4 reviews for The Class
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The Class
by Erick Segal
Description:
From world-renowned author Erich Segal comes a powerful and moving saga of five extraordinary members of the Harvard class of 1958 and the women with whom their lives are intertwined. Their explosive story begins in a time of innocence and spans a turbulent quarter century, culminating in their dramatic twenty-five reunion at which they confront their classmates–and the balance sheet of their own lives. Always at the center; amid the passion, laughter, and glory, stands Harvard–the symbol of who they are and who they will be. They were a generation who made the rules–then broke them–whose glittering successes, heartfelt tragedies, and unbridled ambitions would stun the world.
About The Author
Born in Brooklyn in 1937, Erich Segal is a graduate from Harvard with a B.A. degree, as well as a Masters and a Doctorate. He started off as an academic writer in the field of classical literature. The book that made him famous is Love Story and it was published in 1970 and has sold over 21 million copies worldwide. He has seven other romantic bestsellers under his sleeve and in 1989, he was awarded the Legion d’Honneur by the French government. He died in London in 2010 and was married and had two children.
Skryf Review
“Good Reading”
Jasmine
Before reading this book, I had already read “The Love Story” by Erich Segal which I did not like much. But then someone told me that “The Class” is an interesting book about reunion of a class of the Harvard of 1958 (though fictional) and that was enough to raise my curiosity about it. Reunion stories always appeal to me which is why I picked up this book and I must say the concept of the story was great. The Class is a saga of 5 students who meet after 25 years and it’s time for a look back on “golden days” The book takes you through a journey around the lives of these five main characters. Through these five lives, the author draws us in to social, academic, romantic, musical and political spheres of the 50’s, 60’s and the 70’s. The job has been done in such an impeccable way that you feel the happiness, agony, frustration that the characters go through even though you know that you are not a part of the theme. Each character is unique and has a distinct personality with its own struggles and challenges. The USP of the novel is its simplicity that creates exactly the right amount of interest in the reader.The narration is very good; all the characters being defined very well. The book also acts as a small window into the world of Harvard, the campus and its life (Erich Segal has himself graduated from Harvard in 1958).
Bhargav
A wonderful story that takes you through the lives of five different characters and makes you attached to them. It shows the different turns that one’s life can take. It makes you feel sad seeing most of the characters end up the way they do, and makes you realize what you are today would not be how you would be tomorrow. Nothing, success or failure, lasts forever. Fame, power and money should not be the goals of life. A life lived for oneself is without meaning and will not give one eternal happiness or satisfaction.
Navya
What can you say about a novel by Erich Segal? (Sorry: I couldn’t resist writing that.) This was actually a pretty enjoyable read. Not anywhere near great, but not anywhere near the bathos of “Love Story,” either. I read it only because I knew that one character writes a musical version of a portion of “Ulysses.” His story is but one of many threads in the novel, but I’m glad that I read it. And I finished it in Dublin, just before Bloomsday. The class in question is the Harvard class of 1958 (Segal’s own class … surprise!). It’s the time of their 25th reunion, and thus it’s time for a look back on “golden days” (or – not so golden?) Segal is hilarious (unintentionally, I trust) when going out of his way to show off his knowledge of Greek and Latin classics – but that’s okay. He was a respected classicist, after all,even if he took his lumps as Jennifer and Oliver’s creator (probably laughing all the way to the bank). The lives and loves of Harvard ’58 make for a bit of a time capsule. The appearances by historical characters is too heavy-handed. The diarist, class member Andrew, is interesting. Most interesting: the tale of the Jewish class member character whose parents had assimilated so thoroughly that he knew nothing of his heritage; he discovers it, to results that come closest to good writing. As for that pianist/composer/musical wunderkind – Joycean ideas fomenting in my brain.