I need to cry I can always pick up this book. Even though I have probably read it at least twenty times this book can always stir the same emotions in me. The introduction is amazing and the ending is so sad. The book never gets sappy with Oliver and Jennifer saying things that no one ever says in real life. It is a true love story, like the love people actually experience. I would recommend this book to anyone and if you have seen the movie and actually liked it (I didn't like the movie because I had read the book first), the book is a million times better. Read this.
Rating: 
Summary: Lacking the emotions of love
Review: This story was too overrated. I thought it would be a genuine love story--a tear jerker that made you think about love and life in general. Because the 2 main characters were so undeveloped, it was hard to be engrossed by them. Also, their personalities really turned me off. It bugged the hell out of me and was annoying whenever Jenny called Oliver "preppie." I thought that was pretty unromantic. Both Jen and Oliver have sarcastic personalities which was not appealing to me. It was an actual turn off. I would have liked more detail, like more description of their love for each other. I didn't like this book too much. I'm glad it was short--I would not have been able to take anymore.
Rating:
Summary: as romantic as can be with out being sappy
Review: This book is short but in the few pages it takes up one is brought into the world of a couple in love. All the emotions that one has when first dating someone to the time that they fall in love are included. It is a wonderful novella that just makes you think there are soulmates in this world.
|
