Rating: 
Summary: I just couldn't get into this book
Review: Shopgirl is a narrative tale about Mirabelle, a Los Angeles glove department clerk at Neiman Marcus. Mirabelle left her home on the East Coast - to escape her mother's protective arms; her mother just could not face that Mirabelle was 28 not 8 years old, and a grown woman. She moved to LA in hopes to be an artist. She actually does quite well in art and has managed to get her work shown in a few galleries. While she is an artist by night, she spends her days behind the glove counter at a department store in LA. She rarely gets customers and she doesn't fit in with her Barbie doll perfect LA type co-workers (Mirabelle, being a natural, quiet beauty). So she spends her days at Neiman in a mind numbing boredom. With all this on her mind, amongst other things, she finds herself fulfilling anti-depressant medication as well and when one stops working, it's on to the next brand. Two men enter her life, Jeremy, the younger, more carefree, sloppy type of guy and Ray Porter, the older, very rich, distinguished gentleman. And while its no tough decision for Mirabelle, she ultimately doesn't find happiness with the rich, the distinguished, Ray Porter. She most find self-satisfaction on her own.Throughout the book, all I heard was Steve Martin's voice and I just couldn't hear Mirabelle. Steve Martin is a funny guy and he is by far one of my favorite comedians; I respect him a great deal. This book, however, just didn't do it for me at all. I was bored through most of it and the characters didn't hold too much interest for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Kept My Interest
Review: I enjoyed this book. I found it to be a very true-to-life reflection of the often painful and sometimes ridiculous journey we all undertake in finding love, and at the same time, come to understand ourselves. One of the central themes is that "pain changes our lives." I think that's more true than I first realized, because I'm pretty sure that happiness doesn't change us as much as pain! One of my favorite quotes from the book is from Mirabelle when asked why she moved, she replies, "I'm fixing myself." I think everyone can relate to the central characters and find pieces of themselves, either past or present, in each. Four and a half stars from me for this insightful, upbeat and enjoyable novella by Steve Martin.
Rating:
Summary: Well written and believable
Review: Reading this book was like looking into my own life years ago. I am now a twenty-something single mom, but I can vividly see myself in the main character of this book, Mirabelle. Martin's writing skill perfectly captures what a young, naive woman goes through in finding herself. Unlike Mirabelle I went through this self discovery at a much younger age, but the "stages" and outcomes were the same. I can only think that Mr. Martin researched his characters thoroughly, for it is hard for me to believe that a man can write such an insightful glimpse into the mind of a wandering young woman. This is a very tender, and at times, innocent story. A very promising debut into the world of fiction. I look forward to another story!
Rating: 
Summary: Misinterpreting hidden meanings while looking for love
Review: This 130-page novella by Steve Martin is a small slice of life. The shopgirl is 28-year old Mirabelle, who sells gloves at Neiman Marcus. She's looking for love but can't make a meaningful connection in vacuous Los Angeles. Her relationships just don't click until she meets Roy Porter, a millionaire in his 50s. He's looking for love too, but just not with Mirabelle. The writer has an excellent understanding of human nature and has the ability to clearly explain that what the characters say is usually not what they mean. I felt I knew them all, including Mirabelle's co-worker, Lisa, who uses her feminine charms as a weapon. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. It's well written and the plot moved quickly, drawing me into the author's world. I found myself identifying with Mirabelle and was pleased with the satisfying ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but something missing
Review: I liked the book, let's start with that. However, there was something missing. Perhaps I expected a sense of the magical that pervades the best of Steve Martin's screenplays. This book contained little humour and was filled with a lot of dry irony. It read more like a short story that had been elongated to fill the pages of a book, rather than something wonderful. All in all, not just for fans, and a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Unexpected
