Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Love Story (Love Story #1)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 23,716 ratings · 1,198 reviews

Oliver Barrett IV, a wealthy jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law . . . Jenny Cavilleri, a sharp-tongued, working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe . . .

Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny are kindred spirits from vastly different worlds. Falling deeply and powerfully, their attraction to one another defies ev...more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published January 8th 2002 by Avon (first published January 1st 1970)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Worst Books of All Time

86th out of 5,115 books — 14,183 voters

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Best Love Stories

67th out of 1,670 books — 4,419 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 15, 2012 Nataliya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: To hopeless romantics that we all are deep down inside

Shelves: favorites, awesome-kickass-heroines, my-childhood-bookshelves, i-also-saw-the-film

"Love means never having to say you're sorry" is probably among some of the most ridiculous statements ever.

.......

Luckily it's a rare blemish on a simple but beautiful story. Plus it's cheesy, corny, and insanely quotable, so I'll have to give it a pass on that.

A girl and a boy meet and fall in love. Jenny is a poor artistic sorta-Catholic Radcliffe-educated Italian-American brainiac with a razor-sharp tongue. Oliver is a rich WASPy Harvard "Preppy" jock with a slew of Daddy issues and a Ro...more

67 likes · like · see review

May 30, 2012 Gavin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family-epic

I appreciate a good love story. No, don’t give me THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY—that book was crap. Give me a story where the characters are more aligned with Holden Caulfield or Pookie from Nichol’s THE STERILE CUCKOO. I want smart-assy and witty banter. I want characters that play by their own rules or make them up as they go along. I want the possibility of real life. Enter Erich Segal and LOVE STORY. Published in 1970, this short—133 page—novel is relatively obscure today. That’s a shame. Se...more I appreciate a good love story. No, don’t give me THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY—that book was crap. Give me a story where the characters are more aligned with Holden Caulfield or Pookie from Nichol’s THE STERILE CUCKOO. I want smart-assy and witty banter. I want characters that play by their own rules or make them up as they go along. I want the possibility of real life. Enter Erich Segal and LOVE STORY. Published in 1970, this short—133 page—novel is relatively obscure today. That’s a shame. Segal created wonderful characters in Jenny and Oliver. Sure, they were from Harvard and Radcliffe; they have the all-too-common poor girl and rich boy histories; but, Segal was wise with his characters. He gives the readers just enough to know them, all the while making the reader fall in love with them. Before becoming a novel, this story was intended to be a script. No one bought it. When asked to rewrite it and submit it to a publisher, instant success ensued. (It was eventually made into a movie with Segal writing the script…oh, did I mention it was nominated for seven Oscars?)

So the story is simple: Rich boy falls in love with poor girl. Poor girl opens the eyes of rich boy to the nuances and beauty of life. Poor girl dies. This is all told in the opening of the book, so I’m not spoiling anything. But the emotional impact (I) you might get while reading this book is beyond words. I knew Jenny was destined to die. I knew there would be revelations about class and family. But I never expected a sparsely written book to pierce me as quickly as or as deeply as this one did. Books don’t make me cry. This one did. I transposed this love story to my wife’s and my love story. I thought about all I would have never experienced if I lost her at such an early stage of marriage. All of our inside jokes. All of the fights and I’m sorrys. All of the times when we made our happiness. Man, I sound gushy. But that is the power of this book. It awakens feelings in you. At least it did for me.

Read the book. It’s short. It’s sparsely written. (Which isn’t to suggest that it lacks depth!) It’s a book that deserves to be remembered. Hey, you might even get that wonderful feeling you once had with your special someone. Perhaps I am just a hopeless romantic.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(less)

25 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 Nikita Ompang rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, novel

I laughed. I cried (and believe me. i cried a lot!). I fell in love. I learned. I simply love the book. It was indeed beautifully written and it reached out into the depths of my soul. My heart just poured out as I read the last few pages of the book. Such a tiny book to stir such great emotions in me.

beautiful.

