Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing relationship commentary
Review: This is a surprisingly good book, by which I mean to say that it is both surprising and good. Those who have followed Mr. Martin's career, which previously included publication in the New Yorker, writing credits with the Smothers Brothers, and screenplays such as the excellent Roxanne, knew already that he could write and write exceptionally well. Shopgirl, however, is a serious stylistic departure from these efforts -- hence the surprise. Mr. Martin makes persistent use of a first-person, present-tense perspective which suits his purpose -- the abstract observation of two people who learn from each other in an eccentric and ultimately unworkable romance. But because the observation dominates both the story and the characters, the book has a dreamlike quality; it feels more like a memoir than a novel. In this regard, he breaks a primary writer's rule -- to show, not tell. We rarely see the characters *do* things. Instead, we're told they did them. There is remarkably little dialogue for a novel, particularly a novel by a screenwriter, who might fairly be expected to specialize in dialogue; the book is a sort of observational latte with a light hint of dialogue sprinkled on top. I imagine this was quite deliberate, and I don't object to it. I only suggest it's a new path for Martin. Martin is also very liberal in covering broad sweeps of time. While the events of two days might take up two chapters, he cheerfully sweeps through six months or more with a sentence, leaving the story somewhat unbalanced chronologically. However, despite these literary tactics and the necessary distance from the characters they confer, his observations on human nature are often very interesting. I differ with a previous critic who felt this book was a rehashed L.A. Story -- the large majority of the book concerns the interplay of two unique people, and just isn't a study of the greater LA area. Such city-specific remarks as you'll find are *unique* to the book, covering different subject matter in different language from anything Martin's tackled before. And there are scenes in New York, Seattle, and San Francisco as well. Only one and one half jokes? Please. There are dozens of polished, amusing lines, but I *expect* those when I read Martin. In my opinion, this book was innovative primarily in the degree that it was *thoughtful* -- moreso than anything he's done before. So thoughtful, in fact, that I suspect it was inspired by an extended real-life experience -- if not Martin's, someone awfully damn close to him. I'm a writer myself, and I recognize autobiographical content when I see it. There are quite a few details in this book which connote experience, not imagination, funny though those details are; you can find a similar effect in Nora Ephron's excellent novel Heartburn, probably the most autobiographical novel in world history. This is possibly why Martin is so casual with his handling of time. A novel can be *designed* to distribute the events evenly over its scope, but if you're describing real life, you wind up with a scattered story, in which a lot of stuff happens at X and very little in Y and Z -- yet you still have to mention Y and Z for the sake of comprehensiveness. This is in fact just what occurs in Shopgirl, particularly towards the end. I'm not sure what the character Lisa Cramer was doing in the book. She really had no business in the story, and her removal would not alter things significantly. She is useful for comic relief, but I'd have liked to see her play a more direct role in the story. It's a solid book, though. Martin knows what he's doing and he does it well. Definitely recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: It is funny in parts..........
Review: YES, he can write too. I could not put this book down.The character unfolds;and her simple beauty is revealed through Martin's descriptions. This is a book for women to know that all relationships are not based on trophy wifes!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! He's a great writer too!!
Review: Steve Martin's first, obscure book entitled "Cruel Shoes" (1979) was a collection of short vignettes. It was a dark humored book and totally different from the (then) traditional Steve Martin stand-up comedy (more akin to Glen Baxter). This new book "Shopgirl" is another surprise! It is a truly engaging piece of literature. It stands on its own, without the author's fame. Know the author's other talents just makes the book more incredible to read & enjoy. A great comic, a great actor and now a great writer! Hopefully more work is forthcoming!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Outstanding
Review: I took a chance with this little book, having never known Steve Martin to write fiction like this, and ended up totally transported. I didn't put it down for 2 hours when I first started reading! It's length is right on target, as he has perfectly exposed her life and thoughts simply, without any extranious over-explaining. Although I don't usually focus on an author's gender or life experiences when I read fiction, it's hard not to remember that it's the very famous Steve Martin writing this book. It does not take away from the book. It only makes it more impressive. He's totally pitch perfect with "Mirabelle". Quite amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, if not Funny
Review: There are approximately one and a half jokes in this book. One comes at the end, in the "Acknowledgements," and the other is funny only if you're familiar with Immanuel Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. That said, Shopgirl is a wonderful book. Steve Martin's ability to create compelling characters is what has driven the best of his movies (LA Story, Roxanne) and his plays (Picasso at the Lapin Agile). Shopgirl is the saga of Mirabelle, a slightly eccentric young woman living in LA and working in Neimann Marcus's glove department. She searches for life and love in LA -- amidst a love square (not triangle) and eventually finds it. Sort of. Unfortunately, the book is akin to LA Story in locale, theme, and even the characters. And while Shopgirl -- being a novella, with access to characters' thoughts and feelings -- offers greater character depth, it lacks the poignancy and brilliance of LA Story. It's not fair to compare Martin's first serious work with what is his masterpiece, but c'est la vie. The book is partly a story of self-discovery and self-realization -- for a variety of characters -- but also partly a depiction of contemporary society in LA. It's worth reading for the insights Martin brings to his characters and life in general, but the plot is not as memorable as LA Story's. Again, it's a romantic postcard to the city Steve Martin loves to hate. It's a quick read -- 127 small pages -- and enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best.
Review: I have to admit, I did not like this book. I found my self easily distracted while reading. The story line in general was just okay. Without giving anything away, I feel like two of the characters weren't even developed enough for their parts in the story. Perhaps there was some underlying meaning that I missed, but I would not recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: A smart and clever book!
Review: Don't just read ShopGirl - listen to it!
One of the best parts of this book is having it read to you by Steve Martin, himself, who adds his own storytelling-like feel to this book
What I enjoyed most about ShopGirl is that it reads like a contemporary storytale - simplistic characters and backdrops, that truly are complicated, once examined closely
You also gotta love Martin's overly descriptive details - sometimes they can get carried away, but most of them add a fresh sense to the book - it's also, somehow, very easy to relate to a lot of the characters, within this book
Overall, I highly recommend ShopGirl, as it is one of the few books that I have read that has effectively combined the storytale genre, into a contemporary form!
Rating:
Summary: suprisingly enjoyable
Review: i picked up this novella having never read any of steve martin's writing. his tale about a depressed college graduate working in a department store in beverly hills really rang true to me. i read it in one sitting and found martin's writing style refreshing and fun.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing like a pleasant surprise...
Review: It was almost as if the book dared me to read it. I mean, come on - it's written by Steve Martin. I didn't know what to expect, and my curiosity got the best of me.
I was really floored by how good it was. Mirabelle is a likeable character, and Martin has written her perfectly. He captures her eloquently, yet simply, at her highs and lows.
I was a bit disappointed it was so short, but I adored the ending. It's rare to find a book - and a good one at that - that doesn't buy into the same cookie cutter fantasy fairytale ending. This book feels real, and that's a great thing to find in a novel these days.
Rating: 
Summary: A total waste of time
Review: If this book had been written by a no-name average joe or jane, it wouldn't have seen the light of day. The writing is choppy & pretentious, and the story, if you can call it a story, leads nowhere. Immediately after reading this book, I read The Da Vinci Code. Now that book deserves all the accolades it has received!
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