I was introduced to Erich Segal's novels a couple of years back. The first book is "Love Story", which I took one day to finish. The book has thrown me into a kinda trance for the next couple of days. It's not just the story line, but the way the emotions are expressed in the book that makes one feel heavy and light at the same time. I think, he is one of the best authors who has the skill of touching the readers' hearts at their deepest.If you are a kind of person who likes walking under the snow, still feeling warmth inside with the past memories... if you are the kind of person, who dream with your eyes open... if you are/were in love with somebody... if you have experienced the pain of separation... if you are ambitious and emotional at the same time... then, you must read all of these books by Erich Segal!!!
Love Story: A beautifully written love story between a brilliant plus rich Oliver Barrett, and a decent plus independent Jenny. The story is romantic, funny and tragic too. Unlike other books of this author, this one is written in a brief and lucid style. The reader will be left with tears, if he happens to identify the depth of the story. The novel ends with a nice line, "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry."
Oliver's Story: A sequel to "Love Story", where our protagonist, Oliver, tries to find her dead Jenny in another girl. In the process of internal struggle, to forget Jenny and accept this new girl, Oliver ends up in staying alone in life. That's a kind of portraying a fact that once there was a full-fledged relationship with somebody, it's highly unlikely to find another relationship with the same intensity. It left me so heavy and gloomy for more than a week after reading.
Man, Woman and Child: Yet another emotional world, explored from the point of view of a boy, who was born as a result of his father's infidelity towards his legal wife. It's quite unclear why a happily married man/woman will commit to some temporary attraction. But, the underlying fast might be that we are still one among the other species which are driven by instincts than by morals or conscience. A well written story of the boy's world.
The Class: I felt more close to this novel. A story of five graduate students of Harvard University of the same class. Too much of intelligence and talent, too many expectations out of life, too much of frustration, too much of ego, too much of emotional agony... these are the common qualities that are seen among all the roles that are portrayed. One who has studied at premiere institutes, where everyday is a battle of life, would better identify themselves in this novel. I personally felt that this one is the most grand among all these six novels.
Acts of Faith: Do I love god more, or do I love you more? A constantly nagging question. This story is basically about three people, who are struck in the strict beliefs of their corresponding religions. Does love has any boundaries? Does it goes beyond religion and faith? Something is clear at the end. Nothing is absolute. It's all internal happiness that matters!!!
Doctors: How do you feel about a penis? Is it just another organ that functions for biological activities, or someway different? Well... "DOCTORS" is all about the lives of medical students, who undergo hell like training to accustom to the dead and alive in the same way. There is a beautiful relationship that's shown between Laura and Barney. They are brought up in the same locality. The pursued the same course. They explored relationships with others. They took more than twenty years to realize that they love each other, than anybody else! And, by the way, if you are planning to become a doctor, it is advisable to read DOCTORS before you actually go for that profession!!!
That's briefly about Erich Segal's novels. I am looking for his other two latest books, PRIZES, and LOVE ONLY. But, unfortunately, they are not yet available in Indian book stores. All these books are worth buying, reading and keeping in the shelves for our next generation to read and relish!!!
