My memory of this book is rather hazy.

However, I do believe that when I finally finished reading it, I was overcome with such intense irritation that I couldn't help but throw it across the room.

The details of the story might have faded from my mind, but the strong emotion it evoked still lingers.

Perhaps it was the unlikable characters, the convoluted plot, or the writing style that simply didn't resonate with me.

Whatever the reason, that moment of frustration is etched in my memory.

It serves as a reminder that not every book is going to be a pleasant read, and sometimes, our reactions can be quite visceral.

Despite the negative experience, I'm still open to exploring other books in the hope of finding those that will truly capture my imagination and leave a lasting impression.

Mirabelle is stuck in a rather dull job. She works in the dressy glove department at Neiman Marcus, where she sells a product that rarely attracts the attention of customers.

This shy and artistic woman has a deep longing for something more in her life. She craves to feel loved and to have a meaningful connection. However, the dating scene in LA is far from ideal. It is superficial and cutthroat, making it difficult for her to find true love.

Mirabelle often makes unwise choices when it comes to dating, which only adds to her heartache. Despite being twenty-eight years old, she acts much younger, perhaps due to her naivete and inexperience in matters of the heart.

The novella that tells Mirabelle's story is both bittersweet and darkly humorous. It explores her journey as she searches for genuine love and happiness in a world that seems to be against her. Through her trials and tribulations, we see her grow and learn, and we root for her to find the love and happiness she so desperately desires.

Bored one day, I randomly checked out this book from the library. To my surprise, I found it to be surprisingly affecting. It's common to sneer at Steve Martin for being a lit-pretender. However, this book was anything but pretentious.

It is a melancholy (yet not depressive), wise, and well-drawn portrait of a young woman. She is in a sad, tender, and no-strings-attached relationship with a wealthy older man who cares for her but does not love her. Although this may sound banal, there is something extraordinary about this quiet little book's ability to inhabit both of these characters, especially the young woman, so empathetically.

Honestly, I would have given it four stars if it weren't for the distracting make-'em-laugh satiric sketches of L.A. These sketches came off as more apologetic than funny, as if the author was saying, "oh, all right, I'll throw them a bone...". The book's rough edges, such as the occasional awkward prose and clunky transitions, actually endeared it to me even more. Its lack of cynicism feels more risky than a lot of "approved" literary fiction, and it is all the more commendable for its disinterest in compensating with cheap sentiment. Its "depth" may be modest, but it is earned.

When I first laid my eyes on this novella penned by Steve Martin, a thought immediately crossed my mind. "I'm well aware that Steve Martin is a virtuoso in acting, a master of comedy, and a talented banjo player. But if he can truly write with the same level of finesse, he might just push the boundaries of God-given talent beyond what's acceptable."

After delving into it, here's my analysis as to why this book became a bestseller. Firstly, it was written by Steve Martin himself, which undoubtedly attracted a significant number of his fans. Secondly, again, the fact that it was authored by Steve Martin gave it an added allure. Thirdly, it's short - a novella, mind you, not a fully fleshed-out novel. This made it an easy and quick read for many. Fourthly, it falls into the category of chick lit, which has a wide and dedicated readership.

The plot, which was later adapted into a movie of the same name starring Martin himself alongside Claire Danes, tells the story of a shy and depressed artist named Mirabelle Buttersfield (yes, you read that right!). She gets picked up by a rich millionaire while working at the gloves counter in a Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus to make ends meet.

There are moments in this bittersweet tale that feel genuine and touching. However, there are also some awkwardly written parts, and many of the revelations seem rather obvious. As I was reading, especially at the beginning of the book, the image that kept popping up in my mind was of Martin enrolling in a creative writing class and then wandering around his hometown of LA with a Moleskin notebook, observing people pass by and jotting down notes about their inner lives, which he would then transform into crude caricatures for his work-in-progress novella.

I finished reading this book in less than 24 hours, and it made me think of a similar yet infinitely superior story, "Sexy" in Jhumpa Lahiri's "Interpreter of Maladies". I would highly recommend you read that instead.

A haunting tale indeed!

Even now, I find myself still haunted by Martin's borderline misogynistic caricatures of women. His description of what he thinks we do in public restrooms on page 101 is truly cringe-worthy. He writes as if he is a child who received a thesaurus for Christmas but has never actually read a great book, been permitted to use the f-word, met a real woman, owned a pair of testicles as he mentions on page 18, or had the benefit of employing an editor.

Don't take my word for it? Just look at how he named his main character: Mirabelle Buttersfield. Seriously, who in the world is named Mirabelle Buttersfield? It seems as if the author is trying way too hard to reflect his own worth with that name, perhaps seeing himself as some sort of belle.

I used to be a big fan of Martin's comedy, but this slim volume has completely cured me of that.

Honestly, you should only read this book if you already have a deep-seated hatred for bubble-gum, nipples, women, or reading in general.

It's truly a disappointment.

The main theme I gleaned from this book is that "pain alters our lives" or is what enables us to grow.

When I initially embarked on this book, I was rather skeptical, thinking "oh, brother." However, I persisted in reading as a friend had recommended it to me, and I place my trust in his judgment. In the end, I truly relished the reading experience. Moreover, despite its somewhat risqué and graphic nature, I discovered that I could identify with the thoughts and emotions of some of the characters.

