"Love Story" written by Erich Segal became the number one bestseller over nine months on the New York Times bestselling list. This book is obviously dated you can tell by the language use. It was written in the late 70s a time of disco and printed pants. I think that is what makes this book so interesting how different it is from the love stories written today. The lovers each try there very best to not show too much emotion and to try and act composed and “cool”. Today love stories are written with so much emotion and passion towards each other, where here the lovers almost tried to avoid it.
This book tells the story of two Harvard lovers. One a jock and the other a music student. At first glance Oliver and Jenny seem like polar opposites. But it is precisely the opposites attract connection that enhances their love for each other.
While Jenny and Oliver were dating they were plain rude to each other. In a strange way it was how their relationship worked.
Jenny and Oliver had set plans to get married. Oliver planned on never speaking to his father again and Jenny planned to be a a school teacher until she got pregnant. Oliver and his father never saw eye to eye on anything. Oliver made it seem like his father was too hard on him and always wanted him to be a better athlete and to become a better student. Like law school wasn’t enough. Oliver realizes that it is not worth it to live with his father, they cannot agree on anything!
It is important for us all to realize that not everyone has the perfect family life I know I don’t! However, these people are still your family and have your best intention at mind when making decisions. We as people often forget this simple fact! It is apparent that Jenny lost her mother when she was very young as was raised by her father. Because of this adversity Jenny tries to instill forgiveness and acceptance into Oliver. All she wants for him is to accept his father the way he is and to try and make amends. I believe this is because she secretly knows how difficult it is to be without a parent. Oliver is unaware of how much pain this is and goes on refusing her suggestions.
As the story progresses we see that the newly weds wish to have a child. When they are informed that they can’t they are completely devastated. After all it is our purpose to bring new life into this world if we are able. Nothing comes even close to comparing how wonderful it is to bring someone into this world, someone that you can call your own. I can only imagine the pain and suffering this family felt. I don’t know what I would do if placed in this situation.
Jenny is diagnosed with leukemia. They realize that this is the reason that they cannot procreate. There was no cure for this terrible sickness. Jenny and Oliver now realize that the life they planned will not happen. Its crazy at how terrible things can happen to perfectly good people. This little story has helped me to remember that not everything in our lives is in our control.
Many of us try to plan our lives to a T. This is so we know what to expect. Most people don’t like change of any kind and when faced with it run in the other direction. We as people crave normality and familiarity. When something foreign happens many of us tense up and become anxious about the unknown. What many of us fail to realize is that change is inevitable, change is good and change is bad and that we must accept the life that we have been given. At the end of love story after Jenny passes. It is true that Oliver’s father finds him and tells him that he should have come to him to talk. As he says this Oliver weeps into his shoulder. This is all that Jenny wanted for Oliver—a chance to live life again in the comfort of his father. Jenny’s wish has come true. Jenny’s death will now cause Oliver to become closer with his father. A bad change brought about a good change.
