Rating: 
Summary: A fable with a dark side
Review: Mr. Martin has a real way with words - he's articulate, subtle and uses language like a layered paint brush. I appreciate the way he portrays his characters, giving them enough substance and individuality for us to 'know' them, but also permitting us the opportunity to fill in the blanks, to arrive at our own interpretations of just who they are in depth. It is a modern day fable. Mr. Martin realizes that fables are rarely truthful and he presents the dark side of the 'knight in shining armor' story. His presentation of depression as an aspect of Mirabelle's persona is very accurate. He appears to have a real understanding of the disease. So.....a lovely read, poignant, tragic and understated.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful Male Perspective on Modern Relationships
Review: I didn't think Steve Martin had a serious bone in his body, but he apparently does, if this book is any indication. Don't get the wrong idea though, this book still has some very funny moments.Meet Mirabelle, a 28-year old innocent from Vermont working in the out-of-date glove department of an up-scale Beverly Hills department store. Mirabelle is depressed and has been ever since her image of her father as a hero was shattered. She is painfully shy and desperately wants someone to hold her. Enter Jeremy, a sluggish product of the California Public Schools system who has not learned how to treat a lady. Enter Ray Porter, a 50-something software millionaire who has not leanred to treat a lady either, but in a totally different way then Jeremy. As you can probably guess, all sorts of shmoopy relationship squabbles ensue. When I bought this book, I was afraid of the shmoopy stuff. About halfway through, however, I realized that I had laughed more than I had rolled my eyes. By the end of the book I realized that I had thoroughly enjoyed the story and was hoping for more. I think that Martin was able to keep me reading through the narrator's witty observations and comments. It really put a male perspective on the entire relationship scene and made this book worth the time it took to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost there...between 2 and 3 stars
Review: I wouldn't go as far as to say that this was a pretentious book, it's merely self-conscious. I felt I had more understanding of the much-coveted Prada dress than the motivations and traits of the characters (particularly Jeremy...Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure suddenly becomes Deepak and Ghandi's Insightful Journey?). The story is purposely written in a "tell don't show" style, which when done right can be very engaging and effective, but the effect here is somewhat condescending, as if the reader won't be able to divine the meanings and undercurrents of the story. The overt way in which names are dropped (OK, so she works in Neiman's and is involved in the L.A. art scene, can't get away from some of that, but...) often pulls the reader out of what could have been a good modern day fairy tale. While Mr. Martin tended to hit the reader over the head once too often about some subjects (Ray is a father figure for Mirabelle, get it?), he left some rather important and possibly intriguing threads to dangle (how was Mirabelle's father doing, what relation was the Viet Nam vet to him, how did Mirabelle's friends feel about Ray, how did Mirabelle relate to the new Jeremy?). The prose is easy enough to read, provides some shining moments (the delivery of the gloves was nice), but the book ultimately fails to leave much of an impression...other than some frustration with the missed potential of the book. I had the feeling that if Mr. Martin would have put this on the shelf for a few months and revisited it, he would have seen some of the holes and inconsistencies.
Rating: 
Summary: I couldn't wait to put it down.
Review: While Martin's use of descriptions and scenary were surprisingly good, his characters (with the exception of the heroine, but only occasionally) are one-dimensional and their motivations are rather ordinary, and sometimes unbelieveable. I would recommend this book to persons seeking well-worn, sentimental, saccharine story-lines. Pessimists, such as myself, should save their money.
Rating: 
Summary: ¿As vacuous as an Easter Island of Barbie Dolls.¿
Review: Couldn't have said it better myself, Steve. This is a disappointing book from the man who brought us The Man with Two Brains, Dead Men don't Wear Plaid, The Jerk, etc. The characters have no point of view of their own, the narrator's - voiced like the wise-guy from My Blue Heaven - is relentlessly snide and smug. The quality of the writing is further marred by a so-so third person present tense which would have been better presented as simple third person past tense. And the dreaded 'which' was used to the point of tedium in place of some rephrasing to avoid the problem. There is plenty of good humour in Shopgirl, but at the expense of some in-depth writing to have the book be more than a novelty exercise. I would suggest that Steve Martin go read some Nicholson Baker before he attempts another book of this type.
Rating:
Summary: C'mon, just a liiittle bit more...
Review: I liked this book. Steve Martin has made more of a fan out of me through his words in this one tale than through all of his films combined. Don't get me wrong, his filmworks are very good, but Shopgirl made me into a page-turning, thought-provokee, grumpy-if-disturbed, becoming greedy and wanting more type of person. I remember seeing this book in the bookstore from time to time and reading the jacket every single time--but never would I buy it. When I was finally introduced to Mirabelle, instantly, I fell for her. As I got to know her character, that feeling I had did not diminish, but instead, it grew. How she managed to survive from day to day, while seemingly mundane, was anything but. Steve Martin did a good job in displaying the simple "small" stuff that we as observers see in others AND then describing a little of what we may not realize is really happening. I appreciated that. Sometimes, we readers don't fully understand something and go on and don't see what the connection is from one scene to the next. Someone else mentioned how they were upset with the ending but that it made sense seeing how Mirabelle saw herself--"...insignificant..."--and that was a beautiful way to look at it. I was also somewhat disappointed with the way the book closed but looking back at the other reviewer's words, I wish the best for "Mirabelle".
Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Steve Martin should never stray from acting. I was highly disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Steve Martin In My Bed
Review: I picked up this book after reading a review. Quick and easy, I read it one night in bed. It was easy to get sucked in with what will happen with "the shopgirl" and I couldn't put it down till I found out. Martin's language is quick and true to life, making you feel you are right there in the room with the characters. I read it and passed it on.
Rating: 
Summary: You Go, Steve!
Review: When I saw this on the best seller's list a while ago, I thought, "wow...Steve Martin's got a BOOK out?" I had no idea he was a writer. I kept the title on my "books to read" list and finally found a library that had it. I settled in to read what turned out to be a fascinating look into the life of a rather boring girl. Initially, anyway. I just knew Mirabelle was doomed. What a surprise and delight to discover she was not! I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Martin's writing style and his use of the English language, similes and metaphors. I laughed out loud several times. Like some reviewers, I would have liked to have the father piece explored in more depth, but I didn't miss it, really. This might be a good movie, huh?
Rating:
Summary: Not the same old tired plot twist...
Review: I enjoyed this short story, its character development and unpredictable plot twist. Martin's creations exist within the people who surround me, so they are believable. As to plot, one might expect typical romantic defeats and recoveries... but Martin has a refreshing surprise in store...
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