I’m so deeply in love with this truly charming and eccentric book.

It is presented in a first-person narrative, telling the story of a man who suffers from severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

The book is both hilarious and ultimately incredibly moving. As the man progresses through his life, he learns to manage his compulsions in various ways. He discovers the power of friendship, experiences the joys and challenges of falling in love, endures the loss of his beloved grandma, and even takes on the role of a father figure to a young boy.

It might take approximately 50 pages for the reader to fully fall in love with the main character and get attuned to the strange rhythm of the book. However, once that happens, I was completely hooked.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a complex and engaging character, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader constantly interested and invested.

This book is not only a great read but also a thought-provoking exploration of mental health and the human condition.

I lay in bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in a web of thoughts. I found myself wondering how it was possible to be in love with someone whose name had no anagram. It was a strange thought, perhaps a reflection of my own idiosyncratic mind.

For me, the book's description truly captured its essence. It was a "tender portrayal of loneliness and love," with "language that is brilliantly inventive." I had initially suspected that Martin would eventually exhaust his supply of creative elaborations on Daniel's neurotic personality. However, I was proven wrong.

Martin skillfully painted elegant, yet methodical descriptions of Daniel's life. Each sentence was a gem, captivating me and holding my attention. The writing was both humorous and poignant, with a perfect timbre that resonated deeply within me. I was enraptured by every word, unable to tear myself away from the story.

In conducting research on OCD, this book emerged as a fictional portrayal. Surprisingly, it was penned by comedian and director Steve Martin. I was unaware that he had ventured into novel writing, which made it fascinating in its own right.

The book isn't uproariously funny. However, those with OCD experience alternating states of absurdity and pathos, which is precisely the tone of this book. You can't help but feel sympathy for the protagonist as he is a kind-hearted individual. Nevertheless, some of his obsessions and compulsions are indeed humorous. And before you think I'm being insensitive, my research revealed that getting obsessive-compulsives to laugh at their absurdities can be an effective form of treatment.

A quick note on the content cleanliness of this book: I would rate it a PG. There are no bedroom scenes as the protagonist is a bit too fearful for that. But he does have desires and notices women's figures. On the other hand, Steven Martin's first novel (yes, this one is his second) titled "Shop Girl" begins with a scene so inappropriate that I abandoned it after a few pages.

I didn't really know what to anticipate from a novel penned by Steve Martin, the star of numerous generic comedy movies. I have to admit that I was skeptical, thinking that Martin might have only managed to secure a publisher because of his pre-existing fame. However, after delving into this small and quirky book, my perspective has completely changed. In fact, I discovered that Steve Martin, the author, is far more talented and interesting than Steve Martin, the actor. His humor in writing is much wittier, more subtle, and more eccentric than in his films.

Martin has crafted an unlikely hero in Daniel Pecan Cambridge. Jobless, friendless, and seemingly without a purpose in life, Daniel has constructed a complex web of rules and regulations to impose structure and meaning on his existence. Although he is aware that his obsessions and compulsions, such as his requirement for the light globes in his apartment to total precisely 1125 watts when illuminated, are absurd, any attempt to overcome them plunges him into a state of panic.

Daniel's behavior is only put to the test when his relationship with his psychiatrist, Clarissa, confronts him with a genuine crisis. Clarissa's real need compels Daniel to push through his neuroses, and he realizes that without them, life suddenly becomes filled with possibilities, including the possibility of finding love.

The Pleasure of My Company is a captivating, humorous, surprising, and touching novel that ultimately disproves Daniel's theory that "there are not many takers for the quiet heart".

"All the Pleasure Is on Your Side" is considered a light and funny position. However, it seems to me that it's not quite like that... Either I've become a hopeless grump, or someone has made a huge mistake in classifying this title as relaxing literature.

Humor, yes, there is - but it reeks horribly of Sue Townsend's creativity. I don't enjoy it, it doesn't appeal to me, and it annoys me. There are some funny fragments, but there was no joyous laughter from my side. In fact, even Martina's writing style is similar to what the aforementioned author offers us. Fortunately, the main character has little in common with Adrian.

Daniel is absolutely fantastic. Polished to perfection. With all his stubbornness and limitations. A complete work. I don't know if there is any literary character similar to him. Daniel's world, although presented with a great deal of distance, can really scare. To this is added the combination of genius with great sensitivity and very accurate perception of the world. Honey.

When I look at the cover of Martina's book, a quote from Jodi Picoult comes to my mind. "Goldfish never grow any bigger than the tank they are in." It's可怕 that Daniel is both the goldfish and his own tank. "All the Pleasure..." shows what hell our own mind can prepare for us. Living such a life, one is never free. To free oneself from oneself, one has to open up to others. Put their good above one's own and finally start living truly.

On the one hand, we have a rather weak story about the search for love, decorated with humor at a very uneven level, on the other hand - a great character who cannot be forgotten. The collision of these two sides results in a draw - the book ultimately seems to be quite average. Since it can sometimes be hunted down on the shelves of Carrefour for less than 4 złoty, I still recommend it. The character is worth getting to know for that price.

I started listening to this in the car on my ride to work on Monday. That's when I realized I had either listened to it once already or read it before. I decided to go ahead and listen to it again. After all, what else is there to do on the drive in to work anyway?

The story centers around the carefully constructed world of Daniel Pecan Cambridge. He is an obsessive-compulsive individual with as many rituals as I have unwanted hair (a lot!). Daniel doesn't have a job as his OCD got in the way of his employment at Hewlett Packard. Now, he spends his days living off the money his Grandma sends him from Texas and making occasional trips to the Rite Aid a few blocks from his house. We get to witness as Daniel's world begins to erode as people enter his life. We are privy to his self-deprecating voice as he tells us about the struggles of ensuring all the wattage in the house adds up to the right number when people are staying over. Or about the challenges of going anywhere when he cannot step off a curb. (This doubles the time it takes to get to the Rite Aid and makes the mall impossible, meaning all supplies are obtained at the Rite Aid.)