17 likes · like · see review

Sep 21, 2007 Lisa Vegan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: hopeless romantics?

Shelves: fiction, reviewed, novel

Read this in high school and even though love reading/loved reading stories about dying young, really didn't think much of this. Yes, I admit I was interested in Jenny & Oliver and their love story. But: when people have leukemia or whatever it was she was supposed to have had, they physically suffer a lot more. Thought the way her illness was described was so unrealistic and dishonest. And love does not mean never having to say you’re sorry; I always thought that iconic saying from the book...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2013 Marvin rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: my worst enemy

Recommended to Marvin by: My first wife who also recommended Atlas Shrugged.

If 70's writers were teen celebrities, Erich Segal would have been Bobby Sherman or, to use a more contemporary analogy, Justin Beiber. But there is no analogy or scale on earth that would describe how bad this novel is. After reading Love Story in the 70s, I had to go to the bathroom to purge myself. A regular diet of this crap would cause literary bulimia. The movie didn't fare any better having caused me to endure a lifetime hatred of both Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal. You have been warned. If...more

like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 asdewi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-bintang, buku-masa-kecil, drama-romance, gak-dibaca-2x, favorites, piece-of-heart

Gegara dibahas di twitter baru nyadar klo gw belum nge-rate buku ini.

Ceritanya sih bagus, tapi bikin sakit hati dan ogaaahhhh buat baca ulang.
Sakit hatinya kebawa ampe sekarang. Ngeliat nama Oliver aja masih suka sedih. Liat bentuknya Harpard sedih lagi (norak deh :p). Dan liat nama yg ketulisnya "Erich" bikin sewot karena jadi ingat si Mr. Segal ini :))

Padahal bacanya udah belasan tahun lalu, nonton filmnya juga udah lama. Tapi sakit hatinya ninggal ampe sekarang.
Makanya salut deh sama orang ya...more Gegara dibahas di twitter baru nyadar klo gw belum nge-rate buku ini.

Ceritanya sih bagus, tapi bikin sakit hati dan ogaaahhhh buat baca ulang.
Sakit hatinya kebawa ampe sekarang. Ngeliat nama Oliver aja masih suka sedih. Liat bentuknya Harpard sedih lagi (norak deh :p). Dan liat nama yg ketulisnya "Erich" bikin sewot karena jadi ingat si Mr. Segal ini :))

Padahal bacanya udah belasan tahun lalu, nonton filmnya juga udah lama. Tapi sakit hatinya ninggal ampe sekarang.
Makanya salut deh sama orang yang udah baca novel ini ampe 10x padahal tiap kali baca dia mewek.
Pasti dia masochist :s *pasang muka lempeng*

EDITED 15/12/12

(view spoiler)

============================================(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 02, 2008 Greg rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-and-humor

I read Love Story because I didn't want to see the movie, but I wanted to know what everyone was talking about. While it was an affecting and sentimental little story, even at that young age I felt that it was trying too hard to tug on my heartstrings. It seemed, somehow, too juvenile, even to my then very juvenile mind. In later years, I came to realize that the movie's oft quoted line, "Love means never having to say you're sorry" is a complete falsehood. In fact, love means always being willi...more

20 likes · like · see review

Oct 14, 2012 Imas rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kisah Cinta Oliver Barrett IV dan Jennifer Cavilleri. Oliver kaya, Jenny miskin tapi cinta membawa semua perbedaan status jauh dari mereka berdua. Kisah cinta yang pada awalnya seperti terburu-buru, terlalu cepat tapi siapa yang tahu jika hati yang berbicara. Kau bisa saja tiba-tiba suka hanya dengan melihat seseorang, tanpa tahu siapa dirinya. Aku termasuk yang percaya pada jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama, apakah cinta tersebut akan bertahan lama itu soal lain.

Latar belakang yang berbeda da...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 29, 2012 Sulis Langsing rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, pinjem

Apa yang dapat kita ceritakan mengenai gadis dua puluh lima tahun yang telah tiada? Bahwa ia cantik. Dan cemerlang. Bahwa ia ,mencintai Mozart dan Bach. Dan Beatles. Dan aku.