Here is one of my favorite passages, which showcases how one person believes their words are understood in one way, while the other interprets them completely differently:

“I am traveling too much right now,” he says. In this sentence, he is actually hinting that he desires to come into town, have sex with her, and then depart. Mirabelle, on the other hand, believes that he is expressing his frustration at having to leave town and is attempting to reduce his travel. … So now they have had the Conversation. What neither of them comprehends is that these conversations are devoid of meaning. They hold no significance for the speaker and are equally meaningless to the listener. The speaker believes they are being heard, while the listener believes that the words were never truly spoken. (p64-65)

This passage highlights the importance of effective communication and how misunderstandings can easily arise. It also makes me reflect on my own conversations and how I can strive to be a better listener and communicator. Overall, this book has been a thought-provoking read that has left a lasting impression on me.

I'm truly sorry.

I have a great admiration for Steve Martin as an actor and a comic. His talent and charm on the stage and screen have always been captivating.

However, when it comes to this particular book, it really just failed to capture my heart, hold my attention, or engage various other aspects of my interest.

The story may have had its moments, but overall, it didn't manage to draw me in and keep me hooked from start to finish.

Perhaps it was the writing style, or maybe the plot didn't quite resonate with me.

Whatever the reason, I found myself disappointed with this book, despite my initial excitement based on my love for Steve Martin's other works.

It's a shame that this one didn't live up to my expectations.

Well, what can I really say about this?

To be honest, it wasn't an absolute disaster, but it definitely wasn't anything great either.

I became curious about this book when I learned that Steve Martin had a new one coming out.

Mirabelle is, at best, a bit of a loser. She is weak, constantly in a depressive state, and extremely boring, along with all the other negative traits that come with it.

Ray, on the other hand, is overly cocky and shallow. In fact, he can even outdo Mirabelle when it comes to being dull.

And please, don't even get me started on Jeremy.

This whole story is centered around a love triangle involving possibly the three most boring people in California.

It's really quite a letdown considering the author's reputation.

I had expected something more engaging and exciting, but unfortunately, this just didn't deliver.

Maybe others will have a different opinion, but for me, it was just an average read at best.

Welcome to Steve Martin's gallery of portraits!

The subject matter here is the rather vacuous LA social scene.

First up and serving as the focal point of the show is Mirabelle Buttersfield. She is a wallflower who is just starting to come into her own. She works at a high-end clothing store. However, her thoughts on romance and relationships are quite juvenile.

Next, we have a brief study on Jeremy. He begins as a slacker but then evolves into a more successful yet rather trite and pompous individual. His views on romance and relationships are also juvenile.

The next subject, Ray Porter, is a catalyst for change within the arch of Martin's intended scope for this show. Ray is too wealthy for his own good, which leaves him with an abundance of free time. Sadly, his thoughts on romance and relationships are equally juvenile.

Apart from the above, a number of minor works fill out the show.

Critics have been quite harsh in lambasting Martin's portraits as not being representative of the true human experience. But those people probably haven't met a Los Angeles socialite, who believes that who you know, who you sleep with, and what brand you wear are of the utmost importance. Some have even attacked Martin himself, as if blaming him for his subjects' vapid thoughts and actions. This is truly unfair.

For this reviewer, the portraits themselves are not the issue. It's the overall story that this collection presents that causes the work as a whole to fall apart. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it fails miserably. As a whole, it fails to "move" the viewer. After all, they are just portraits. They don't move, neither on their own nor in the hearts of the viewers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It is a captivating story that beautifully depicts the journey of coming of age and the process of maturing.

However, the book has faced strong criticism from some quarters, who label it as naive, demeaning, and insulting.

The lead character seems to be that girl one might remember from high school.

At the twentieth reunion, while the cheerleaders and jocks have become fat, loud, and superficial, there she is - a poised, quiet, and attractive young woman who simply didn't grow up as quickly as most.

I wasn't initially a fan of Steve Martin's humor. Although there were moments when his slapstick comedy made me burst out laughing.

But I became a fan with his more dramatic roles, as well as his music, and now with his writing.

Poor guy! He has to endure not only being on the bestseller lists of most significant American newspapers but also having to cash a check for his efforts in selling hundreds of thousands of copies of this novella.

It's quite a remarkable achievement for him.

Overall, this book offers a unique and engaging perspective on life and growth.

Surprisingly good!

At the beginning, it was rated as a “3”. But as time went by and more aspects were considered, it gradually improved.

The quality and performance showed a remarkable growth.

There were some initial flaws, but they were overcome through continuous efforts and improvements.

The final result was a “4”, which was a significant upgrade from the starting point.

This shows that with determination and hard work, even something that starts off mediocre can achieve a higher level of excellence.

It's a great example of how things can change for the better if we are willing to put in the effort.

Overall, it's been a pleasant surprise to see this transformation from a “3” to a “4”.

Steve Martin is an extremely talented and brilliant individual.

In this book, the characters all have their flaws, yet almost all of them are making efforts to improve themselves to a certain extent throughout the story.

The arc of character development is masterfully crafted. The writing is superb, with a rich vocabulary and a nuanced understanding of relationships.

What I valued the most was how Steve Martin managed to take rather simple characters and make their interactions, thoughts, and evolutions unexpectedly complex.

This book truly deserves a strong 4.5 stars. It is a captivating read that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.

The author's ability to bring these characters to life and make them relatable is truly remarkable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written stories with complex characters and engaging plotlines.

Overall, it is a great work of literature that showcases Steve Martin's talent as a writer.