I love the sense that this is a slice of someone's life. We know more happened to Daniel before we join him in his lonely, overly lit apartment, but we are never told the full story of how he got to where he is. We tag along as he has his adventures and moves forward in his life, sharing in a bit of his growth and his "AH HA!" moments. And then we are given a quick wrap-up of his future. The brevity of the descriptions of his past and future really focuses our attention on his present. I think that was a clever device and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I also really enjoyed listening to this in audio book as it is read by Steve Martin. I've always liked it when an author reads their own work. (After all, you really can't question then if it was a bad book or a bad reader. Really, if the author botches their own book when reading it, then you know the writing stinks.) I just really love Steve Martin's voice. In fact, when I read books (novellas) by Steve Martin, I tend to fall into his voice when reading it. *sigh* I think I have a little crush on the man.

After being let down by another one of his books, I was rather reluctant to pick up this particular one. However, a customer presented it to me, proclaiming it as his absolute favorite. To my great surprise, I found myself really enjoying it. It bore a slight resemblance to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. This similarity made me appreciate the fact that my own compulsions are not so severe as to be completely debilitating. It was an unexpected pleasure to discover that this book could have such an impact on me. It made me think about my own life and the little idiosyncrasies that we all have. I'm glad that I gave it a chance, despite my initial hesitation.

It's a truly fabulous night, and us folks really ought to pop out and take a look at the various stars shining up there in the sky. That line had me erupting in laughter right there in my car. This audiobook has been an absolute delight. I was fairly certain that I would enjoy Steve Martin's humor, but I wasn't entirely sure if I would be as taken with his story-telling. As it turns out, he really knows what he's doing.

You'll notice that the quote above doesn't include any "e"s. The character makes a vow not to use the letter "e" in order to distract himself from his long list of neuroses. It's very tempting to say that this guy has a case of OCD, but as the book progresses, you start to have doubts. While this book is undeniably funny, I don't think we're laughing at mental problems per se, but maybe we are. I feel no guilt for laughing, but that probably doesn't mean much. Anyways, I found his behavior strangely relatable. I'm not OCD myself, and I kind of dislike it when people throw that condition around as if everyone has it. But as I was listening to this book, I got to thinking that if I was surrounded by an enabler or two, I could have developed some severely crippling obsessions. I have these little quirks like trying to step on cracks in the pavement or the like with my right foot and liking to get to the top step with my left. Crooked faces drive me a little nuts, and I don't like to be touched. Can you imagine what I would be like if anyone had indulged me?

I really loved this book.

Steve Martin has a remarkable talent for crafting a story that is simple and accessible, yet not overly simplistic. He manages to convey complex emotions and ideas without spelling everything out, allowing the reader to engage with the text on a deeper level. This makes the reading experience not only enjoyable but also intellectually stimulating.

The main character is one of the highlights of the book. He is both lovable and quirky, with a charm that is impossible to resist. His personality is well-developed and feels genuine, not overly done or forced. As the story progresses, we see him grow and change in a believable and relatable way, which makes him all the more endearing.

Overall, this is just a great read. I found myself completely immersed in the story from beginning to end and was sad when it was over. I only wished that it was longer, as I could have easily spent more time with these characters and in this world. If you're looking for a book that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, I highly recommend this one.

First of all, I didn't realize that Steve Martin wrote books.

Then, to be honest, I wondered if it would be one of those books that lacks substance just because he is famous and, of course, everybody would buy it!

Well, I was pleasantly surprised. He is a wonderful writer!

The story was funny and quirky, and it had wonderful characters.

It was also touching, and I was sad to see it end.

I must say that I listened to it on CD, and it was read by Steve Martin himself. I think this was an added bonus to the book!

I will definitely check out his other books!

Steve Martin's writing style is engaging and unique. His ability to create interesting characters and tell a captivating story is truly remarkable.

The book I listened to had me laughing out loud at times and also tugged at my heartstrings.

I highly recommend his books to anyone looking for an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Whether you choose to read them in print or listen to the audiobook version, I'm sure you'll have a great experience.

So, don't hesitate to give Steve Martin's books a try! You might just be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Honestly, I don't think awarding this book a mere 5 stars does it full justice.

I had no idea what to expect from a book penned by Steve Martin. I've always adored him in his films and on Saturday Night Live, but I had never delved into any of his written works.

At the beginning, the main character presents himself as a Holden Caulfield-esque figure, and the book has that distinct Catcher in the Rye feel, which I found truly captivating.

However, as the story progresses, you gradually discover the person within and end up falling in love with him. You come to realize that he's not the anti-social jerk he initially seemed to be.

It's a beautiful story that combines humor with a powerful and profound message. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and I will most definitely be reading his first novel, Shopgirl.

This book has truly opened my eyes to Steve Martin's talent as a writer, and I can't wait to explore more of his literary creations.

The main character was extremely annoying. He seemed to do everything in a way that grated on my nerves.

I simply couldn't bring myself to care about his supposed journey. It felt like a waste of my time and energy to follow his exploits.

In fact, I found myself constantly wishing that he would just disappear. His presence was like a thorn in my side, always causing irritation and discomfort.

I didn't understand why the story was centered around such an unlikable character. It made it difficult for me to engage with the narrative and enjoy the reading experience.

Perhaps if the author had developed the character in a more sympathetic or interesting way, I might have felt differently. But as it was, I was left with a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction.

I hope that in future works, the author will choose to create more engaging and relatable characters that readers can actually root for.