Shopgirl: A Novella by Steve Martin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Shopgirl: A Novella
Book Review: What is the Nature of Love?
Summary: 4 Stars
This novel is a quiet gem of understatement. It softly unfolds to reveal the hardness and rigidity that imprison us.
The story centers on a young woman, Mirabella, who works in the glove department of Nieman-Marcus. Depressed and without friends, she goes through her days unengaged. She draws dark pictures. She meets a wealthy man, Ray, who wants a temporary relationship. However, he grows to love her but is unable to recognize the depth and complexity of something this real. They each distance from one another but remain friends. Ray is the apparent giver and Mirabella is the needy one. In truth, the opposite is more valid. Mirabella learns to grow and reach out for love.
I highly recommend this book. Steve Martin is a man of many talents. Writing is certainly one of them.
Book Review: Wonderful
Summary: 4 Stars
I loved this book, in fact I bought it and gave it as a gift. Steve Martin does a wonderful job, he is a gifted writer. He was very accurate talking about the ambiance and situations at the store. I worked retail years ago and it brough back lots of memories. The details throughout the book were very good.
I cannot wait to read his new book.
Book Review: a book to read between good books...
Summary: 2 Stars
I picked up this title on a whim after not being able to find Born Standing Up. This is the first of Martin's books I have read, and honestly I was not impressed. Although the story is not engaging enough to carry itself from start to finish on its own, it works if you need a break between complex and interesting reads.
Mirabelle's story is promising at the start, a lonely girl working at the deserted glove dept. at Neimens in Beverly Hills there is alot of promise in this young artist. However, the plot unravels in fits and starts, often meandering on details which are not important while introducing then glossing over life changing moments in the character's lives. Time passes in a cyclic fashion, speeding up and slowing down in predictable intervals thus taking the mystery out of the coming details.
The ending is no surprise as I figured the conclusion within the first few details revealed about the inner workings of the main characters. To its credit it is written quite well for a first time author, and the prose is presented so anyone (even a child) can follow each and every moment which passes.
Being a Steve Martin fan, I questioned if it was the same prop-comic, SNL clown who made us laugh, laugh hard, on TV and his numerous movies and standup. This book is not funny, it will not engage the reader to read on and has little in the way of understanding human relationships.
This said, the story is simple and requires little attention to stay in tune with the events. Between reading War and Peace and Dracula, the mind needs a little break, and this provides the entertainment one will need when resting.
Book Review: decent, quick read
Summary: 4 Stars
This was a decent, quick read book. Since it was short, the characters weren't fully developed, but for a quick read I recommend it.Book Review: great book
Summary: 4 Stars
A quirky strange story with interesting characters. A quick, good read. I had seen the movie prior to reading the book; that's not the norm for me. However, I enjoy both.