Oliver Barrett IV kuliah di Harvard dan Jenny Cavilleri di Radcliffe. Oliver kaya, Jenny miskin. Oliver atlet, Jenny bermain musik.

Tapi mereka jatuh cinta.

Ini kisah mereka.

Bisa dibilang ini bukan pertama kalinya saya membaca karya Erich Segal, sebelumnya saya membaca Doctors tapi berhenti, bukan karena jelek, saya suka cara...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Perdani Budiarti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, mine, reviewed

Aku membeli buku ini karena:
1. Tertarik dengan buku ini sejak melihatnya secuplik di sebuah sinetron-Cerita Cinta-yang mengambil ide cerita yang sama
2. Belum pernah menonton versi filmnya yang digadang-gadang sangat menyentuh itu namun aku sudah suka banget sama soundtrack filmnya yang berjudul sama, Love Story
3. Harganya waktu itu hanya Rp 10.000,00 jadi langsung aku beli, hehehe

Sebenernya ceritanya simpel saja, seorang pemuda kaya namun berjiwa pemberontak, Oliver Barret IV, jatuh cinta pada J...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 10, 2007 Fretty rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: novel

Where do I begin
To tell the story
Of how greatful love can be
The sweet love story
That is older than the sea
That sings the truth about the love she brings to me
Where do I start
Performed by Andy Williams

One of the classic love stories that really JUST stays in everyone's mind. Could you name any sad love story aside Romeo and Juliet or Rhet and Scarlet? And one could answer in a gasp "Ah...Oliver and Jen"

This book really stucks its essence and inspires so many young creative people up to thi...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2009 Gagan rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Here is a review that I wrote years back:

’What can you say about a twenty-five year girl who died?

That she was beautiful.

And Brilliant.

That she loved Mozart and Bach.

And the Beatles.

And me.

Oliver Barret IV went to Harvard and Jenny Cavilleri to Radcliffe. He was rich, she was poor. He was sporty, she played music.

But they fell in love.

This is their story.’’

The first time I came across Love Story, it was the movie and not the book. I was enthralled by the movie and when finally I got hold of the...more Here is a review that I wrote years back:

’What can you say about a twenty-five year girl who died?

That she was beautiful.

And Brilliant.

That she loved Mozart and Bach.

And the Beatles.

And me.

Oliver Barret IV went to Harvard and Jenny Cavilleri to Radcliffe. He was rich, she was poor. He was sporty, she played music.

But they fell in love.

This is their story.’’

The first time I came across Love Story, it was the movie and not the book. I was enthralled by the movie and when finally I got hold of the book, I was captivated by it. The book has been an emotional ride for nearly all the people I know. In those few hours while reading the book, I was snickering with laughter and weeping with bitter regret. Sometimes emotions overcome my senses when I read and I cry... This was the only book where I wept even after closing it. I read it for happiness, inspiration and love.

Since the time I first read Eric Segal, I have been a great admirer of his writing (try his other book Oliver’s Story). And his first novel Love Story is simply a magnum opus . Love is the main theme because this whole book is based upon love and its many aspects. He makes the whole relationship so simple and pure somehow. You fall in love with not only the book but with Oliver and Jenny... the main characters who are from different socio-economic backgrounds; the heart and soul of the book.

Love Story is a phenomenal experience. The reader becomes so involved in the conflicts between family, friends, and the couple that every incident becomes personal and is taken to heart. Oliver’s thoughts, his conversations with Jenny and the other characters are presented in an almost unassuming style which make them all very realistic.

The most intelligent thing said in this book is that ’’Love means never having to say you’re sorry.’’ This book is good for anyone who thinks that love can be conquered by hate, but in reality love that is true lasts an eternity. It makes us cherish our relationship with the loved ones, and at the same time brings forth the inevitable... that every meeting has a parting. Reading it makes you feel that there is so less time to love. We pass our daily lives seldom acknowledging the love we have around us.

