Rating: 
Summary: Martin's is a Weird, Deep Mind
Review: I like Steve Martin. I like his movies, particularly ones such as LA Story and Bowfinger which give you a view on how he views the world. "Pleasure" is like this but on a much different scope. We sometimes view celebrities as having it all together but reading this book gives you a view of the insecurities and depth of Steve Martin's mind. But in the end I must be entertained. I found the first part of the book slow and slightly confusing. But after the set-up, the character development is excellent as you search for the subjects that you most identify with. And, of course, Martin's dry-witted humor is sprinkled throughout and quite entertaining. By the end of the book you are emotionally attached to the characters and enjoy the contrived, happy ending. While I was not bowled over by the book, I did enjoy it. It is a very short read.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Having been a huge fan of Steve Martin's comedic stylings I was bowled over by this book. His keen observations and hilarious descriptions of events and people had me in tears at several points and at others I wanted to weep in sympathy for the hero of the book. I have since read Shopgirl and found it to be nearly as entertaining but in a different way. I hope Steve Martin continues to write and hope he will one day write a full-length novel to prolong the fun!
Rating:
Summary: A sympathetic character
Review: I love a book where there is so much care given the careful choice of words, the construction of a sentence, the irony of a situation, and the love of the characters. Daniel Cambridge is the unusual subject and teller of his own story, that of an obsessive-compulsive man looking for a meaningful relationship and life from a base in his Santa Monica apartment. Daniel lives much of his life vicariously, but eventually ventures out of his fantasies and into the world. Steve Martin has written a well crafted tale with wit and great observation of what it is to be human.
Rating:
Summary: I now see the Rite Aid and Kinko's in a sweet manner
Review: I bought the Pleasure of My Company on audiotape. Steve Martin narrating the book brought the character, Daniel to life. It was like listening to the "secret neurotic thoughts of Steve Martin." Steve makes Daniel, a character you want to root and cheer on -- a true underdog. Daniel can be seen as strange and borderline creepy but he brings in such detailed logic of why "he does what he does" that I understand his fears. I myself can not step off curbs or turn on lights without thinking of Daniel. I love the fact that Steve uses common stores like Rite Aid and Kinkos as a central part of Daniel's day. I took away from this book realizing we are all human and to some point, we are all a bit common, but we all have a story and hopefully, a happy ending.
Rating:
Summary: Hopefully, the next one will be longer!!
Review: First of all, I really enjoyed Shopgirl, but it ended too quickly. I did have the same result with The Pleasure of my Company, but it was still an enjoyable ride. There are some people who do not find this book funny, and I guess that's understandable. Some people would not find someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder humorous. But, since some people have a little of it in us (making sure that nothing touches electrical outlets, not stepping on cracks, etc) there is a subtlety of humor that gets to you. It does feel, very obviously, Steve Martin but there are not tons of laugh out loud moments. There are chuckles, and it was fun to read, starting at the beginning, where the main character thinks that Mensa had a clerical error in his IQ score, when leaving the 1 off of the 90. This is obviously someone who thinks a bit much of himself. Daniel Cambridge lives in Santa Monica, right across from the beach. He would probably enjoy going there, if he was able to step off of the 8 inch curbs. Instead, he makes treks to Rite Aid, to pick up his prescriptions and stare at the pharmacist Zandy, while he enters an essay contest of why he is average, sponsored by Tepperton's Frozen Apple Pies. "I am average because... I stand on the seashore here in Santa Monica and let the Pacific Ocean touch my toes, and I know I am at the most western edge of our nation, and that I am a descendant of the settlers who came to California as pioneers. And is not every American a pioneer?" he writes. He doesn't do MUCH else except get visits from the student therapist Clarissa, staring at Elizabeth the realtor across the street, and slipping Quaalude into drinks for his upstairs neighbor, because, he believes that, when she gets drugged, her relationship with her boyfriend is better. Explain that logic. When I read the paragraph about his walking by Elizabeth the realtor, trying to impress her, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"When I hit the street, I encountered a problem. I had forgotten to wear sunglasses. So, as I walked by her, facing west into the sun, while I may have been an aloof figure, I was an aloof figure who squinted. One half of my face was shut like a salted snail, while the other half was held open in attempt to see. ...Elizabeth looked over (I intentionally scuffled my foot, an impetuous betrayal of my own plan to let her notice me on her own), I was half puckered and probably dangerous-looking." To me, this man seemed a very strange individual, and these are the best people to read about, because there was unpredictability at every turn.
