Introduction
The 1998 Orange Prize Winner for ‘Larry’s Party’ was authored by Carol Shields. Arguably, many have not read this novel as an eighteen year old in 2001. This clearly reshapes a young eighteen year olds mind to what life would be from early manhood to growing through times the early parts of the 21st century. Fast forward two decades and re-read the novel the manner in which one perceives and understands has equally transformed.
Storyline
Larry was always a man of ordinary goals and always content with the progress of life. He never really pushed boundaries. Therefore, he continued to live a life of ordinary vision coupled with ordinary missions. He allowed life to take charge and allowed life to lead him. For instance, he moves through the 1970s and 1980s seamlessly, like he does with his marriages and career.
Life goals are far and apart. Sad in that context of the life of a human being. This has been greatly written by Carol Shields. She has mastered the mind of an ordinary man, and was extremely tactical in engrossing the reader’s mind with a man living during the latter quarter of the 20th century.
The brilliance of the author is also exemplified with the way the mind works of the protagonist Larry. The mind moves swiftly into frustration and equally to joy. This is his journey to understand himself which in most instances highlights himself as a man self absorbed and self involved. For example, ignoring certain simple requests from his wife to his parents.
Although some may highlight that this novel has shown the way in which most men moved during the later part of the 20th century, I completely disagree. The reason being as mentioned above it is the mind of an ordinary man. If he was more motivated he would have been able to achieve his goals with ease.
Concluding, Carol Shields has indeed performed a great mind analysis and shown what life will be if focus and ambition are ignored. Therefore, in simple terms do not ignore the path of life, but try to be in charge of life.
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Original content written by Yatila A. Wijemanne
