Only Love [Hardcover]

Erich Segal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 1997

An unforgettable new novel by the bestselling author of Love Story. When a talented doctor is asked to help save the life of a rich man's beautiful wife, he faces more than a medical challenge. For he and the woman have met before--long ago--as two idealistic young doctors heading to Africa to heal the sick . . . and on their way to a passionate love affair.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Dr. Matthew Hiller's newest patient is dying?and she happens to be the love of his life, the woman whose loss he has mourned for years. Will he be able to save her? Flash back 20 years, to Paris in the spring of 1978, where Matthew and Dr. Silvia Dalessandro meet and fall in love as they prepare to join Medicine Internationale in drought-stricken Ethiopia. Their romance is as predictable as it is uninspiring, thus rendering Matthew's obsession with the woman who left him impossible to understand or sympathize with. Their relationship is the least interesting thing about Segal's (Prizes, LJ 1/95) book. Other characters (in particular Evie, Matthew's best friend and later his wife) are far more appealing, and the brief look we get at Ethiopia and Matthew's medical research in New York are quite interesting. This is a very light, though highly readable, novel. Recommended for popular fiction collections.
-?Elizabeth Mary Mellett, Brookline P.L., Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

How can the author of a bombshell like 1970's Love Story follow up with such a long succession of dramatic duds (Prizes, 1995, etc.)? Readers are likely to occupy their minds with this question while leafing through the forgettable life and loves of Dr. Matthew Hiller, genetic engineer extraordinaire. With an alcoholic lit-professor father and a workaholic mother, young Matthew knew he was blessed to possess a talent as a pianist strong enough that one day it will carry him away from Dearborn, Michigan, forever. In college, he majors in music but also pursues an interest in medicine while carrying on a benign but creative friendship with a pretty cellist named Evie. After graduation, Evie marries her master-class instructor, and Matthew opts for med school, following up with a stint tending victims of Ethiopia's famine. There, he meets and falls hard for fellow doctor Silvia Dalessandro, an Italian super-heiress using this altruistic jaunt to escape a scheduled marriage to wealthy family friend Nico Rinaldi. Matthew and Silvia shack up together, but when Matthew is nearly killed by natives, Silvia agrees to marry Nico right away if he'll airlift Matthew to a Swiss hospital. Thus Matthew hangs on to his life but loses Silvia and--he realizes soon enough--his ability to play the piano. Heartbroken, he buries himself in research studies at Harvard, soon becoming the world's expert at destroying brain tumors through genetic engineering. Moving to New York to continue his work, Matthew rediscovers Evie (now divorced with two daughters), marries her, and lives happily until, lo and behold, Silvia appears at his office door with the biggest brain tumor of all. Will Matthew resist Silvia's fatal attraction, holding onto the family happiness he's found with Evie? Segal's brisk, oddly passionless prose does little to motivate the reader to care. (First printing of 50,000; TV rights to CBS; Literary Guild main selection; $150,000 ad/promo) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 257 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (October 27, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399143416
• ISBN-13: 978-0399143410
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #944,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has a very intriguing story line!, April 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Lake Forest, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only Love (Magical Love) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book, and even though the prologue pretty much tells you the outcome, the story was quite enjoyable! I have not read one of his books in quite a while, and I will definitely seek out some of his older ones, and read the ones I have missed. I was really rooting for Evie in this one, even though at the same time you want Silvia and Matt, to get back together somehow! Evie and Matt had their amazing musical bond, that was very special, and you wanted them to go back to their duets, that made them so happy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and captivating!, December 5, 1998

By 

Book Lover (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Only Love (Hardcover)

I have only read Love Story and after reading Only Love and becoming familiar with Seagal's other books I am looking forward to purchasing more of his books. This latest novel is a must-read. Much of the emotions felt by the main character were dramatic and honest. I felt as though I was experiencing the story myself. Seagal has the skill to put into words what many feel, but are unable to express into words or are unable to recognize. Many times one sentence alone captured a human's scale of emotions hitting it right on the head of the nail...True revelations of the inner-heart and thoughts of love and relationships. I loved it! I thought it wouldn't compare to Love Story and now I don't know which is better.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Majestic and Amazing!!!!!!!!!, July 6, 2003

By 

G. Dhar "GattuRaje" (Himalayan Hermitage) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Only Love (Magical Love) (Paperback)

Honestly speaking this Book is the best I've read by Erich Segal and the pain illustrated in the story surpasses Love Story by all means. I read the entire book in 2 sittings and was left spell bound by it.
A Must to any Love Story collector !