Rating: 
Summary: It's not what you think...
Review: "Shopgirl," Steve Martin's debut novella, is not the book I imagined it would be, given the nature of the writer. Fortunately, what is was is a book I liked quite a bit. More familiar with Martin as an actor and screenwriter, particularly the goofy brand of humor he is so well known for, I was unprepared for this quiet little book that is really more of a study of four characters than anything else. Mirabelle, Ray, Jeremy and Lisa each are examined from all angles, all flaws and facets of their characters exposed, and we see precicely how each of them has changed by the end of the story. There are funny parts, but nothing really laugh-out loud funny. It's more of a quiet story, a story to think about.Like I said, not what I expected at all. But still, quite good.
Rating: 
Summary: Sugary treat... but not on an empty stomach
Review: Fan of Steve Martin that I am, I'd hoped his fiction writing would be as enjoyable as his comedy. This is the first of his works I've read, so while it may not be representative, it does disappoint. Of course, if romantic fluff with a hefty dose of L.A. cultural critique is what you're after, you may not be disappointed at all. As for me, I'll take L.A. Story on DVD over Shopgirl anyday.
Rating:
Summary: Nearly Dumbstruck
Review: I read this book over 2 successive lunch hours. I have this incredibly overwhelming sense of sadness after finishing it. I do not recommend this to anyone in a vulnerable place -- it took me down down down.
Rating: 
Summary: Shopgirl
Review: Shopgirl is one of those books that is really surprising to read. Not only is Steve Martin a great actor, but he is a really great writer as well.
This book is about a shopgirl named Mirabelle who works at Neimans department store in the glove department. She dislikes her job because she hardly gets to talk to anyone while doing it. She meets a man while working and is drawn into a relationship with him.
The characters in this book are strong and witty. They have problems like everyone else does, but Martin seems to make them easier to understand and see the different point of views from both the male and female side.
I really enjoyed this book a great deal and would recommend it to anyone and everyone who lkes a good read.
Rating:
Summary: An astute, well-observed delight!
Review: For those of us weaned on PURE DRIVEL and CRUEL SHOES, this Steve Martin novella is a revelation! It is a tenderly written novel with some real depth and some astonishingly specific characters and observations. We truly get to know the inner-workings of the shopgirl, Mirabelle, a "wall-flower" with a complex inner-life. Martin takes a cliched character, and makes her leap to complicated life. And the men in her life are equally complex and multi-layered. Other reviews I've read here say the characters are unlikeable. They DO have unlikeable qualities, but then, who amongst us does not? These are unusual people, with rich motivations, and we can't always predict, and don't always like what they do. But we REALLY get to know them, and get to care what happens to them. Then book is bittersweet, at best. And like Martin's delightful film LA STORY, it is sprinkled with tellingly nasty observations about the upper-crust in LA. There are a few laughs to be had in the book, of course, but there are many more moments of "wow, that is an incredible observation." Martin is also a master of simile. Occasionally, the book gets a bit carried away in its own lofty prose, and the reader is jerked out of the moment and forced to admire Martin's wonderful vocabulary. That's why I dock it one star. But it is rich, romantic, sexy and satisfying. It is NOT for kids, due to some rough language, but for adults who have actually experienced some mature relationships, it will strike many chords. Also, if you can get the audio version, DO. Martin reads it himself, and he does a fabulous job.
Rating:
Summary: Short and Sweet
Review: Surprisingly insightful and filled with an honest wit.
Rating: 
Summary: Quick read, but don't expect anything wonderful from it
Review: This novella confirms my suspicions that a celebrity should stay away from the literary form. This book should have never received the attention it did--the characters are not likeable at all and represent some of the more pathetic qualities of human nature. The story is filled with the worst cliches imaginable. I was looking for a good romance when I picked it up (not my favorite genre, but once in awhile you get in the mood for it)--I'm embarrassed to say this, but a Harlequin Romance would have been a better choice. Steve is a wonderful actor, comedian, screenwriter, etc.--he should stick with the entertainment industry. I read somewhere today that he is coming out with yet another novella--yippee, can't wait. (!)
Rating:
Summary: Okay... I was expecting more humor
Review: This book was a quick read. It caught my eye because it was by Steve Martin, and it was not what I was expecting, nonetheless, it was entertaining. It centers around a lonely department store worker (she works in the glove department) and her new found love life with an older man... I heard they were going to make a movie out of it...
Rating:
Summary: Oddly Unsettling
Review: Steve Martin is obviously a man of many talents; and for an initial foray into the novella genre he makes a pretty decent job of it. Mirabelle is an oddly unsettling character, an aloof, introspective, artist adrift in a world of siliconed Beverly Hills blondes. Her appeal to men is quietly unnerving, they are drawn to her without ever really understanding why. I am often not a fan of the novella simply because they rarely contain enough character or plot development for my tastes. Shopgirl, while entertaining did leave me pondering a whole lot of loose ends. Mirabelle is certainly suffering from fairly severe clinical depression, yet this illness is treated in an almost superficial way. We learn that Mirabelle's father is harboring some unresolved Vietnam war secrets, but nothing more is ever learned. Ray Porter, Mirabelle's wealthy, older lover has a whole heap of unexplored neurosis just waiting to be uncovered. So, if you are looking for an interesting quick read, Shopgirl fits the bill. Just remember this is a novella, and if you like all your questions to be answered you may find yourself disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: The story brings you in and it does not let go until you are done. If you have ever been bored or worked as a cashier, you can relate. Steve Martin is amazing. It is amazing how he writes with an understanding of the perspective of a woman. I need to read again.
| 