Rating:
Summary: An odd, but pleasant read
Review: "The Pleasure of My Company" isn't quirky in the way that David Lynch films are quirky, but it's unusual in that the lead character suffers from some sort of mental problems, including obsessive/compulsiveness. The character, Daniel Pecan Cambridge, is still wholly sympathetic and likable, and "The Pleasure of My Company" tells the tale of how he came to find happiness. Much like many of Martin's movies, the book is warmly human and ends on a touching and sentimental note. On the way, Martin does a good job of taking the reader through Cambridge's neuroses and showing how he manages to climb out of the morass that he's fallen into. As a matter of craft, Martin is skilled in creating sympathetic and layered characters who compel the reader to learn more about them. However, Martin gives in to a tendency to use too many adjectives and awkward vocabulary, apparently only to make his writing more lyrical. This is not a fatal weakness of the book, but it becomes distracting at times. All in all, this is a quick and pleasant read.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful novel of paradoxes
Review: Steve Martin's second novel is a novel of paradoxes. The main character, Daniel Pecan Cambridge, is the embodiment of these paradoxes: he is lonely, but has much love to give; he is logical to an insane degree; he is a social outcast in many senses of the phrase, but fancies himself a catch for any woman. The novel is extremely well-written and does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in the story and connecting him or her to the characters. It is easy to believe and identify with every character, and Martin definitely creates some memorable ones, especially Brian, Philipa, and, of course, Daniel himself. The humor is subtle, quirky, and endearing without undermining the novel's tone and emotion. It is admirable that Martin does not fall into the trap of creating a stereotypical character with mental illness. He instead portrays the everyday through anxiety- and compulsion-tinted glasses. I felt that _Pleasure of My Company_ is more evolved compared to _Shopgirl_. The characters are more fully realized, as is the storyline. _Shopgirl_ is also a unique and beautiful novel, however, and should definitely not be missed. Fans of Martin's humor and films may not find the actor/comedian's most prevalent personality obvious in these novels, but instead may gain a new understanding of another, more private facet of his personality.
Rating: 
Summary: Dreadfully disappointing after "Shopgirl"
Review: I couldn't get past the first 20 pages or so of this book. I really enjoyed Steve Martin's first novella, "Shopgirl," and expected the same or better from his second effort. Unfortunately, Martin doesn't deliver here. When an author can't grab you within the first 10% of a book, there isn't much point in wasting any more time. If you haven't read "Shopgirl," *DO*, but don't bother with "The Pleasure of My Company."
Rating:
Summary: Martin's style is a delight to read
Review: Steve Martin's brilliance never ceases to amaze me. His dry, biting, and intricate style is always dead-on. What makes Martin such a great writer is that he is such a keen observer of human nature and most importantly, of human flaws. His latest book takes this idea to a new level. Daniel Pecan Cambridge is certainly flawed. Through humor, we see what it's like to be virtually crippled by OCD and paranoia. Although the ending is a wee bit simplistic, I believe it is probably necessary for the novella form to really work. Martin captures so wonderfully the loneliness of Southern California life, and getting inside the mind of Daniel is a treat. I'm glad that Martin uses this first-person style of narration. Steve Martin is creative, interesting, and downright hilarious as a comedian. As a writer, he proves with this second novella that he is all of these things and more.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read!
Review: Steve Martin is truly an amazing writer. This is the first novel I have ever read by the talented comedian/actor. I certainly do not regret it. "The Pleasure of My Company" is at once surprising, touching, hilarious, and ultimately satisfying. You will fall in love with each one of the characters, especially the wonderfully neurotic main character, Daniel Pecan Cambridge. An accomplished work from Martin, and a nice, quick read. The most wonderful book I have read in quite a while.
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