Oliver's Story

by Erich Segal

Book Overview

Oliver Barrett IV found his true soulmate when he met and fell in love with Jenny Cavilleri. Their love was magical, exhilarating . . . and though heartbreakingly brief, it was enough to last a lifetime. Or so Oliver told himself.Two years have passed since Jenny was taken from him, and Oliver truly believes he will never love again. Then one day, Marcie--beautiful and mysterious--enters his world . . . and suddenly the future holds a golden new promise.The...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060138521
• ISBN13: 9780060138523
• Release Date: February 1977
• Publisher: Harper & Row
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

More than just about Oliver and Jenny

I loved this book. I was happy to read about he tried to move on and give Marcie a chance... But, I loved the idea that no one could and would ever replace Jenny. However, in addition to Oliver's and Jenny's love, an important part of this book was the relationship between Oliver and his father, the realization of his love and respect for him, which Jenny had also wanted. That enriched the ending somehow, and gave some kind of purpose to Oliver's life for the future...

It shows what true love is all about

After reading Love Story, I wasn't sure how I was gonna like Olivers Story. And to tell you the truth, the book was kinda slow at times and I even skipped a few paragraphs. But trust Erich Segal to make the readers sit right up and concentrate on each word. The last few pages of the book make it well worth reading. Especially the last line of the book almost made me cry (since I'm never "moved" by touchy-feely romantic stories). In a sense, Olivers Story is sadder and more realistic than Love Story.

Bittersweet and beautiful (better than "Love Story")

I did not want to read "Oliver's Story" at first. I liked "Love Story" but did not think it was all that great and never cared very much for Jenny. I heard from big "Love Story" fans that "Oliver's Story" was worse than the original. I waited a year to read it, but then I took it and "Love Story" out of the library and read both within hours. My opinion: I love "Oliver's Story"! Much more than "Love Story".I liked Oliver in "Love Story" but I fell in love with him in "Oliver's Story". He became a much more real character and someone you would want to know. Although, as I said before, I never liked Jenny all that much, I thought, at first, that it was too soon for Oliver to be involved with someone else. But as I started reading about his encounter and subsequent relationship with Marcie I was more understanding. I actually liked Marcie in the beginning. Oliver needed someone who was different in personality, looks and background from Jenny. The later revelation about Marcie did not shock me a bit: I expected it. How could have I expected it if I liked Marcie? Explanation: Marcie's and Oliver's relationship was doomed from the beginning. Even if Marcie turned out to be wonderful, Oliver could not have ended up with her. For one, he needed a transitional other. Also, he needed to realize that he could not recreate with anyone what he and Jenny shared and never have the same kind of love again. Oliver's disillusionment with Marcie was always foreshadowed because there is only one person for Oliver who can never lose his love and respect: Jenny. The fact that Oliver found out something murky about Marcie is almost symbolic because he did not have to find something horrible about her to realize that Marcie or any other woman would never measure up to Jenny.This book's ending made me cry the way in which "Love Story's" ending never could although it seems to be the sadder of the two. "Oliver's Story" brings home the sad truth with which "Love Story" ended: Jenny was Oliver's destiny and with her death he has no destiny. Jenny and Oliver had the perfect love, not that it was smooth or extremely romantic, but that they loved and were loved completely. Oliver will not be able to love anyone else completely and, since the mystery of life lies in love, this is the greatest tragedy of all. If Segal chose to have a happy ending for Oliver, it would have cheapen his story. It would have been the easy way out. This ending is still hopeful because Oliver, for however briefly, had the love of his life which enabled him to improve his life and himself. For in "Oliver's Story", Oliver is a better person than he was in "Love Story" and that is not all due to the author's improved writing talents."Oliver's Story" managed to recreate Jenny in the reader's mind as the ideal for Oliver. This was not evident in "Love Story" and that is why I recommend to everyone to read "Oliver's Story" first. In fac

This book is a very moving love story for Love Story fans.

This book was a very moving sequel to the well renowned Love Story by Erich Segal. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recomend it to any die-hard Segal fan. Of all the books that Erich has written, Oliver's Story and Love Story rank as the best in my opinion.

Even Better than Love Story

While Love Story was a delightful, light and powerful book, Oliver's Story has more depth, character development, and, in my opinion, more tragedy. When I started to read the book, I was cynical and felt almost cheated that Oliver was so quick to replace Jenny. However, when I reached the end, I was pleased to discover that Segal enriched their love by making, however painfully, a forever love.