Review: ...is what this book is. I picked it up out of curiousity, being a Steve Martin fan ("Roxanne" is one of my favorites and this book is reflective of the insight/fun in that movie). Mirabelle is a real person in an unreal sort of way - how in the world he thought up a career for her of glove sales is beyond me, but it works. Martin jumps right into the reality of relationships - much like the rest of us, Mirabelle is constantly trying to define who she is and determining that is all caught up in trying to figure out who the men she sees are - it's as "real" as it gets, even if some of the circumstances seem a bit out there. But, those circumstances are also what makes it fun. It's a quick read, easy to get into and leaves you with even more respect for Martin than you had before. I can't wait to see what he'll write next - he's definitely capable of serious, thoughtful and real-life stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Restrained and disappointing
Review: I've been a fan of Steve Martin for about two decades. I know the guy can write, as shown by his screenplays for "Roxanne" and other films, and some of his better pieces in The New Yorker. But I was disappointed by the poignant, semi-serious "Shopgirl." It's as though Martin, in deciding to veer away from his absurd comedic instincts, also lost his keen eye for detail and his timing. This novella abounds with character traits and plot developments that he tells instead of shows. As a result, the pacing is muddled and he doesn't give the reader a chance to connect with either of the two main characters. Martin seems restrained here. That's a shame, because while Martin makes a decent present-day Thurber or Perelman, he's not a very good present-day Chekhov.
Rating:
Summary: Written by Steve Martin???
Review: Steve Martin (author) is overlooked perhaps because most know him as a stand-up comedian/actor. I borrowed the audio version of this book because, like many, I was intrigued. At first, the sound of Martin's voice telling the reader of the events and thoughts of the characters reminded me a bit of the narration in "Father of the Bride". But something was missing... the humor. At first, I felt myself searching for that uplifting chuckle here and there, quickly realizing this man can write! Who could miss such passages as "one man stands in the kitchen of a two-million-dollar house overlooking the city, and the other in a one-room garage apartment that the city overlooked." I love to see the perceptions others contribute for moments in time. For those that argue this book is too short and leaves unanswered questions, I urge you to take the time to understand what you are reading. Novella: a story with a compact and pointed plot. A work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel. Martin seems to have written the story with the perspective, 'this is how it is'. He did not use floral treatment to deliver the story, did not detail the reader to death, did not attempt to create a tear-jerker, and never fully explained Mirabelle's homelife... simply because, 'this is how it is'. What he did write, was true life with literary essence. It obvious, Martin has followed the most elementary code, "write only what you know." Intrigued by how accurate this book seemed compared to most fiction, I did some research of my own. Among many puzzle pieces scattered on Martin's private life, I stumbled on an Esquire article from 1996 called "Mister Lonely Hearts" by Martha Sherrill. In my opinion, Steve Martin = Ray Porter. Although he may've changed minor details in Shopgirl, many facts about his life are there. In addition, Martin recently decided to turn this book into a movie and has now begun the screening process. And who will be playing the role of Ray Porter? Steve Martin, of course! Amazon ratings scale: 5 stars = Outstanding
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the hype
Review: After reading several flattering reviews and on the recommendation of my sister, I read Shopgirl expecting a book worthy of its high praise. At moments, Martin does seem to be bordering on something honest, real, and startingly beautiful in his observations--but either he lacks the strength as a writer to convey what he means or he lacks the depth of emotion he seemingly stumbles on. I hope it is the former, but I doubt it. Perhaps he would have done better if he had not chosen a female protagonist; his portrayal of the female psyche is poor and underdeveloped. Stylistically, he straddles the fence between being a pop author and an artsy author and succeeds at being neither. Positively, it wasn't a complete failure--the book can be read in about an hour and is entertaining and fresh a few times.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Review: I was surprised with the tone of Shopgirl- but wound up loving every second. I didn't want to put it down. It is insightful in its own special way- and that aspect is not alone in the positive attribute list of Shopgirl. I have to just say that it is amazingly entertaining. I think you'll enjoy it, but even it if wind up not caring for the style and tone, you will have been so entertained that you will not regret your choice to spend some time exploring Martin's work.
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