Rating: 
Summary: A Shining Little Silver Sliver of Life
Review: Steve Martin does a surprising thing when he becomes the author of Shopgirl. He transcends the giddy acting which has made him famous and becomes a man who can tell a perceptive and engrossing story, however short and surface-skimming, about a lonely young Girl who meets an older, perceptive man, and the profound impact he comes to have on her so-far brief and difficult life. I'm not saying Shopgirl is a great masterpiece of literature. (I even admit to stumbling over his use of language every now and again). I'm just saying it is a fair and likeable foray into fiction for Mr. Martin, and I for one am glad he wrote it. I love this little silver book with the sweet, smart girl inside. Believe it or not, I was in tears at the end of it. The amazing thing here is not that Martin was able to find a willing publisher for his book at the drop of a hat. It is that he somehow found it in himself to see the world from Mirabelle's eyes and give this girl a voice. This little book, in its little way, means something. Mirabelle is a lost and lonely soul, alienated in her little corner of Los Angeles, almost unwittingly poised at the springboard between delayed adolescence and full-blown, independent womanhood. She is just about ready to strike, ready to say, "here I am, world, and have I got some great stuff to show you." But she doesn't know that yet. For now, the mousy and depressed (but beautiful) Mirabelle lives alone, and works away the sunny California days in the shadows of air-conditioned Neiman Marcus, the glove department, to be exact. It is a quiet place away from the crowds where Mirabelle stands, leaning on the counter, for hours at a time, often with no company but her own wandering thoughts. She is an artist at heart, having already obtained her Arts degree. She draws on her days off, and perhaps imperceptibly to her own self, dreams of a place where her Art is her focus, and not this lonely little corner of the world where dust gathers and people walk by to shinier, more inviting climes. Into her life comes a much older man, Mr. Ray Porter. He notices her right away, notices both her beauty and imperfection, and appreciates both, from his more experienced standpoint. He desires her from the beginning, in part because of her lack of self-consciousness and youth, and starts up a relationship with her. Once they are together in any sort of way, the two will never be the same again. The relationship will change them both forever. Martin brings a tangible aura of sadness and ache to his story which transcends its simplicity and brevity. As another reviewer noted, you feel as if you've read a much longer, more complex work, when you come to the end. Mirabelle's story stays with you even after the book's cover is shut and the pretty silver object sits once again, closed and silent, on your nightstand. I liked this story because it didn't make Ray and Mirabelle's relationship out to be any more, or any less, than what it was. And also because it gave Mirabelle a chance to dust off her quiet young wings, to stretch them out, and prepare them for flight. This book is an apt reflection of 21st century America, and of those months or years wherein we struggle, as women, but also as men, to earn our place in the world, to earn respect and a living, and hopefully both. Thanks Mr. Steve Martin for giving us this little glimpse into what is, or what may be, a little story in LA which has Big consequences for the young girl who lives it.
Rating: 
Summary: Weak, weak, weak
Review: I'm not saying that if Steve Martin were not Steve Martin, this book would not have been published. It's not THAT bad. But if Steve Martin were not Steve Martin, I am quite sure that nobody would ever, ever have heard of it. It's a middling and pleasant book but still, there is nothing remotely special about it. Too bad.
Rating: 
Summary: What's not to like?
Review: It was a rainy day, I had a bad cold, so tucking up in bed with this slender book was the perfect antidote. Having once been a "shopgirl" myself and working in jobs beneath me so I could pursue my art, I really identified with Mirabelle, but it made me sad to read, at first. Fortunately, the author saves Mirabelle from being pathetic and superficial with his moving and funny observations and by including very revealing inner thoughts. I loved his fresh descriptions, such as describing the cosmetics salesgirls at Neiman's: "She notices that when they are in motion, these perfume nymphs look breezy and alive, but when they are still, their faces become vacuous and frozen, like the Easter Island of Barbie dolls." I've seen these women and often envied their beauty, but in Martin's writing I see the error of my thinking. I like it when a book can reveal something like that. So, the bottom line is this is probably a "chick book". Women might identify with Mirabelle as I did---I was once young and lonely in L.A., living with cats, taking anti-depressants, going to art openings, looking for love in all the wrong places. And I felt very hopeful for Mirabelle at story's end....her life takes an upswing as did my own life---I don't take anti-depressants, I have dogs, and I married my Mr. Ray Porter. There are happy endings.
Rating:
Summary: A serious Martin
Review: By watching Steve Martin in the movies and on television, I would never have guessed him to be as serious and insightful as he shows in this novella. At times, the flowery descriptions were too rich, but cutting away the Beverly Hills facade, the reader takes away a telling look at how complex relationships become. While more dialogue may have aided the reader, Martin doesn't bother. Instead, he allows you to see inside the heads of the dysfunctional Mirabelle and the others to get an idea of their innermost thoughts with cutting situational analysis. I did find the breakup to be a bit unrealistic. After painting Ray Porter to be a meticulous man, wouldn't he have realized that he was being used as a replacement for Mirabelle's father? Overall, a nice effort. It's worth reading, but maybe not at that price tag. Borrow it from somebody. You can read it in a few hours.
