I liked the book alright but I thought the movie was better. I actually thought it was going to be the other way around when I saw the trailers for this too…the movie is just so beautifully written.

I saw the movie and loved it, and now I am reading the book. Most of the reviews on this site that I’ve read (all but two) on Shopgirl have been bad ones, but I love this book so far. There’s not a whole lot that happens as far as storyline is concerned, but I really like the way Steve Martin writes and I love the characters.

I’m not saying its the best book, i put worth consumming because I finished it. Its not bad, its not horrible. There is something about the characters that I coudn’t really grasp. I wanted to smack them more then hug them.

And hearing (reading) Steven Martin’s sexual acts was a bit distrubing because he has always reminded me of my father.

Because it is not very good. I can’t get through Steve Martin’s overly flowery language. Too many metaphors and similies, too many unnecessary adjectives.

I just can’t do it.

a quick but beautiful read… one of my favourite sections in the book, “If there were a silent observer, Mirabelle would be seen as a carefree, happy girl who is preparing for a night on the town. But in reality, these activities are the physical manifestations of her stillness.”

I’ve loved Martin’s “Shouts & Murmurs” pieces in the NYer, and I read positive reviews when this one came out, so I’ve got high expectations…

And they weren’t quite met, frankly. It’s an interesting book, though not much of a novel. More like a series of analyses of a few characters. The analyses are interesting and smart, the characters are cool, but it’s still not much of a novel.

For fun. I borrowed this from a friend. It could take me a while in between all of my school reading.

For fun. It could take me a while in between all of my school reading.

Cute.

Steve Martin has developed into the creator of some very, very nice works of gentle comedy. This is one of them.

I closely identified with the main character, and I am impressed with Martin’s ability to “write women”.

That said, it wasn’t an impressive novel.

BookBlog’s selection for March 2003.