I read and truly relished Martin's The Pleasure of my Company several years ago. It was delightfully quirky and sweet, and I found certain parts of it uproariously funny. So, when I happened upon the unabridged audio of Shopgirl, I was anticipating more of the same. However, for some inexplicable reason, it just isn't working for me at all.

I'm finding myself not only bored but also quite annoyed. The story is about a 28-year-old woman who works in a shop selling "gloves no one wants to buy" and lives like a recent college graduate. She's lonely and shy, longing to meet a man she'll fall madly in love with. Instead, she dates Jeremy, a slacker who fails to excite her in the slightest, and now a 50-ish divorced millionaire is entering the scene. Ugh. On both counts.

I'm not finding this book charming, quirky, or even remotely interesting, and I may very well give it up soon. Instead, I'm finding it rather shallow, overly focused on clothes, expensive meals, and endless, unfunny descriptions of things that I couldn't care less about. The characterization is extremely flat. Steve Martin's reading of the words is deeply disappointing. I guess over the past few years of constantly reading professionally narrated works, I've become spoiled. Martin reads the words but fails to infuse them with any life. All of the characters have the same monotonous voice. The overall tone of the book so far has been rather dreary when I was hoping for a good laugh.

Whoops, it seems like I just talked myself into another DNF.

I picked up Shopgirl at the Strand for $4.95. I had a vague acquaintance with it as the movie featuring Steven Martin, which was an adaptation of the book written by Steve Martin himself. I bought it with the intention of having a disposable read during my vacation. Sometimes this strategy backfires, as I end up really liking a book and carrying it home despite my initial plans. However, this is not the case with Shopgirl.

Shopgirl tells the story of Mirabelle, a depressed artist who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus. She has few friends, does little with her art, and is essentially drifting through life, trying to avoid being mired in depression. Enter Ray Porter (the character played by Steve Martin), a 50-year-old man also adrift in life, searching for the perfect woman by cycling through all the imperfect ones as quickly as possible. The two embark on a relationship that predictably ends badly, but also predictably teaches them both something about themselves and allows them to grow as individuals and friends.
I didn't have overly high expectations for this book initially, having seen another example of Steve Martin's writing in the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile (a play that starts promisingly but ends with an Elvis impersonator beaming down into a small French café in Montmartre. Seriously.) Surprisingly, this book is relatively well-written and even contains some witty insights into human relationships. Here are two examples of such passages: "Jeremy does have one outstanding quality. He likes her. And this quality in a person makes them infinitely interesting to the person who is being liked." (p8) And "I am traveling too much right now," he says. In this sentence, he serves notice that he would like to come into town, sleep with her, and leave. Mirabelle believes that he is expressing frustration at having to leave town and that he is trying to cut down on traveling. … So now they have had the Conversation. What neither of them understands is that these conversations are meaningless. They are meaningless to the sayer and they meaningless to the hearer. The sayer believes they are heard and the hearer believe that they are never said." (p64-65)
That being said, I couldn't overlook the fact that this book is essentially chick lit. It might be semi-good chick lit (if that isn't a contradiction in terms), and it may have been written by a man, but it's chick lit nonetheless. It has all the hallmarks of chick lit with a touch of Paulo Coelho-style self-discovery – no wonder it was a NYT bestseller. I can't recommend it without reservation, but if you're looking for a short book for a quick plane or train ride, it would definitely fit the bill.

Steve Martin, an actor widely known for his comedic roles, has surprised many with his literary endeavor. I would have never imagined him penning a book like this, one that paints such vivid and detailed pictures in the reader's mind when he describes the most intimate moments.

Although this book may not be the absolute best in the literary world, it still possesses certain qualities that make it worth reading. Martin does an excellent job with the imagery, making it come alive on the page. The details he incorporates into the imagery are well thought out and add depth to the story, especially during conversations and interactions between the main character and others.

