Oliver's Story

Rating:
Summary: It shows what true love is all about
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Emotionally taxing
Review: I bought and read Love Story on a Sunday. On Monday I felt compelled to go back to the store and get Oliver's Story, which I read on Monday night. For one who is stoic, unemotional, cynical and not the least bit sappy, I couldn't believe how emotionally attached I became to these two (actually one) stories. Both are beautiful stories tinged with sadness and heartbreak. I only wish Segal could have let Oliver fill the void in his life before the end of Oliver's Story.

Rating:
Summary: Heartache
Review: I bought Olivers Story many years ago and still read it now. Because of the emotional punch of 'Love Story' I didn't want Oliver to replace Jenny with anyone. I thought that the ending was so real - it was only two years since Jenny's death and Oliver wasn't ready emotionally to begin again. I had the feeling he never would be. In the end his new relationship would have ended because he would have found a reason to end it even if there wasn't one.

Rating:
Summary: Heartache
Review: I bought Olivers Story many years ago and still read it now. Because of the emotional punch of 'Love Story' I didn't want Oliver to replace Jenny with anyone. I thought that the ending was so real - it was only two years since Jenny's death and Oliver wasn't ready emotionally to begin again. I had the feeling he never would be. In the end his new relationship would have ended because he would have found a reason to end it even if there wasn't one.

Rating:
Summary: Oliver's Story
Review: I bought this book because I am a big fan of the Love Story. However, I was quite disappointed after reading the book. Oliver started another relationship with Marcie two years after Jenny¡¦s death. That was too soon. If you ever truly love someone in your life, two years only means 5 minutes. I was glad to see Oliver and his father made peace with each other. The last few pages of the book make it well worth reading. You can skip some paragraphs in some chapters, but you have to read it over and over again in the last few pages. It were very well written.

Another things draw my interest to read this book were the economic development and comparative advantages between the US and Asia thirty years ago. (I majored International Econ in grad school.) The sweatshop conditions are common in developing economies. A lot of labor-intensive industries were forced to shut down in the last two decades and moved to Asia. This book was more focus on one side of the story. A lot of jobs moved to Asia because the US was moving from one advantage to another advantage. From labor-intensive products to technology-driven merchandises. When you look at those hi-tech companies in Silicon Valley, you know what I mean.

The major reason makes me interest in this book was my Dad. The movie "Love Story"
was shot before I was born. When I was a little girl, I saw Dad watching this movie every time when it was shown on TV. My Dad is kinds of the action movie type. I was surprised why he loved watching this movie. So, when I was in the video store one day, I decided to rent the DVD to see what made my Dad to watch a love drama. Just like my father. I am totally devoted to the movie. I bought both "Oliver's Story" and "Love Story" and finished reading in one afternoon. For me, I like the Love Story more than Oliver's Story. The 3/4 part of the Love Story was a pleasant story. Both of them loved each other very much and would like to sacrifice for each other. For Oliver's story, it's all sad and how Oliver couldn't forget Jenny.

Rating:
Summary: Oliver's Story
Review: I bought this book because I am a big fan of the Love Story. However, I was quite disappointed after reading the book. Oliver started another relationship with Marcie two years after Jenny¡¦s death. That was too soon. If you ever truly love someone in your life, two years only means 5 minutes. I was glad to see Oliver and his father made peace with each other. The last few pages of the book make it well worth reading. You can skip some paragraphs in some chapters, but you have to read it over and over again in the last few pages. It were very well written.

Another things draw my interest to read this book were the economic development and comparative advantages between the US and Asia thirty years ago. (I majored International Econ in grad school.) The sweatshop conditions are common in developing economies. A lot of labor-intensive industries were forced to shut down in the last two decades and moved to Asia. This book was more focus on one side of the story. A lot of jobs moved to Asia because the US was moving from one advantage to another advantage. From labor-intensive products to technology-driven merchandises. When you look at those hi-tech companies in Silicon Valley, you know what I mean.

The major reason makes me interest in this book was my Dad. The movie "Love Story"
was shot before I was born. When I was a little girl, I saw Dad watching this movie every time when it was shown on TV. My Dad is kinds of the action movie type. I was surprised why he loved watching this movie. So, when I was in the video store one day, I decided to rent the DVD to see what made my Dad to watch a love drama. Just like my father. I am totally devoted to the movie. I bought both "Oliver's Story" and "Love Story" and finished reading in one afternoon. For me, I like the Love Story more than Oliver's Story. The 3/4 part of the Love Story was a pleasant story. Both of them loved each other very much and would like to sacrifice for each other. For Oliver's story, it's all sad and how Oliver couldn't forget Jenny.

Rating:
Summary: Oliver's Story
Review: I bought this book because I am a big fan of the Love Story. However, I was quite disappointed after reading the book. Oliver started another relationship with Marcie two years after Jenny¡¦s death. That was too soon. If you ever truly love someone in your life, two years only means 5 minutes. I was glad to see Oliver and his father made peace with each other. The last few pages of the book make it well worth reading. You can skip some paragraphs in some chapters, but you have to read it over and over again in the last few pages. It were very well written.

Another things draw my interest to read this book were the economic development and comparative advantages between the US and Asia thirty years ago. (I majored International Econ in grad school.) The sweatshop conditions are common in developing economies. A lot of labor-intensive industries were forced to shut down in the last two decades and moved to Asia. This book was more focus on one side of the story. A lot of jobs moved to Asia because the US was moving from one advantage to another advantage. From labor-intensive products to technology-driven merchandises. When you look at those hi-tech companies in Silicon Valley, you know what I mean.

The major reason makes me interest in this book was my Dad. The movie "Love Story"
was shot before I was born. When I was a little girl, I saw Dad watching this movie every time when it was shown on TV. My Dad is kinds of the action movie type. I was surprised why he loved watching this movie. So, when I was in the video store one day, I decided to rent the DVD to see what made my Dad to watch a love drama. Just like my father. I am totally devoted to the movie. I bought both "Oliver's Story" and "Love Story" and finished reading in one afternoon. For me, I like the Love Story more than Oliver's Story. The 3/4 part of the Love Story was a pleasant story. Both of them loved each other very much and would like to sacrifice for each other. For Oliver's story, it's all sad and how Oliver couldn't forget Jenny.

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet and beautiful (better than "Love Story")
Review: 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 fact, by itself, it is a tramendous book. "Oliver's Story" goes deeper into the soul of Oliver and helps him come to terms with a grim but true reality which brings tears to readers' eyes. An amazing effort!

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet and beautiful (better than "Love Story")
Review: 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 fact, by itself, it is a tramendous book. "Oliver's Story" goes deeper into the soul of Oliver and helps him come to terms with a grim but true reality which brings tears to readers' eyes. An amazing effort!

Rating:
Summary: Jut a bit better than Love Story
Review: I liked this just a little better than "Love Story" because I thought the characters, especially Oliver, were more fleshed out. When Oliver starts to see a psychiatrist to help him deal with Jenny's death, we're able to get into his head and understand his motiviations much better. I found the ending quite sad and maybe a bit overly pessimistic, but it felt real nonetheless.