This book is truly and extremely "Steve Martin". It is absurd in all the most wonderful ways.

Martin has a unique brand of humor that is both witty and off-the-wall. His writing style is engaging and entertaining, making it impossible to put the book down.

If you are a fan of Martin's humor, you will absolutely love these insane ramblings. He takes everyday situations and turns them into something completely unexpected and hilarious.

The stories in this book are filled with his trademark wordplay, satire, and observational humor. Whether he is writing about show business, relationships, or just life in general, Martin always manages to find the funny side of things.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and wants to experience the genius of Steve Martin's humor. It is a wild and crazy ride that will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

THREE-AND-A-HALF.

Given its concise nature and the composition of several previously published pieces or essays, it might seem tempting to write off this collection as a mere money-making attempt, similar to his other collection, Cruel Shoes. However, I believe this assessment is unjust.

Even the least impressive jokes of Steve Martin outshine 99% of the best jokes of other comedians. His unique brand of humor and comedic genius are truly remarkable.

I would eagerly anticipate and even be willing to go to great lengths for him to release another collection in the same vein as this one. It would无疑 be a treat for fans of his work and a source of entertainment and laughter for all.

We should not be too quick to judge this collection based on its length or the reuse of previous material. Instead, we should appreciate the comedic talent and creativity that Steve Martin brings to the table.

His ability to make us laugh with his witty remarks and humorous stories is a gift, and we should cherish every opportunity to experience it.

So, the next time you come across this collection, give it a chance and prepare to be entertained by the comedic brilliance of Steve Martin.

Steve Martin's humor is truly remarkable. It combines elements of quickness, wittiness, absurdity, and intelligence all in one.

As I listened to his work, I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions. His ability to create such unique and hilarious concepts is truly impressive.

Martin has a way of making you wonder, "How does he come up with this stuff?" It's as if his mind operates in a completely different realm of creativity.

I was in need of a fun read, and this definitely met that requirement. It provided me with hours of entertainment and laughter.

Overall, I would highly recommend Steve Martin's humor to anyone looking for a good laugh and a unique perspective on life. His work is sure to brighten your day and leave you with a smile on your face.

Pure drivel is a term that is often used to describe something that is completely nonsensical or lacking in any real value. It can refer to a statement, an idea, a piece of writing, or even a person's behavior. When we encounter pure drivel, we usually feel frustrated or annoyed because it seems like a waste of our time and energy.

However, it's important to note that what one person may consider pure drivel, another person may find interesting or even inspiring. Everyone has their own perspective and set of values, and what may seem like nonsense to one person could be a profound truth to someone else.

In conclusion, while pure drivel can be a source of irritation, we should also be open-minded and willing to consider different viewpoints. After all, sometimes the most seemingly absurd ideas can lead to new and innovative ways of thinking.

I don't even know where to begin. Plot is not a significant factor here. This is undoubtedly a collection of pure drivel. It consists of tidbit thoughts, ramblings, and short story pieces, filled with Steve Martinism.

You might ask, "Whatever do you mean, Chy?"

Near the beginning, Martin says, "Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol." I was immediately hooked. I loved it. I poured myself a mixed drink, pushed my own writing projects aside, and delved in. Martin took such a meandering and diverse path that I was never bored. Especially since each entry is so very short. There were times when I wanted to slap Martin and say, "Dude, the joke is over and it was never that great anyway. Move on," but it wasn't too bad. And the funnier parts compensated for it.

It is pure drivel, it spouts pure drivel, and yet it completely cleaned my mental palette and prepared it for whatever I would lay on it next. It's a great "oh, stop taking it all so seriously" read for a reader.

And here's what I really think:

Scenery/Setting: I understand that every story is different, but the introduction and the closing actually gave a sense of cohesion - of everything being in the same world. That's pretty cool. The closing was probably my favorite. It's "A Word from the Words" and it's written from the perspective of the words. They discuss their importance and how much they enjoyed being part of this collection. They even implore the reader to open the book now and then just to let them breathe, even if the reader doesn't read anything. That, to me, defines the setting of the whole thing. A word from the words.