The main theme of the book is that the satisfaction one may experience in the moment is fleeting and won't last a lifetime. Instead, one should seek the feeling that endures, which can often be found in the simplest of moments. This message is conveyed throughout the story as the main character searches for affection from different men, only to realize that what she truly desires is found in the one she started with.

Overall, I think this book is a commendable effort, especially considering it comes from an actor like Steve Martin. I was initially skeptical that a comedy actor could write a story that effectively expresses the emotions of the characters, but Martin has proven me wrong. He tells his story well and presents the scenarios in a clear and engaging manner. In my opinion, the idea of this book is a valuable one: to find the feeling that lasts a lifetime in the simplest of moments.

Poignant is the word that immediately springs to mind whenever I think about this small, exquisitely written, and deeply melancholy little book. It's truly astonishing to consider that it was penned by one of the "wild and crazy guys" from SNL.

I highly recommend reading the book first. However, don't overlook the movie adaptation either. In my opinion, it was a rather excellent interpretation. This makes perfect sense given that the book was written by an actor, who likely had a unique perspective on how the story could be brought to life on the big screen.

Overall, both the book and the movie offer a captivating and emotional experience. Whether you prefer the detailed descriptions and inner thoughts presented in the book or the visual and auditory elements of the movie, you're sure to be moved by this touching tale.

(Reviewed 6/14/21)

Light. Sort of.

It was a short listen, and overall, it was fine. However, I must admit that I didn't actually enjoy Steve Martin reading it.

I would have much preferred a woman narrator. In my opinion, a female voice would have added a more heartfelt touch to the story.

The ending, on the other hand, is truly lovely. It brings a sense of warmth and closure to the whole experience.

Despite my slight disappointment with the narrator, the beauty of the ending managed to salvage the overall impression for me.

Perhaps if I were to listen to it again with a different narrator, my enjoyment of the piece would increase significantly.

Nonetheless, it was still a worthwhile listen, if only for that beautiful ending.

I was in absolute awe while reading this.

Steve Martin's beautifully written prose is truly a work of art.

He has an incredible talent for capturing the essence of not one but two extremely different types of women.

The way he portrays their personalities, emotions, and experiences is simply remarkable.

I cannot recommend this novella enough.

It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

Excuse me while I go search for his other books.

I am eager to explore more of his works and be amazed once again.

His writing style is so unique and engaging that I am sure I will not be disappointed.

I highly recommend that you give this novella a try and discover the magic of Steve Martin's writing for yourself.

One of my all-time favorite books, without a doubt.

The plot might not be overly remarkable or revolutionary. It's about a woman who is mistreated by men, and they ultimately change their ways, with one doing so sooner than the other. However, the way the author handles this story is truly and deeply emotionally moving. To me, this aspect is of far greater importance.

Even though I'm fully aware of the ending, and even though I've read the book several times (and also seen the movie, which was surprisingly well-adapted, although still not quite as good as the original book), the last 20 - 30 pages have the power to make me cry every single time, without fail.

It's that kind of book that has a special hold on my heart and emotions, and I will always cherish it for the way it makes me feel and the lessons it teaches.

I read this book out of curiosity as I had always been curious about what kind of writer Steve Martin is.

After all, I had been using his quote "I think I did pretty well, considering all I started out with was a bunch of blank paper" for years in writing classes, at the tops of syllabi and such. I thought it was about time I saw what he had done with that blank paper.

I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked this novella. It was the perfect length for the story. Too often, writers stuff a lot into a short story or stretch a thin plot into a novel. I really liked the character of Mirabelle. I could relate to her struggle to find herself. She seemed so real, with real thoughts and feelings.

I was a bit taken aback by Jeremy's conversion towards the end of the book, but since I don't even understand love and romance in real life, I didn't mind that it was a bit of a stretch in the book. I'm so glad that Ray Porter remained true to himself throughout the novella, decent in a way but never fully redeemed. The worst thing that could have happened in this novella would have been for him to turn into a prince charming and rescue Mirabelle, like in _Pretty Woman_. Yuck!