Once a person has read this novel, he will never be able to forget how strong the grip of love has on his heart or how tragedy can lead to forgiveness. We aren’t all lucky enough to be as in love as these characters were, but the novel was written in such a way that we can all feel the both elation and the pain.

’’True love never has a happy ending, that is because true love never has an ending.’’

Love Story is optimistic without being inane, and profound without being pretentious.

Buy this book. Corrupt your children. Seduce a friend into reading it. A must read for anybody and everybody in search of love.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2008 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: romantics

Shelves: romance-love

I found this book in our cabin up on Monhegan Island in Maine. I'm the biggest baby when it comes to romance. We were sitting there playing Scrabble (there's no tv) and listening to Delilah on the radio. I was already almost finished with this book, so I read it between my turns. I just started flat out bawling at the table in front of everyone as I finished. It's such a quick read, but man does this book pack an emotional punch. The characters really come to life. Although their basic descripti...more

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2010 Nan rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Shallow, contrived pseudo-tearjerker. I read this many years ago when it came out, and even though I was much younger and not as wise and mature as I am now, I realized how meaningless was the by-word of the book, "Love means not having to say you're sorry." Love actually means being constantly ready to ask for, give, and receive forgiveness.

9 likes · like · see review

Aug 10, 2007 peg added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I saw Love Story listed on someone's site and I was immediately reminded of my own love affair with the book. I read it at the height of my melodramatic adolescence and at that time I was certain that it was the greatest love story ever written.For me at 15,love truly meant that you never had to say you're sorry. What was that all about anyway?

I hesitate to rate Love Story because I don't trust the judgement of the 15-year old who read it. And I will never revisit it for fear of disappointment....more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 07, 2011 Vanessa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads really should allow 1/2 star ratings because I give this one 3.5 stars.
My curiosity was peaked from the first sentence and aside from the fact that I'd always wanted to read this book, I carried on if only to diminish my curiosity. By all means necessary I had to find out how the events leading up to that first sentence unfolded.
The voice in which the story is told took some getting used to. Especially the raw, and unprofessional way it is written. But after a few chapters, once you'...more

like · see review

Jan 05, 2009 Jacki rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I picked this book up I had no idea what a fast little read it would be. I read it in just 2 short sittings.

I kept thinking two things through the whole story: One- this book is written like a short story. It is a lot of chopped up pieces put together to make this couple's story. I really liked how it would take you from one chunk to another chunk. Two- the guy who wrote "Love is a Mix tape" must have been inspired by this story. If not, he should read it. The stories are so similar, the w...more

like · see review

Mar 28, 2013 Stacy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ve seen the movie and knew the story, so I was surprised when I shed a few tears as I finished reading this slim novel. I mistakenly thought the brevity would lessen the emotional impact, but it seemed to enhance it.

Rich boy and Harvard jock, Oliver Barrett IV first met poor, smart Radcliffe student, Jenny, in the library. An unlikely romance blossomed and in no time they were in love. Jenny was awed by the Barrett estate when meeting his parents and Oliver was humbled when he met the neighbo...more

like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 Hira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

*To read more reviews by me visit Views & Reviews *

I did not like this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was okay and I'd probably forget about it soon.

I've heard a lot about this book but it seriously did not live up to the hype. At least not for me. I really don't like insta-love. In fact, it seriously pisses me off! So when Oliver fell in love with Jen on their first date, after he had been rude to her and then forgotten about her, I didn't believe it for a second! P...more

like · see review

Jan 09, 2013 Indiabookstore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sugar, spice and everything nice, is the variety of life… well… companionship, compromise and memories, are the varieties of love! Every love story will give you a bit of tragedy and plenty of romance. But Erich Segal’s Love Story gives you an additional bonus of how an actual romantic relationship should be.

