Amazon.in:Customer reviews: Shopgirl: A Novella

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C.M. & T.M.

I laughed, I cried (and I'm being serious...)

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 21 January 2001

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This book was one of the rare few that manages to both digust me and delight me at the same time. This is not a light book by any means. I was expecting it to be, so I sort of got knocked out by it. I alternated between hating the main character (Mirabelle),wishing she'd get herself together and completely sympathizing with her (and her deep depression) in a way I haven't been able to with any other character in any other book.
Martin is a great writer, and manages to blend humor with the serious subject of loneliness. He never gives Mirabelle too much credit, but he never dismisses her, either. He writes with a remarkable amount of tenderness. The characters that filled this book (only three, besides Mirabelle) were neither celebrated or ridiculed, instead just came into their own, on their own terms. It's very rare that characters in a book can step out of the pages and breathe, but Martin makes that happen.
I'm not sure what else to write, because I don't want to spoil the book. I would highly recommend it. It's a quick read, and it's not exactly a joyous one, but you will find it hard to put down this book.

15 people found this helpful

mrs m

inside the head of a shop assistant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 10 July 2013

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I am a shop assistant, but my life is not actually like the main character in this book, though it is amazing how Steve Martin gets inside the skin of the bored young lady behind the glove counter as well as her friends and colleagues in some brilliant vignettes that bring to life each character's foibles. I hate to give away the details, but there is a description of one of her colleagues that is a classic little bit of workplace naughtiness. This is such a neat story; no words are wasted, but he has a turn of phrase that is really enjoyable to read. It's quite a short book, but small is beautiful and it has the required satisfying beginning, middle and end. Thankyou Steve Martin!

More authors ought to read this before they put pen to paper. It's the model of a perfect read.

2 people found this helpful

Debbie L. Thune

Thoughtfully written

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 20 March 2020

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I liked the book but almost put it down a couple of times in the first 4-5 chapters. I’m glad I didn’t. The stories are convoluted but relatable. From depression to surviving love and loss to learning how to change and to embrace that change in oneself, this isn’t precisely a feel-good story but I was content with the ending.

I just wonder - what became of Lisa?

One person found this helpful

Garland Rogers

A comparison

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 28 April 2021

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I quite enjoyed this novella. I read it after reading A Convenience Store Girl. I liked them both and continue to consider them.

Kindle Customer

Well-written, but should come with an "R" rating!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 16 April 2014

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It started out as a sweet story, but ended up like "Sex and the City". I was also surprised, nay shocked, at the crudity of the language. I'm very disappointed in Mr. Martin. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and amazing acting skills, but I'm surprised he succumbed to Hollywood's obsession with disrespecting women and treating them like sex objects, and using such coarse language. He can do much better than this. The story started out so well-written, that it took me by surprise that the author resorted to crude and degrading sexually explicit words to describe some of the scenes. There was really no need to use sexual slang, and to me it took away from the story. Once the crudeness started, the sweetness of the story abruptly ended. The ending wasn't what I expected either. I could only recommend this as a cautionary tale to young women who are seeking "Mr. Right", because there is a lot of truth in this book about how men view sex and love.

One person found this helpful

tarte

Surprisingly good

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 26 August 2007

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This book completely changed my perception of Steve Martin. I guess I was caught up in the 80s when he was the kinda wacky comedian of cyrano de bergerac or whatever other off the wall comedy he was in during the 80s. Who knew he could write. I heard about the movie first, watched it and feel in love with it. As a woman of that age... I really related and couldn't believe that that wacky comedian was able to write a woman so well, to really understand what we really want from men. I decided to read the book and loved it even more. This book was extremely well written, loved it.

One person found this helpful

Rick Spell

A Quick Pleasent read by a master

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 29 November 2000

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This book is more about understanding Steve Martin than it is about the characters. How could the ultimate comedian from the 70s and well known movie star, write a story about lonliness and love of a 20 something female? I had previously not read Martin's books and after finishing this one, I'm still not sure I understand the message.
Martin follows a Shopgirl under medication for depression as she struggles with weak dates but eventually lands in the arms of an older man who clearly uses her for sex. But this heavy subject always reads very light through his touch. He paints a vivid picture of the everyday life of an everyday Los Angelino.
This is a very quick read that will be finished in one plane ride. But don't focus too much on the shopgirl because the real question is how did this spring from the mind of Steve Martin?

7 people found this helpful

william m birdsong

A Great Observer

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 3 April 2011

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I have read several books by Martin, including his biography. His intelligence, humor, and understanding of human nature comes through in all. I was attracted to this novella after seeing the movie of the same title. The characters of Ray and Mirabelle rang true, sweet, but sad. The book is a little "rougher" in depiction of their behavior and the language, more hard edged. The author's take on what both Ray and Mirabelle get and take from the relationship on page 77 is brilliant. What we say,how we act, is so often misunderstood and when the truth comes out we are surprised and confused. Martin would make a good psychiatrist. The poor reviews of the work seem to be from readers expecting a "wild and crazy guy" rather than an astute observer of people and relationships.

3 people found this helpful

Kris

This is a wonderful novella

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 31 May 2021

Verified Purchase

I have been listening to Shopgirl for years! It’s like I have Steve Martin in the car with me. I bought the novella so I can read it too.

linda atlas

Steve Martin reveals his psyche through his fictional alter-ego.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 8 September 2015

Verified Purchase

This is an original and thoughtful narrative. It makes a seamless transition from present to past to future without seeming artificial. The characters are all given tender attention by the author. I love Ray's coming to the understanding that he had become Mirabelle's parent as he ceased to be her lover. I would have awarded the top rating if the story had a big punch of passion or intensity, the one quality it lacked.

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