As for scenery, I suppose it's quite good. I have a vivid memory of one character's drive back to his childhood home. When I can recall the sense of trees and distance, I have to commend the author for providing that to me. Mainly because the story would have been fine without it, but he gave me that feeling anyway.

Characters: Okay, they're Steve Martin characters. They're going to be quirky and a little sad. The problem is, they're all quirky and a little sad. Some are more than just a little sad. While I appreciate the style, I like to be thrown a curveball now and then.

Or, perhaps it's better to say that when the author is constantly throwing curveballs, I like to be thrown a straight pitch now and then.

Enough baseball metaphors. Enough sports metaphors, period. Where did that come from, anyway?

Plot: Some were good, but most of the time I'd reach the end and think, "What? Why?" Maybe it's me, maybe there's something I didn't understand. I may be a pompous ass, but I don't think that's the case. I think I understood them just fine, I just wasn't interested in the way Martin presented those things.

Other stories, though, did have a good arc. And all of them had Martin's personality and style. That's both good and bad. Good, because Martin is an engaging man and enough of an enigma that you never quite figure him out. Bad, because Martin is an enigma and you can never seem to get a clear understanding of him.

Overall: I liked it. It's short and all the pieces within are short, so it's perfect for the short attention spans of today. I don't think I gained much from it, but that's mainly my fault. I like to be engaged. I like to immerse myself in a story and really get to know the characters - something that few authors allow me to do these days. If I'm lucky, I'll get one character I can really understand. One. But we're not talking about general stuff; we're talking about Drivel.

Martin's snapshots didn't allow me to sink into anything and didn't ever let me truly connect with any character. But that's okay, because sometimes you need a quick-read-and-discard book.

1.5 stars

There's absolutely no way I could have completed this if it had been written by any other author. I'm a huge fan of Steve Martin. In fact, I could watch Planes, Trains & Automobiles countless times without getting tired. I thought this would be an entertaining and humorous audiobook to listen to during my commute to work, especially since he also narrates it. However, I don't know how to put it into words, but it simply wasn't funny to me. I might have let out a few snorts of derision, but that was more out of sarcastic solidarity when Martin was being particularly snarky. Several of the short stories or pieces seemed so fixated on being ironic just for the sake of irony, as if it was some kind of art that I was supposed to understand. But it was just plain ridiculous. I've always believed that a part of the art scene is extremely stupid and a waste of everyone's time, so I definitely don't want to read stories about it. This was simply not to my taste. Shopgirl was okay (I gave it 3 stars), and I still intend to read some other works of Martin's. So, I'm not giving up hope on his writing just yet.

I'll wait and see if his other books can capture my interest and make me laugh like I expected this one to. Maybe I just caught him on an off day with this particular collection.

Each year, I am in the habit of setting a 'Reading Goal' on Goodreads. I always strive to make it somewhat of a challenge for myself. Sometimes, I add one or two more books than the previous year. Generally speaking, I manage to achieve it. However, this year, I had my doubts. After delving into a few books that took me an unexpectedly long time to finish, I found myself running out of time to reach my goal. What was I to do? Abandon my goal? Admit failure? No, I simply couldn't do that. I had to search for a short book, something that would assist me in getting back on track. And there it was, sitting on the shelf for years. It was a mere 102 pages long, with a rather large font. Moreover, many of those pages had a significant amount of white space. When considering all the space used for the titles of each essay, it was really barely over 50 pages. I was confident that I could finish it in a day or two, and thus be back on track!

While reading it, I happened to take a look at the front flap and noticed a price of $19. I couldn't help but wonder who actually paid the full price for this book. Certainly not me. I had obtained it for free at a library book sale. It was the last day of the sale, and the library was eager to dispose of the remaining books, so I got it for free. Therefore, I will be able to meet my Goodreads reading challenge this year, and do it without spending a dime. That's two wins for me! Additionally, I can donate it back to the library, so perhaps it's three wins!

This book is so short that if you're looking to impress your friends by proclaiming, "I read a book this year!", you might consider this one. Or, for a greater challenge, if you want to astound your friends by saying, "I read 50 books this year!", this could potentially help you reach that goal during the intervals between spending weeks with 'Madame Bovary' and 'The Red and the Black'.