First published in 1977, Love Story could easily be classified as a typical love story – Rich boy meets poor girl, they fall in love, boys’ parents oppose and he gets banished from his famil...more

like · see review

Dec 16, 2012 Asma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 52-books-2012

I had such low expectations of this book I'm amazed at how foolish I was. Surely I've learned to sieze up a book from a glance by now!? But in my defense I'd like to mention that the title was a huge downer. I mean, Love Story . Even The Notebook didn't have as gooey a title. Add to that the scrawny 131 pages. I swear to god I have read brochures -about legality/morality of organ donation, if you must know- longer than this book. So foolish was I that I read it while getting my nails done. To f...more I had such low expectations of this book I'm amazed at how foolish I was. Surely I've learned to sieze up a book from a glance by now!? But in my defense I'd like to mention that the title was a huge downer. I mean, Love Story . Even The Notebook didn't have as gooey a title. Add to that the scrawny 131 pages. I swear to god I have read brochures -about legality/morality of organ donation, if you must know- longer than this book. So foolish was I that I read it while getting my nails done. To fulfill the stereotype.

Might contain spoilers:-

The story kicks off with Oliver-love the name-, your classic preppy Harvard jock, meeting Jenny; the poor bespectacled wisecracking shrewd. Nothing new there but no cliches. Their relationship develops and their banters keep you amused for the majority of the book. They hit a rough patch and struggle financially as Oliver gets cut off from his family because of his issues with his father.

Definitely spoilers. Do not proceed unless you've read the book or you decided not to read it. In which case, BOO. It's 135 pages you lazy bum:

Oliver nails a big job with a substansial salary. The Nouveau riche (that's newly rich to us non-French speakers) couple. They lived happily ever after... not. It's a shucking Love Story alright? I did not see this coming. It was a low blow. A shot out of the dark. I was not expecting it all. Jenny gets leukemia. The type that can be retarded but isn't reversible. Thank you very much Yalie doctor for the obscure diagnosis. She dies. What makes this tragedy so beautiful is the way Ollie describes it. Him holding back tears in a (opposite of mushy)y way. And meeting with his estranged father and finally breaking down. Need I mention that all of these heated events were scrammed in about 20 pages. And they EFFING GOT ME. My eyes were glazed and I was all high and mighty. Oh no I'm not crying over a book titled Love Story. But then his father showed up in the last page and tears escaped. Yeah. If you know me well then you know that it counts for something.

I only read this because law is an interesting addition to books and I read another book by Erich Segal that I consider a favourite. So read the darn book -if you like unexpected turns. You'll be as fooled as I am I'm sure and you'll fall into the trap. (less)

like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Farah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, romance, novel, mungkin-akan-dibaca-lagi

Buku ini datang bersama setumpuk buku lainnya di dalam paket yang sama.
Si pengirim bilang begini waktu ditanya kenapa dia mengirimkan buku ini, "Oh, itu kebetulan kemaren lagi lewat aja sih terus ngeliat buku itu ada cetakan barunya. Inget aja kayanya kamu belom baca.."
Cluenya: Itu buku favorit si pengirim.
Gitu deh kurang lebih.
*nyengir*

Hal pertama yang gue perhatikan dari buku ini adalah terjemahannya yang luar biasa lincah. Enak banget dibacanya, sungguh deh.
Sambil membaca, gue jadi membayang...more

like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this story was brilliant. It’s short and easy to read. The characters are stereotypical rich Harvard boy, Oliver Barrett IV, meets poor girl, Jenny Cavilleri, and yet it’s so much more than that. It is a love story, where the love is something simple and true and the characters and their situation are the complication. Two people meet, and despite their opposite natures and backgrounds, fall in love. When the love is tested, it shows a refreshing honest feeling approach to how individu...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 25, 2012 Mia rated it 1 of 5 stars

I thought Erich Segal's "Love Story" would be great. I really did, considering all the hype that has lasted for decades. But...

There was no chemistry at all between Oliver and Jenny--The Couple. The only thing they have in common is they like to swear a lot--which got too old too soon in the book. I mean, Oliver had way more chemistry with Phil, his wife's dad, than with his own wife.

