Larry's Party
I just finished Larry's Party by Carol Shields for The Second Canadian Book Challenge. I'm a Yukoner now. Nine books. Yikes. Time to get serious; I should drop everything and read Canadian till the first of July, eh? Pass the double-doubles and keep 'em coming.
Larry's Party follows Winnipeg, Manitoba native Larry Weller for twenty years, 1977-1997. During that time he changes from a slightly goofy 26-year-old to a 46-year-old who has recently had a rather serious brush with mortality. Along the way, the reader has glimpses of Larry as an awkward teenager and gets to meet his parents, his sister, his two wives, his son and his friends. At the center of Larry's life is his career and his passion -- creating landscape mazes.
.Shields constructed the novel like a maze, and at the center is Larry's dinner party in Toronto where many of the characters meet for the first time. Carol Shields juggles a nine-way conversation between these people with incredible deftness and humor, and revelations are made. The party may be the center of Shields' novel, but if Larry's life is a maze, this seems less the center than another turn or possibly he's back where he began. I like it that Shields left readers something to mull over.
I was reminded of her previous novel, The Stone Diaries (1996 Pulitzer fiction winner), which also examines a character (Daisy Goodwill Flett) at various junctures in her life. Old photographs are used in both novels, although in Larry's Party, this is limited to a black-and-white baby picture of Larry which is on the cover of the Canadian edition and is described in full detail. This technique is a little disconcerting. Who are these people, really? Of the two novels, I preferred Larry's Party slightly more. The Stone Diaries leaves readers stranded on a gloomy note by necessity.
Browsing the internet, I learned that Larry's Party was made into a musical several years ago. Sometimes, I'm guilty of muttering something along the lines of WTF? when I read or hear that a book has been made into a musical. This time, I was charmed by the idea and could see how it would work beautifully. Have any of you seen it?
9 comments:
I've not read this one though I have read Stone Diaries, Unless and one about a poet whose title I forget. Shields is one of my favorites. I'm saving the rest of her books, rationing them since we won't be getting any more.
I wonder if you can find the musical on youtube?
C.B.
That's a good idea..I'll look on youtube.
Interesting review -- my favorite Shields book was Swann, which also would have made a great musical!
Oooh, I've got Larry's Party on my TBR shelves, I should pull it off and read it.
I'll get back to you on the musical but nope, haven't seen it or heard of it.
Carol Shields is a good writer, and I'm going to have to read this ASAP!
Now get to work, you hoser!
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I absolutely adored Larry's Party (I've read the french translation). I was already a fan of garden mazes, but to use them as a metaphore on a novel, waht an original idea! Since then I look at labyrinths and mazes on a different way... and think of Larry!
Stone diaries is also great...
I'm reading this book right now and having a hard time putting it down but I have to get some cleaning done! A musical though? That sounds weird.
I realise this comment is months overdue but I've just stumbled upon this post and your blog today. Larry's Party is my favourite book - it has been ever since I read it in High School.
I saw the musical at CanStage in Toronto. I thorougly enjoyed it! The staging was simple. The sets were minimalistic and it all worked very well.
I remember thinking it was more like a play and not a musical. Everything fit and the songs did not seem at all in the way of the story. I also thought the story was represented with great care... nothing was missing.
I hope you found something on youtube - I'm on my way their now to check it out.
Happy reading!
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