Regarding the actual writing in the book, there are a few humorous parts. The one about what Lolita might be like as a fifty-year-old resident of Los Angeles was quite good. However, some others haven't aged well. There are some duds, and some that seem as if they were written in a rush. But hey, can you do any better? Probably not. After all, you're not a comedy genius like Steve Martin. Maybe I could write something like this, I tell myself. It seems easy, but no, I can't. I have to spend my time reading more books to reach my goal.

Steve Martin, the talented actor and author, presents a hilarious collection of short fictional incidents in his work "Pure Drivel". This book stands out as being very different from some of his other plays and books like "Shop Girl".

To truly appreciate "Pure Drivel", one must set aside all common sense and simply embrace the eccentricity of his literary pieces. These unique stories have the power to make you feel good, burst into laughter, and even prompt you to reflect on your own life.

It's a light-hearted and enjoyable read that we all need in our lives. It offers a welcome escape from the ordinary and a chance to explore the creative and comical mind of Steve Martin. Whether you're a fan of his other works or new to his writing, "Pure Drivel" is sure to bring a smile to your face and a touch of whimsy to your day.

So, pick up this book, let your imagination run wild, and get ready to be entertained by the wonderful world of Steve Martin's fictional incidents.

If you've been wondering how Bill Murray managed to stage a comedic comeback but not Steve Martin, then you're just not looking in the right place.

Martin's humor is still sharp as ever. It's just that for the last decade, it has been expressed in written form.

Take, for example, my favorite essay in this collection, "Times New Roman Announces a Shortage of Periods." This piece is written with only one period over the course of 3 pages, and it never fails to crack me up every time I read it.

Martin's unique style of humor shines through in this essay, as he plays with language and form in a way that is both clever and hilarious.

So, the next time you find yourself wondering why Steve Martin isn't as visible in the world of comedy as he once was, remember that his humor is still alive and well, just in a different medium.

I have always been a great admirer of Steve Martin's humor.

When I managed to restore my turntable to working condition after it had been silent for two decades, one of the very first records I unearthed was “Let’s Get Small.”

Given this, I was already inclined to have an absolute love for this book. However, that wasn't the case.

This collection of short pieces had a rather hit-or-miss effect on me. Some of them made me burst out laughing, while others simply made me give a shrug.

Nevertheless, any fan of Martin should definitely read it. Because Steve's wit, intelligent humor, and flights of fancy are always a welcome addition, even when he doesn't always achieve a home run.

His unique style and creativity shine through in these pages, making it an interesting read despite the inconsistent impact on my personal sense of humor.

Overall, it's a book that offers a glimpse into the mind of a comedic genius, and for that reason alone, it's worth checking out.

Hahahahaha!

Steve Martin is renowned for his unique and hilarious bits. These short comical pieces are truly a delight to experience. They are filled with a sense of fun and lightness that can instantly brighten up one's day. Whether it's his witty remarks, absurd situations, or clever wordplay, Steve Martin has a knack for making people laugh out loud. Each bit is like a little gem, carefully crafted to bring joy and entertainment. His comedic style is both original and engaging, captivating audiences of all ages. From his early days in stand-up comedy to his successful career in movies and television, Steve Martin has continued to charm and amuse with his typical bits. They are a testament to his comedic genius and his ability to find humor in the simplest of things. So, the next time you're in need of a good laugh, just think of Steve Martin's typical bits and let the laughter begin!

Listened to this on a long car trip.

The audiobook is only 2 hours long, which is really nice for mixing things up. It was read by the author himself, and that added a special touch.

Moreover, it had good music. There were classical music snippets used as a punchline, which truly made me nostalgic for growing up on Martin's movies as a kid.

I found it to be pretty funny. The combination of the author's narration, the engaging story, and the well-placed music made the entire experience highly enjoyable.

It was a great way to pass the time during the long car journey and brought back many fond memories.

I would highly recommend this audiobook to others, especially those who enjoy a bit of humor and a touch of nostalgia.