MovieChat Forums > Endless Love (1981) Discussion > Scott Spencer's novel, 'Endless Love'

Scott Spencer's novel, 'Endless Love'

posted 19 years ago by mel20
27 replies | jump to latest

The novel "Endless Love", which was written by Scott Spencer in 1979 is extremely good. The movie was loosely based on the book. For instance, the book begins in the 1960's and ends in the late 1970's. It's story is linked more to mental illness rather than a sappy teen romance. It is told by David who has a total obsession over his girlfriend AND her family.

The book goes into detail about David's experience in the mental institution. Unlike the movie, he's sentenced there for a number of years and continues to obsess over Jade, whom he hasn't seen for a very long time. Its kind of sad and dark b/c you feel sorry for this man who can't function with a job or live his life w/o obsessing over this girl and her family.

He nevers really recovers by then end of the novel. You just assume he's a sick person with serious issues. Jade does love him, but is able to move on with her life and marry someone else. She can't handle the fact that David is somewhat responsible for her father's death. Then there's the graphic, 10 page sex scene between the lovers after they reunite in their early 20's. I was shocked to see this after seeing the sappy movie. Later on, Jade becomes a lesbian for a short while as well.

With all of this information, you should realize this book is more realistic and covers more of life's problems than the cutesy movie. I read it when I was 16 and it was a very complex novel. I'm 22 years old and its even better now than before. I highly recommend it!! You can purchase it on Amazon.com.

[–] roses888 19 years ago

I thought the book was wonderful as well. This dark love story is very deep, emotional, at times depressing & desparate, intense & complex. You really feel David's love, obsession, passion, pain & eventual loss as his reality is slipping away. David is so obsessed with Jade, he loses touch with the rest of the world around him. He is not crazy in the typical sense, more obsessed and misunderstood. He never gets over Jade. Never. Jade is David's only reason for living. She is always on his mind. Nothing else matters. He just exsists from day to day until he can see Jade again. The book stays with you for a very long time after you have read it. The last lines in the book say so much. It leaves you feeling so empty. I have read this book more than a few times, starting at age 14 when the movie came out, and each time I read it I discover something new that I didn't notice before. It's my favorite book & movie of all time. It's a heartbreaking story.
Although Brooke Shields is very beautiful and at the height of her beauty in the movie, which would make more sense with "obsessive love" portrayed here, the book's "Jade" is descibed as rather average, fair, flat chested & plain looking. There is not alot of character development for Jade & she makes her appearance half way through the book. Martin Hewitt is perfectly cast as "David" for the film. The book is written from David's point of view only, you never know what Jade is really thinking, or how SHE feels about David. I wish more was written about David's & Jade's earliest first months together, especially when they first meet & start the passionate physical relationship.
A love & passion so intense like this, is so rare, it comes maybe one in a million. Very few people have ever experienced anything like this.
There are pages & pages of a very explicit & consuming lovemaking session that goes on for a few days.
This is a very sad story. Don't read it if you are depressed or getting over your own breakup.
It would be great if Scott Spencer could write a continuation to this love story. What ever happened to David & Jade?
If anyone wants to chat about the movie or book please feel free to contact me. I love the book AND the movie.

[–] BoSoxRule 11 years ago

"There is not alot of character development for Jade & she makes her appearance half way through the book."

Not true, she appears right at the beginning as the book starts with the fire.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] preppy-3 18 years ago

Hi. I got the paperback from 1981 also. Never saw the movie? Well---DON'T!! It totally trashes the novel, makes a lot of ill-advised changes (including the ending) and, with a few exceptions, has lousy acting. The only good thing to come out of this movie was the title song. I still remember seeing it with an opening night audience who were laughing quite a bit--but the movie's not supposed to be funny.

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[–] depabillaba 17 years ago

Hello! I would love to talk about both the book AND the movie. I read the book two years ago and the quote above explains pretty well how I, too, felt. It was a very intense reading experience.