It did give me the hope that some older man out there would pay off the remaining $58,000 of my student loans, but unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet.

This book truly came as a pleasant surprise to me. It was loaned to me for on-the-plane reading after I had finished the book I had initially brought on the trip.

At first, I had rather low expectations regarding both the writing style and the story itself. However, both aspects turned out to be far beyond my anticipation. The book is written in an almost elegant prose, which beautifully unfolds the lives of the characters in their small and ordinary worlds. The vignettes of their lives are neatly crafted and complete, stacking on top of and inside one another. As the chain of experiences progresses, each character is moved to a different place.

It might seem that the events are insignificant or that the characters are just drifting aimlessly, but isn't that very much like real life? We often desire each moment and each choice to be of great significance and importance. However, it is actually the everyday journey that holds true significance and the places it takes us to that matter.

Mirabelle, the shopgirl with a history of depression and a small artistic talent, whose greatest triumph is simply getting through each day, is a likeable character because she doesn't wallow in self-pity. She has a longing to be someone special to someone. Ray, the older man who pursues her, disappoints and hurts her, yet still remains a part of her life afterward. He is a lost soul, generous yet clueless. And Jeremy grows up without ever realizing how much of a loser he was.

Overall, this book offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on life and the characters within it.

Some nights, alone, he thinks of her, and some of those nights, alone, she thinks of him. Some nights these thoughts, separated by miles and time zones, occur at the same objective moment, and Ray and Mirabelle are connected without ever knowing it.

I waited to review this after watching the film, hoping it would salvage the book, but unfortunately, the film only makes the story and themes even worse.

Sadly, there is no redeeming quality to this.

Steven Martin attempts to show his sensitivity, but he just comes across as an ordinary man. Too much of a man. A white, older man. A man among men. To the extent that women seem to mean nothing. Objectifying our lead female character while the men believe that what they've done, even the hurt they've caused, is justified, and the shopgirl is left to rot and is expected to move on as quickly as the men she's been with.

It's worth mentioning that the film does a better job of representing the characters compared to the novel, which is subpar in its writing. Martin inserts his zingers and light comedic moments to balance out the overly serious tone in the book. However, Steve Martin is so serious in his own writing that it becomes laughably bad.

Truly awful. But perhaps it's a good portrayal of what men thought and felt during the early 2000s.

How can a movie that appeared to be so dreadful and so melancholy turn into such an astonishing book when the novel and the screenplay were penned by the same individual? Shouldn't they be, well, the same? It simply doesn't seem logical.

Anyway, this was a truly wonderful book. Indeed, it made me shed tears just as much as the movie did, but the book was so much superior. The book leaves you feeling more at ease with the ending. The movie simply dumps the ending on you and anticipates that you will accept it. Fortunately, my favorite movie line was present in the book, although it wasn't in its entirety. Steve Martin is an amazing and extremely vivid author. His style is fantastic. However, his numerous cuss words (which rather surprised me considering the author) were something I could have done without.

All in all, this novel is a very good read. It's a deeply moving story that truly demonstrates how love impacts the minds of both parties. It makes you think about the power of love and how it can change people's perspectives and lives. The detailed descriptions and the well-developed characters make the story come alive on the pages. It's a book that you won't want to put down once you start reading.

It was really cute.

I am eagerly looking forward to a film comparison.

However, to be honest, I have a stronger affection for his other books.

The ending, well, it was just meh.

It didn't have a very climatic feel to it.

It kind of left me a bit disappointed.

I was hoping for a more exciting and impactful conclusion.

Maybe if the film adaptation can bring some changes and enhancements to the ending, it might make a big difference.

But as it stands now, the book's ending is not its strongest point.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate the overall charm and creativity of the story.

And I'm curious to see how the film will handle it.

Will it be able to capture the essence of the book and make the ending more engaging?

Only time will tell.