Rating:
Summary: A romance novel written by a philosopher...
Review: The first 40 pages are slow, but it is hard to put the book down once you get to know the characters, if only for the reason that you get to know them more than they know themselves. This is an analytical love story. I felt like I was reading the novel and the cliff notes at the same time. The characters are presented and then analyzed by a narrator/psychologist. The analyses of characters are clever descriptions of nuances of the human spirit, such as how a character trait can abstract itself elsewhere in someone's life (Ray Porter's logic and efficiency), and the lead weights and mental disassociation of depression (experienced by Mirabelle). I laughed out loud on pages 44, 48, 56, 60, 63, 83, 88, 101, 106, 111, 113, and 120, mostly at Steve Martin's comedic insight and observations. The book was a good, quick read, but more like a slice of life than a narrative. Potential story lines were sacrificed in order to tie the novella up quickly in the end.
Rating:
Summary: popular actor and playwright falls just a bit flat
Review: I have to say first that I really enjoyed the humor and wit of Martin's play _Picasso at the Lapin Agile_. I was hoping for more of the same with this novel. That wit and those quirky observations of life as Martin sees it are present in _Shopgirl_, but the delivery was so heavy-handed that they just didn't carry so well. I've read and enjoyed David Foster Wallace, and it seemed that Martin was shooting for the same tone... and he came *so* close that I feel bad for not liking the book more. I also got the impression that the author was writing about his main characters as if pulling on distant memories of being a poor single guy long ago in his life, and the fondness for the memories lies in the fact that he's rich now and doesn't have to worry about it. True, I might be bringing preconceived notions to the book since I know who the author is, but I still couldn't get away from that narrative voice that just couldn't be jarred from its soap box of advantage and success. Having said all this, I still wanted to finish the book at all times. It's not a waste of your money, but it's also probably not up for a Pulitzer.
Rating:
Summary: A fun book, if a little forced.
Review: I've been a fan of Martin's since I was nine years old. I've read, seen and heard everything I can get my hands on and have enjoyed all of it, including this read. Why three stars then? When I'm reading I like to come across my revelations, ironies and jokes by myself. This novella seems to have that all placed very conspicuously. Martin's work has been, and contiunues to be, inspirational. If you're reading him for the first time, you may want to start with his essays and short stories. This book is good, but it is not his best.
Rating: 
Summary: A Superb Masterpiece
Review: This is my first review. I felt I finally had something to say. I'd like to say that I own all the books written by Steve Martin. I have frequently called him my favorite writer. Now I am definitely calling him my favorite writer and "Shopgirl" would be my favorite book. I don't quickly jump to calling things my favorite, i.e. favortie movie, favorite food, etc. This book is a fascinating read. By no means am I a quick reader and there was no exception with this book, even though it was short. It took me almost a week to read this book. I would have to re-read over lines to take them in and was more than willing to give each line a second read. This book should be read by all people who suffer from depression. I felt so strongly for Mirabelle. The fact that she couldn't get on with her life is part of the depression(that's for some of the other reviewers). She was fairly active. She goes to art shows and goes out with Jeremy. That is quite a bit of activity for a depressed person. It was almost surreal that she hooked up with Ray Porter with him taking such great care of her, buying her things and paying off her debt. One can only dream a millionaire will come along and be a sugardaddy. There wasn't a great deal of meat to the story, but is so enjoyable to read it's almost better that there isn't a whole lot of plot to get in the way of the prose. The book is some what of a revelation, if I may go so far. The prose is very rich and sometimes biting. The humor is weaved in so nonchalantly. I did find myself laughing out loud on a few occassions and stored away a few sentences in my memory banks, one such line on page 85 that goes something like "He was torn between being a pure altruist and part chimpanzee penis." I'm sure I summarize poorly. It is a superb masterpiece and for the first time, I plan on a repeat read right after the first one. Steve Martin is a wonderful writer and should be looked at as more than a comedian and comedy writer. He is a writer with great depth and compassion and this book is something of a marvel.
Rating:
Summary: loved his observations, far better then Pure Drivel
Review: This book reminded me of Sex in the City. I enjoyed Steve Martin's observations, and his gift for humor shines through. I hated Pure Drivel, but gave this book a chance when people online spoke well of it, I'm glad I did.
Rating:
Summary: Actually 3 1/2 stars...
Review: I had heard positive reviews about this book, but I was skeptical. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's actually quite good. There are some graphic and crude sexual references, but other than that, I was quite impressed with this novella. It's short enough and well-written enough that it can be read in one setting. I did strongly disagree with some of the statements used to describe Mr. Ray Porter: "...he is kind, he tries to do the right thing..." when he is actually a man who uses vulnerable women for sex and treats them as prostitutes. I was left wondering why the reader would care anything about Ray Porter, and why it was so important that it be mentioned that he and Mirabelle (the eponymous "shopgirl") remained friends after their sexual relationship ended. All in all it's a good read which I would recommend. This is the first book of Steve Martin's that I've read, and although I admire his comedic talents, I was not expecting to be as impressed as I was by this book.
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