The sex scenes were very good for the story. Now I'm not a pervert; I'm just saying that they enhanced the deep, underlying matters a lot. It was a very natural, yet kind of insane love-making.

When it comes to the movie, I'm not so disappointed as some of you are. Maybe it's because I knew, before reading the book, that Brooke Shields was portraying Jade, so while reading it I constantly pictured Brooke Shields in front of me as, of course, Jade. Therefore I didn't find it hard at all to "accept" Brooke as Jade. Otherwise Martin Hewitt did a GREAT job as David. I didn't know before reading the book what David would look like, but he matched my thoughts and expectations almost perfectly.

Now this truly is a matter of subjectivity, but on the whole, I was left with satisfaction after watching the movie, convinced and aware of the fact that many of the persons, surroundings, and the material objects in general (such as houses and rooms, etc.), "clicked" with my perception of the novel.

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[–] depabillaba 17 years ago

haha, well, that's easy to say.
One thing I didn't know was that Ian Ziering had his first role in the movie! Not that I like him or anything, but I really didn't recognize him.

And James Spader... Personally I think he's one of the hottest guys from the '80s, and I really thought that I would love him in this movie, although I knew that he would be very angry and a little "bad guy"-ish. But I couldn't! He really managed to act so good that he convinced me that he's a total *beep* BUT, don't get me wrong, I still feel sympathy for all the people in the movie. They're just people, human. There's no clear line between good and evil.

[–] juxtapose70 17 years ago

The movie was sweet--like "The Notebook" of the eighties. And I remember crying. I am Brooke Sheilds age and I had a highschool sweetheart who looked similar to Martin Hewitt so as a youngster I could idenitfy with it. SO....

...I bought the book and it ROCKS the movie into oblivion. Their are many differences that aren't mentioned in the movie, although after the book I saw some slight alluding to certain things. Like the fact David's parents are Jewish Communists; stiff and rigid which is part and parcel why he would become so obsessed with such an open family at such a tender age when love, sex, drugs and rock and roll ruled the scene (late 60's). Also, Jade doesn't just throw herself at him when she sees him again and isn't really all that concerned with her father's death--or anyone in her family for that matter. She just seems to be spilling over things with an old lover that she's moved on from--yet he hasn't. Since he was in the nuthouse and stuck on parole in Chicago---the only life he had was obsessing over the past life he had with Jade and her family.

The ending paragraph of the book sums it up all to well and is a tear jerker. I an't help but believe Scott Spencer went through this type of thing himself--or else, how would he know in such detail what the mind and heart can do when it is at it's tenderest? Final paragraph below, so possible spoiler for those who haven't read it. The first two lines are excerpts leading to the final paragrah:

"And so I was released. I left Fox Run walking across a bridge made of your marriage and Arthur's death...
.....I don't want to say it, Jade, truly I don't...

I don't want to say it, I truly don't, but if you've gone this far I suppose it's obvious that what was ignited when I loved you continues to burn. But that's of small importance to you now, and that's how it should be,
Everything is in it's place. The past rests, breathing faintly in the darkness. It no longer holds me as it used to; now I must reach back to touch it. It is night and I am alone and there's still time, a moment more. I am standing on a long black stage, with a circle of light on me, which is my love for you, enduring. I have escaped --or been expelled-- from eternity and am back in time. But I step out once more to sing this aria; this confession, this testament without end. My arms open wide, not to embrace you but to embrace the world, the mystery we are caught in. There is no orchestra, no audience; it's an empty theatre in the middle of the night, and all the clocks in the world are ticking. And now for the last time, Jade, I don't mind, or even ask if it's madness: I see your face, I see you, you; I see you in every seat."

I still cry just typing that out. Pure poetry--pure, unadulterated sorrow like I've never seen it written. Scott Spencer is a genious for making fiction come to life.

[–] roses888 17 years ago

"I see your face, I see you, you I see in every seat".
That last line of the book sums up the whole book for me. To me, it means after all David has been through, after all these years he is still as in love with Jade as he always was. Nothing has changed in all this time. He never got over her. He can't move on. It's impossible for him. He is just going through the motions of everyday life until he can be with reunited her again. It's just heartbreaking.
I love this book.
Has anyone else ever read any of Scott Spencer other novels? And is his writing style simalar in his other books.

