LARRY'S PARTY by Carol Shields

[Kingaroo]

If you remember this book better than I do, perhaps you can help me.  Is this the book in which a character becomes immersed in studying the lives of medieval nuns who had ecstatic religious visions?

[Golem]

I don't think so ... Larry is just a regular guy whose life we follow over the years, set against the background of his job as a designer of mazes. The mazes are a metaphor for the complexities of his fairly mundane existance.

Don't yet know what book you have in mind ... I'm still thinking.

[Kingaroo]

I was thinking it might have been one of his wives, but I'll start casting about for other possible novels that this tiny niggling memory is from.

[Lillabet]

Ok it's a while since I read this too - but I think you are talking about Beth Prior. She is Larry's second wife - an academic studying female saints.

Hope this helps

[Glossopswift]

This book hit upon what it is like to be a regular man of that age more than any other book I have written. Just a personal view, of course, but while I felt that Nick Hornby, Tony Parsons, loaded etc are good reading for chaps this one really surprised me with how much Larry reminded me of me. I ought to point out that I am still happily married, have no great thing for mazes and actually I can't remember why I thought that at the time but I remember being quite taken aback that a middle aged Canadian(?) woman had caught it so well - the power of good writing eh? 

[Glossopswift]

Each week until September WH Smith offer a modern bestseller for 99p when you buy the Times. Quite coincidentally I have just been a walk out for lunch and this week's offer is Unless by CS, if anyone's interested.

[Kingaroo]

Thanks Lillabeth -- glad to have confirmation!