Neither characters were likable or relatable. We don't get to know them at all. All we know is that Oliver is a r...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 09, 2012 Arwen56 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romanzi

Ahahahaha … Love Story … non mi ricordavo neppure di averlo letto. Me l’ha fatto tornare in mente la recensione di Anastasia. Cosa io ne pensi è assolutamente scontato: mai più sdolcinata storia come questa è mai stata scritta. Una sfiga dopo l’altra e tante frasette tipo Baci Perugina (all’epoca, “Amare significa non dover mai dire mi dispiace” è stato un vero tormentone).

La parte più divertente è, invece, il perché l’ho letto. Ve la racconto.

Ai tempi frequentavo la prima liceo. Adesso non so c...more Ahahahaha … Love Story … non mi ricordavo neppure di averlo letto. Me l’ha fatto tornare in mente la recensione di Anastasia. Cosa io ne pensi è assolutamente scontato: mai più sdolcinata storia come questa è mai stata scritta. Una sfiga dopo l’altra e tante frasette tipo Baci Perugina (all’epoca, “Amare significa non dover mai dire mi dispiace” è stato un vero tormentone).

La parte più divertente è, invece, il perché l’ho letto. Ve la racconto.

Ai tempi frequentavo la prima liceo. Adesso non so come sia l’andazzo, ma allora i banchi, affiancati due a due, erano suddivisi in tre file (si chiamavano “quartieri”) e separati dall’opportuno spazio per il passaggio. Un bel giorno mi sono accorta che una mia compagna di classe che stava nella fila accanto, ma un posto più avanti del mio, ha aperto un libro sotto il banco e ha cominciato a leggere. Ogni tanto alzava rapidamente gli occhi per controllare che non stesse arrivando il professore, che, come era frequente, passeggiava tra i banchi mentre spiegava la lezione. In tal caso, chiudeva precipitosamente il libro, lo ficcava tra i quaderni sotto il banco e assumeva un’espressione di vivo interesse per un argomento di cui non aveva, sino a quel momento, ascoltato neanche mezza parola, per poi recuperarlo rapidamente appena l’insegnante girava le spalle.

E, fin qui, tutto ok.

Poi, però, dev’essere arrivata a uno dei punti clou della narrazione, uno di quelli costruiti apposta per sdilinquirti l’anima (ce ne sono parecchi nel romanzo). E ha cominciato a lacrimare, a tirare su col naso, a strofinarsi gli occhi col fazzoletto. Risultato: dopo dieci minuti sembrava uno straccio. Di conseguenza, necessariamente, al successivo passaggio il professore si è trovato davanti invece che uno sguardo attento, almeno all’apparenza, due occhi arrossati, un naso che colava e un’espressione vagamente allucinata. Molto gentilmente si è fermato, le ha chiesto se ci fosse qualcosa che non andava e se volesse essere accompagnata in infermeria. “No, no” ha risposto la mia compagna di classe “sto benissimo”. Non del tutto convinto, il professore ha ripreso la lezione e lei la lettura. Fino al patatrac. Non so esattamente quale sia stato il brano che l’ha fatta crollare, però di fatto, a un certo momento, si è messa a singhiozzare. Pur avendo la prontezza di spirito di nascondere ancora una volta il libro, non è riuscita però a trattenersi o a rimanere almeno silenziosa.
Neanche a dirsi, è stata spedita, seduta stante, in infermeria da un sempre più perplesso professore. Non ho mai saputo quali scuse abbia trovato per giustificare l’accaduto, perché non eravamo molto in confidenza.