[–] DanceswCats 17 years ago

I have to be honest, I just finished the book and was dissapointed :( I wanted so badly to relate to David's character, I too once had an unhealthy obsession w/ a boyfriend at a young age. But, after reading the book, I just had this feeling that it wasn't truly "love" that motivated David as much as metal unstability, kwim? I mean, the guy was crazy, not crazy in love, just crazy, IMO. I felt as thought if it hadn't been Jade, someone else would've come along eventually and ulitmately become his 'idee fixe'. It was a combination of mental illness and being raised by cold, distance and extremely idealogical parents that contributed to David's mental state. The Butterfields represented an escape from his parents strict Communist dogma, they *appeared to be the opposite of everything the Axelrod's represented; free-spirited, open-minded, close-knit family structure. But, we are clearly given the impression by Anne that it was all somewhat of a farce and they weren't the family they appeared to be. Yet, even as Anne points this out, David fails to acknowledge that his perspective of the Butterfields was just an illusion. He couldn't accept that and the fact that besides Anne, and Jade temporarily, the Butterfields despised him, he continues to think of himself as "one of them". It is very sad and pathetic. He is clearly mentally ill. I loved a boy once in a deep, long way. I mourned our forced separation, took to acts of self-destruction, teetered on the edge of insanity and substance abuse. I thought obsessively about him for YEARS, and practically stalked this poor boy throughout our teen years, probably long after he was over me and our adolescent "puppy" love. I think about him still and all the "what-ifs". I really wanted to relate to David's character. In the end, though, I thought he never let anyone "help" him, not his psychiatrists, therapists, ect. He was incapable of admitting that maybe it wasn't "love" after all, maybe he had a mental diease. It was easier for him to keep beating the drum of unrequited love that face the reality of his mental instability, JMHO....

[–] AgentStarling3 16 years ago

I totally agree with your take on David Axelrod's character, Cat Libre. David was so obsessed that he confused that with love. When an obsessed person convinces his/herself that he/she cannot get over someone and move on, they won't. In order to get over someone who doesn't want to be with you, you must let go and look at now instead of yesterday and know that it's over. You must be thankful that you had your time together but that was all that fate has allowed you, and forget the what-if's. David Axelrod was obsessed and he refused to let go and heal. I agree with you.

[–] Jakuja 16 years ago

I was 15 when I read it, and I memorized that last paragraph. Now, 27 years later, I can still recite it. It's the kind of book that leaves a scar across your brain. I should read it again. I'm sure I'd understand a lot more now.

[–] paulajscheider 17 years ago

This novel is one of the most beautifully written works of American fiction in our lifetimes. Unless you want to play "Hey....isn't that ____________?" while you watch the movie (and do a tequila shot every 15 minutes for entertainment), I strongly recommend you read the book. I bought the book in 1981 and I STILL own my original copy and I re-read it at least two or three times a year. Some people have their movies they watch over & over...I read "Endless Love".

[–] as_you_wish_87 17 years ago

i'm reading "Endless Love" and i love it. i bought a first edition from ebay for $8 (including s&h) this is the kind of novel i would read over and over again. i'd recommend to anyone.

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[–] BoSoxRule 15 years ago

I agree with you, it was pretty sick. The fact that they both have her blood literally caked on them from head to toe in the morning was a bit much.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

[–] jarth-2 13 years ago

The movie was sweet--like "The Notebook" of the eighties.

Oh, please. The Notebook was superior to this trash in every way.

[–] jarth-2 13 years ago

I still cry just typing that out. Pure poetry--pure, unadulterated sorrow like I've never seen it written. Scott Spencer is a genious for making fiction come to life.

That's because you need a life. And it's genius, genius.

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[–] red_rackham_77 10 years ago

Loved the movie but now....I want to read this book!