He's a comic legend. He plays the banjo. He writes. Is there anything Steve Martin can't do?
I'd always been curious about Shopgirl and was pleasantly surprised by it. Although it's a much sexier book than I expected, Martin can really write. With some celebrities/actors/singers/etc that try to write, it's clear that they're only published because of who they are. Not the case here.
The main character is Mirabelle, a lonely twenty-something artist who is quite content to work the glove department at Neiman's. Ray Porter is a fifty-year-old millionaire who splits his time between Seattle and LA, where Mirabelle lives. Recently divorced, Ray courts younger women while also looking for "the One." Mirabelle becomes the object of his admiration, though the two want very different things. Meanwhile, in the background is Jeremy, a young slacker Mirabelle went on a couple mediocre dates with.
Martin is delightfully clever and astute (I read aloud to my boyfriend several passages I particularly enjoyed). He writes a female perspective really well. I felt the end came rather abruptly, though the conclusion was natural. All in all, a very entertaining light read.
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