Shopgirl

By: Steve Martin

Narrated by: Steve Martin

Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the country's most acclaimed and beloved entertainers, Steve Martin has written a novella that is unexpectedly perceptive about relationships and life. Martin is profoundly wise when it comes to the inner workings of the human heart.

Mirabelle is the "shopgirl" of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus "Selling things that nobody buys anymore..."

Slightly lost but not off-kilter, very shy, Mirabelle charms because of all that she is not: not glamorous, not aggressive, not self-aggrandizing. Still there is something about her that is irresistible.

Mirabelle captures the attention of Ray Porter, a wealthy businessman almost twice her age. As they tentatively embark on a relationship, they both struggle to decipher the language of love - with consequences that are both comic and heartbreaking. Filled with the kind of witty, discerning observations that have brought Martin critical success, Shopgirl is a work of disarming tenderness.

Don't miss Steve Martin, Christopher Buckley, and other humorists discussing their craft at the New Yorker Festival.

©2000 Steve Martin, All Rights Reserved (P)2000 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved, AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Grammy Nominee for Best Spoken Word Album

"Martin's elegant, bleak, desolatingly sad first novella is in every sense his most serious work to date." (The New York Times Book Review)

Beautifully Written, Wonderfully Read

This book is amazing. I read a review which stated women don't think that way...and that person was right. All women don't. I did when I was the age of the main character. I found it very easy to believe in all of the characters of this book and lose myself in the story. It was beautiful.

And Steve Martin is truly the only person who could read the book. More authors should read their own unabridged works (ahem...Alan Alda, I'm looking at you).

So real it hurts.

For anybody who has ever had an intergenerational relationship or tried to think they could love a woman incompletely, this story will have the ring of truth. I have had these feelings and committed the same mistakes in my life with similar results. I loved this book so much. Last night, I saw the movie with the same title. It was just as good as the book and cast SO well. But, I missed the detail and narrative that added the depth to the book.

Interesting but a bit flat

Ok, Steve Martin is a reinaissance man, and this short book highlights his skill with the written word. But there's something a bit flat with the narration and the characters. There are definitely some chuckles, but this is more poignant than funny.

A beutiful story that is masterfuly told.

Wow! Steve Martin is a polished literary novelist. Who knew? The story is delightfully excruciating and impossible to put down. A modern day love story that has something to teach all of us about ourselves.

Excellent listen

I recommend all of Steve Martin's novelettes. Really enjoyed this.

An enjoyable story by a comic treasure

I grew up loving Steve Martin. I had never read his writing until I read Born Standing Up, which I enjoyed immensely. I wanted more and so I gave Shopgirl a try. It’s a sweet, sad, funny, hopeful little study of the titular Shopgirl, a 28 year old who can’t seem to start the next phase of her life, and the two men she dates. It feels a little dated in its gender roles, but in a charming snapshot-of-an-era kind of way. It feels like Steve Martin put his heart and insights into this story and I enjoyed spending a little more time in the presence of this comic genius.

Wonderful character sketches

So impressed with Martin’s ability to dig deeply into the psyche of so many different characters. I loved listening to this story. Beautiful writing.

Beautifully written, frustrating narrative.

Steve Martin is brilliant at directing attention towards the small events that we glance over. Unfortunately, this talent also creates a liability: a book that has more value for its quirky insights than its characters, plot, or deeper meaning. While "Shopgirl" is an endlessly fascinating foray into the depths of Beverly Hills, and all the psychosis that exists there, the journey ends before you have a chance to be drawn to any of the characters in a meaningful way.

Don't get me wrong. This book is well worth listening too... but only because it isn't worth the time to read it. If you are having any difficutly making your choice, go read War and Peace, but listen to Shopgirl.

In love with this book

I wish Steve Martin would read me to sleep every night. This book was lovely and funny and brutally honest.

Entertaining and fun

Where does Shopgirl rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

My first audiobook. Very easy to understand and follow.

Would you be willing to try another book from Steve Martin? Why or why not?

Yes. He writes in a clear and smart way. You don't get lost. I would specially recommend his books to be heard.

Which scene was your favorite?

The sex scene. Very real.