Ecco, è per questo motivo che l’ho letto: volevo sapere cosa cavolo ci fosse da singhiozzare tanto. In un certo senso, questo episodio mi ha “vaccinata” nei confronti del romanzo e, quindi, quando l’ho poi avuto fra le mani, prestatomi da un’amica, non mi ha coinvolto più tanto, benché avessi solo quindici anni, perché mi tornava sempre in mente l’espressione affranta della mia compagna di classe e quella confusa, per non dire basita, del professore, che non sapeva bene che pesci pigliare. E mi scappava sempre un po’ da ridere, nonostante le “tragggggedie” in atto tra i protagonisti. :-)

PS: Tanto per onestà, devo dire che neppure io e la mia compagna di banco stavamo propriamente attente alla lezione. Però, di solito, noi giocavamo a “pista”, non so se avete presente. Probabilmente no. E’ un gioco semplice che appartiene a quelli della mia generazione. Bastava un foglio di carta a quadretti piccoli e due biro di colori diversi. Generalmente, perdevo. Acceleravo sempre troppo prima delle curve. :-/

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jun 08, 2012 VaultOfBooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

By Erich Segal. Grade A
He is Oliver Barrett IV, a rich jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law.
She is Jenny Cavilleri, a wisecracking, working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe.
Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny immediately attract, sharing a love that defies everything … yet will end too soon. A love that will linger in your heart now and forever.

Oliver Barrett IV heir to the Barrett fortune and legacy. Jennifer Cavilleri, daughter o...more By Erich Segal. Grade A
He is Oliver Barrett IV, a rich jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law.
She is Jenny Cavilleri, a wisecracking, working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe.
Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny immediately attract, sharing a love that defies everything … yet will end too soon. A love that will linger in your heart now and forever.

Oliver Barrett IV heir to the Barrett fortune and legacy. Jennifer Cavilleri, daughter of a poor baker with a warm heart.
Oliver is expected to perform the best. He is not even appreciated because it is just the pre-requisite for the Barrett family.
He is expected to follow in his father’s huge footsteps, while Jennifer, a music major, was to go on and study in Paris.
Oliver and Jennifer are truly the opposites when they are attracted to each other in the Radcliffe library. Jennifer makes Ollie invite her for a coffee (because she thinks Oliver has a nice body). They seem to have some fire between them that has grown into a deep and affectionate love. They can’t seem to live without each other so they decide to marry.
With this decision, Oliver turns his back on his family (whom he already detests) and fortune. Jenny gives up her dreams of Paris and being a musician.
So they lead a happy life until a news changes their life and existence. Jenny is diagnosed with leukemia.
The story shows that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”�. A very beautiful message to be sure. I feel that it Mr. Segal has performed a Herculean task to make the reader feel so much emotions in so few words.
The words seemed to have some magic in them. For such a beautiful plot with such beautiful characters, I was sad that it was a short novel(-la, rather). I would have liked more if we’d been given the chance to know the characters better, their relationship more.
True enough, there were times the story was a little abrupt. There is no detail of how Oliver and Phil – Jenny’s dad cope up with her illness. No detail about her illness. Nicholas Sparks does it so much better and milks the reader for all they’re worth. Of course, a love story is somewhat departing from the norm for Segal, but it works. Somewhat.
The best part is that it won’t take more than a couple of hours to finish with an average reading speed. And it really is worth the time spent reading it.
All in all, the book is really funny, sassy and a must read. It doesn’t have a lot of elaborate details; however, that doesn’t diminish its charm. It is cuttingly funny, and completely absorbing. This story is sure to linger in your heart now and forever.

Originally reviewed at: www.the-vault.co.cc (less)

like · see review

Feb 06, 2012 Yumi Learner rated it 5 of 5 stars

A couple weeks ago, I finished reading "Love Story" in English. As you know from the title, it is a love story. Actually, I don't like reading love stories in my mother tongue. That's because most of them are similar stories, and while I'm reading them, I can guess the ending of them easily. It's kind of boring for me. On the other hand, I love reading love stories in English. It's much easier for me to understand what they are expressed. In addition to that the expressions in English sounds muc...more

