- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Viking; American First edition (1997)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0670873926
- ISBN-13: 978-0670873920
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15 x 3.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 522 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #651,812 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem, emotionally and stylistically.,
By
This review is from: Larry's Party (Paperback)
Like so many of us, Larry Weller finds himself, on occasion, lost. Is that why he is drawn to the arcane profession of maze-making? Or is his fascination with mazes a reflection of his deepening intellect and development as a man? In the course of fifteen carefully observed chapters, Carol Shields examines the maze-like Life of Larry. Each chapter is like a short film in which Shields refocuses her lens on a specific aspect of Larry's life: "Larry's Words," "Larry's Love," "Larry's Kid," etc. The end result is an in-depth portrait of a multi-dimensional guy, a compendium of details that elevates the seemingly ordinary Larry into someone utterly unique. She follows him through college (actually a trade school for florists), through the courtship of his first wife, through disillusionments and deaths, and finally to the party of the title, in which many of his life's loose ends are resolved. This is deep, smart, resonant writing, a subtly cajoling book that satisfies and delights.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Loved This Book!,
This review is from: Larry's Party (Paperback)
I thought this was one of the more refreshing books I've read in a while, due mainly to the fact that Larry is nothing special. I get so tired of reading novels where the protagonist is a billionaire or a stunningly handsome James Bond-type character. I really enjoyed the mundane descriptions of Larry growing up in Winnipeg, and how the events in his life just sort of happened to him. I found the ordinary characters to be much more believable and much more interesting than the usual hyped-up characters who populate modern fiction. The layout of the book actually had me wondering whether these chapters were originally written as short stories; I too found the repetition of background material in each chapter to be somewhat tedious. As a plot device it didn't really wash. Overall, though, this is another Bargain Bin treasure that I am going to recommend to others. I read "Stone Diaries" and must say that I liked this one better. Hoorah for the common man!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful,
By sainte-carmen (London) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Larry's Party (Paperback)
I've read most of Shields' books and taught a few, but this is my absolute favourite. It's a charming yet completely believable tale of one man's life. Read it if you need to have your faith restored in humanity.
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