

But I think Eric Segal is so accurate in his observation here. It might appear ludicrous to some people initially. This one quote will help you to easily differentiate between a friend and a fan.

I mean, if you have the option, the last-minute score is preferable."Ģ) What is the difference between a friend and a fan? Of course, an out-and-out triumph is better. Thing to be able to turn any defeat into victory. "Part of being a big winner is the ability to be a good loser. He delineates why it is important for you to bounce back from your failures. This love story that defied the social hierarchies between the characters and the generation gap between the readers is still considered one of the favorites of many readers.Įven if this book is mainly a romantic story, the author is, directly and indirectly, mentioning his views of different spheres and aspects of life through the characters in his book.

This is one of the most celebrated love stories ever.Įrich Segal tells us the story of Oliver Barrett IV and Jenny Cavilleri, who are different in every way but immediately falls in love with each other. "That," she replied, "is what makes you stupid." "I wouldn't go for coffee with you," she answered. "What the hell makes you so smart?" I asked. I've read it several times since age 12, and every time it melts my stony callousy heart. It is a quintessential love story and is fully worth the few well-spent reading hours. It is sweet and touching but not overly melodramatic. It is beautiful, simple, short and funny. This book is written in a fresh and honest voice. It did so for me, and I am a self-proclaimed cold-hearted cynic. And me." We know about Jenny's death from the start, and it is a true testament to Segal's brilliant characterization and narrative skills that her death still hits home, still leaves all but the most heartless readers a bawling blob of tears and snot. "What can you say about a twenty-five-year-old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant. We are warned about her death in the very first (and famous) paragraph. They may or may not name their future kid Bozo the Clown. Few more Daddy issues ensue, a fight or two happens, the cheesy phrase (see above) is uttered to my sheer mortification. They fall in love despite the huge social gap between them.

Oliver is a rich WASPy Harvard "Preppy" jock with a slew of Daddy issues and a Roman numeral after his name. Jenny is a poor artistic sorta-Catholic Radcliffe-educated Italian-American brainiac with a razor-sharp tongue. Plus it's cheesy, corny, and insanely quotable, so I'll have to give it a pass on that.Ī girl and a boy meet and fall in love. Luckily it's a rare blemish on a simple but beautiful story. "Love means never having to say you're sorry" is probably among some of the most ridiculous statements ever.