like · see review

Nov 24, 2011 Ivana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting read...When you think about USA from a perspective of an outsider, you often see it as a coherent nation, but like in the most nations, when you dig a little deeper you find all kinds of interesting mixes.( There are many such examples, such as that we think of flamenco as something Spanish and it actually has both Spanish and gypsy cultural origins).
The most interesting part about this novel for me was not the love story itself but the honest portrait of divisions and boarders that...more Interesting read...When you think about USA from a perspective of an outsider, you often see it as a coherent nation, but like in the most nations, when you dig a little deeper you find all kinds of interesting mixes.( There are many such examples, such as that we think of flamenco as something Spanish and it actually has both Spanish and gypsy cultural origins).
The most interesting part about this novel for me was not the love story itself but the honest portrait of divisions and boarders that are created by religion and social status. (spoiler)They can be overcome as they are in novel, but usually it means giving up a part of your identity, as the protagonists do in the novel. I mean the lovebirds in question don't seem to mind, it's mostly their families that object, but the fact is that they are married in a civil ceremony and neither of them really practice their religion. If they did there could be problems, one of them would have to give something up. This novel got me thinking about Protestantism and Catholicism, and despite the fact that they are both Christian religions, the history and present shows some definite tension between the members. Obviously there is the historical context but what is the reason of animosity today? Well, religion is always complicated. I was always thinking something like “what the big deal?” but I’ve experienced on my skin the attitudes of people that don’t see it in the same way.
So, I guess I was more interested in the details of this novel than the plot and storyline. Perhaps it was that the novel was too short to really identify with the characters or there was just something missing. I've read it yesterday in about an hour.
The protagonist is very sincere and at times humorous and the dialogues between him and Jenny( his soul mate) are witty. The opening lines of the book certainly get one's attention, and it kept my attention- but in my case it was a shallow kind of attention- I was interested in the book while I read it, yet I did not feel much. In other words, I liked it and I though it funny but I was not impressed. The tragic story left me cold and there was something juvenile in it. Maybe I'm just not a romantic person.
My opinion is that while it is worth reading, it's not life-changing.
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 16, 2011 Sumando Libros rated it 5 of 5 stars

Veamos...

Ok, lo confieso: Soy una prejuiciosa...

Hace unos días unos amigos... conocedores de que ni los chocolates ni helados pueden conmigo mas que los libros... me regalaron un libro!!!... imaginarán, me brillaban los ojitos---> ... aún así y porque, que lo sepan; una Yess malvada habita dentro de mí, esta so bruja me decía: jooo que es que no pudieron comprarte un libro con un tiutlo menos rosa? un poquito mas gordo?? y algo mas actual???

Ladies and Gentlemen... que bruja ha sido mi Yess ma...more

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 28, 2009 Deepak rated it 3 of 5 stars

I might be disagreeing with many, but that's how it is with me. I just didn't find it good enough. The book was gifted to me by this close friend of mine who claims to be totally in love with it. It is supposed to be "for someone who is in love, or was in love, or hopes to be in love." I do not know which category I would fall into, but this one definitely isn't for me.

Bollywood plays a major role in my not liking the book. The story is remarkably similar to a Mallika Sherawat flick (ya!!) - Khw...more

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
	2	23	May 02, 2013 01:49pm
is this book deserved to be on the worst book list	56	271	Apr 25, 2013 10:30pm

combine
Other Editions (57)

More editions...

Genres

Romance

345 users

Classics

84 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

43 users

Novels

38 users

Love

33 users

Contemporary

25 users

Drama

19 users

Adult

18 users

Adult Fiction

15 users

Young Adult

12 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Erich Segal

Erich Wolf Segal was an American author, screenwriter, and educator. He was best-known for writing the novel Love Story, a bestseller, and writing the motion picture of the same name, which was a major hit.

More about Erich Segal...

Books by Erich Segal

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Love Story

14 trivia questions
5 quizzes

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Love Story

“Love means never having to say you're sorry.” — 235 people liked it

“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.” — 131 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Love Story
avg rating	preview: Love Story Goodreads rating: 3.54 (23716 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73968.Love_Story?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348712118l/73968.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73968.Love_Story?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Love Story by Erich Segal[/url]

Love Story (Love Story #1)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website