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Journal Entry 1 by alaun on Wednesday, June 02, 2004
 I've read 3/4 of the book so far and am already sure that this is one of the best books I've ever read. Carol Shields is capable of describing the most mundane situations/ things/ activities (e.g. doing laundry) in fresh, new and interesting ways.
There is a moving sensation that somehow leaves one grappling for the single word adequate to describe it. Poignant? Touching? Tender? Oh you know, the real thing. --Harpers and Queen
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Journal Entry 3 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Thursday, September 02, 2004
This is a wonderful book - I'm quite amazed by the ease Shields can loose herself in details without ever forgetting the bigger frame. In this way, the book is not only about mazes but also a maze itself. The reader gets lost in it.
The story is quite interesting, also the form: Each chapter focuses on another aspect of the protagonist's life. At the same time, there are always a few years between the chapters - in this way we observe Larry for some twenty years. I very much liked how history changes with the years in Larry's memory. Although a bit confusing, I also liked the end very much.
I wouldn't like to see this beautiful book lost, so I'll make this into a bookray.
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Journal Entry 4 by Flicki from Emden, Niedersachsen Germany on Sunday, September 05, 2004
************* INTERNATIONAL BOOKRAY ***********
1) Wilmar - NL - EUR
2) SudoKris - D - Int
3) deebookfairy - GB - Int
4) your-book-fairy - USA - Int
If anyone else wants to join, please contact me!
***********************************************
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Journal Entry 6 by Wilmar from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Caught! Just like that, in my own mailbox.
I'll start reading as soon as possible and when I've finished the book I'll let you know what I think about it.
Looking forward to this one!
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Journal Entry 7 by Wilmar from Leiden, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, September 22, 2004
I’ve always wondered what I would think of a Carol Shields novel. With Larry’s Party I finally read my first one. I think it’s a pleasant book, but not a really great one.
I enjoyed every word of it, but Larry and his world didn’t come to live. Actually, I was asking myself a few times if Larry does represent an actual man very well. It’s not that I thought him feminine, but he didn’t convince me as a character. Also not convincing to me was the end of the story: I didn’t see that one (not telling you which one, but they who've read the book will know) coming and it seemed like an unnatural situation.
A very nice thing in this story is Larry’s profession. First his flower studies and than the maze making.
Very well drawn by Shields (I was convinced about this part of the Larry-character), strange, but interesting.
I absolutely want to read more novels by Carol Shields, so it’s not that this book has stopped me from that, I just didn’t find it a wonderful read. To me it was an average read and that’s why I’m going to reward this one with a seven.
When I was reading I marked a few parts of the book that I find are interesting, funny or otherwise worth to remember:
If only someone had filled her in about what to wear for a trip like this. She’d never been on a plane before – neither had Larry for that matter – but somehow she’d got the idea that air travel was dressy, especially if you were headed for an international destination, such as London, England.
***
The word sex? What did it mean? “Well,” Larry’s mother said, plainly embarrassed (this was a long time ago), “it has to do with hugging and kissing and lying in bed.” The she said, “It’s mostly for men.”
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Mon père; the words struck Larry in the heart. The lighter-than-air mateyness, the straight-in-the-eye punch. This was more than he deserved, much more. With a stab of love he watched his son watching him – a grown man who stumbled, fell into error, got lost, made a fool of himself, but was willing, at least, to be rescued. Something good was bound to come of this.
***
Some run the Sheperd’s Race – a rut
Within a grass-plot deeply cut
And wide enough to tread –
A maze of path, of old designed
To tire the feet, perplex the mind,
Yet pleasure heart and head;
‘Tis not unlike this life we spend,
And where you start from, there you end.
(Bradfield, Sentan’s Wells, 1854)
Thank you Flicki for this BookRay, I'll send the book to SudoKris tomorrow.
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Journal Entry 9 by SudoKris from Lathones, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Right... I've just finished Larry's Party... and I must admit I'm not too keen on it. Unfortunately I didn't see the irony. Nor the humour. Nor the comic elements. Larry as a character seemed somewhat pathetic - someone I so would not care to meet in real life... But what annoyed me most was Shields's constant change between present and past tense - I really hate it when authors do that...
But I guess that's what bookcrossing is about - reading books you'd never consider otherwise. So, all in all I have given it 3 stars because I did enjoy some of it (couldn't point out exactly which parts, though...) and it doesn't feel like I've wasted too much time...
But luckily tastes differ, so the rest of you might very well enjoy it!
To be sent to deebookfairy later on today
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Journal Entry 10 by deebookfairy from Aboyne, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Im really sorry everyone, have had this book a while and have not got around to journaling it! I had not read anything by Carol Sheilds before, but this book has inspired me to do so. I loved the analogy of the maze to Harrys life.
I was interested in previous readers comments that Harry was an unconvicing character as the typical modern male. However, I think Sheilds has deliberately portrayed an atypical male in a typical life as an indication to us all that we all face similar life experiences and challenges despite our differences.
The root of Harrys obsession, the maze, could be compared to any and many male obsessive interests(listen to the female, giving a stereotypical opinion now!) Sheilds has combined this facet of the male character with the unusual interest of the maze to illustrate both the similarities, complexities and differences in us all.
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Larry's Party
