Has Anyone Here Seen Larry?

by Deirdre Purcell

A family drama between rival daughters that reveals a mothers passion. Larry is an 87-year-old widow. Old and frail, she remembers her youth as if it were yesterday and longs for her past vigor. Larry lives with her daughters. Martha, the good daughter, waits on her mothers every whim. Mary has a career, takes exotic vacations and is mothers favorite, though she never lifts a finger to help. Something has to give. One embarrassing evening, Father Jimmy comes to supper, and pent up feelings emerge. High drama follows, and Larry is nowhere to be found...

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Deirdre Purcell (1945–2023) was an Irish author, actress, and journalist.

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was fine. The story was lousy.

[sonataiscool · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was fine , I liked how it was meant to be uplifting although the story was quite sad and a bit boring

[Book_Worm_Jim.83 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Larry is an 87-year-old widow. She lives with her daughters Martha and Mary. Though old and frail, she remembers her youth as if it were yesterday. Martha is the put-upon daughter. She runs the home and looks after her mother's every need. Her only escape comes with her regular outings to see her friend, Father Jimmy.

I enjoyed this read but not as much as some of the other books within the open door's series. Having said that I liked the concept that Larry could see and hear everything whilst in hospital. This changed me from a two-star read to a three.

I've purchased a load more books from the Open Door's Series that my library does not have, Purcell's other titles are amongst the books that I have ordered so look forward to reading other titles by Purcell.

[Arax · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about an old lady and her two daughters and their relationships and thoughts.Each chapter of the book is written in the point of view of one of them.what each of them think about their every day life and the mother-daughter relationship were realistic and you can see it in most of the families and probably yours.That is why it was nice to read this book.It is like a safe and free journey in your mother's or sister's head!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had an extra hour to kill this morning after a class was canceled, so I found my way over to the library and read this. The book shares a realistic relationship between a mother and her two very different daughters. It follows an 89 year old mother, living with her daughters, who she depends on for survival due to her old age. The narrator alternates between the three women with each chapter. It's a quick read of a simple, sweet, and relatable story.

[Kellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care for this one. The characters were uninteresting, and it was annoying to start each chapter not knowing whose viewpoint it was until you're a couple of paragraphs in. The story felt disjointed to me.







Part of the Open Door Series - a program of original works by beloved authors, originally designed in Ireland to promote adult literacy.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable enough short read. Fairly average and nothing to write home about, but was an easy page turner which i enjoyed all the more for just having finished a 700 page book.

Short, sweet and comical.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short book about an elderly lady and her relationship with the two daughters she lives with.

[Geraldine]

I thought the book was a very good book it was very funny