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)

I saw the movie first (perfect casting)

I loved it. Steve Martin is an excellent writer, he gets so perfectly deep in to the psyche of relationships and their complicity. as someone who dated A LOT and hurt and loved a lot...this one hit home in all the right places. beautifully written, real and raw

One of those.,

One of those books with unnecessary language, and characters that I just didn't care for at all. One of those books with a bunch of dribble not a lot of substance... One of those books I wanted to love.... alas I just couldn't finish.

Well-written, well-read

This is a surprisingly charming and insightful book. Martin's writing is crisp, and his characters seem true and real. He's also an excellent reader.

Great book on relationships

A great book! Martin shows incredible insight into how males and females differ in expectations, approach, etc. to life and each other. Prior reviews point out the sex and depressive situations, but, for a lot of people, that is how they go through relationships and life... and Martin does an excellent job of shining light into those corners of people. I'm glad it doesn't have a "hollywood" ending, because that would cheapen the whole experience of the book. I wouldn't be surprized if this book received several literary awards.

Wonderful book

Wonderful, Sensitive and nuanced, With a combination of insightful glimpses at a young woman's mind, together with delicate humor and cynical, yet unjudgmental love for human kind.

Not as interesting as An Object of Beauty

If you’ve listened to books by Steve Martin before, how does this one compare?

I first read An Object of Beauty and really loved the story. I then decided to read Shopgirl and was much less impressed. The story was not as interesting and not a lot happened throughout the plot. The characters were boring and the audiobook was very short.

Entertaining and Quirky

Brilliant and captivating, this is the story of three different individuals growing up and finding themselves unexpectedly as adults. I have a whole new respect and admiration for Steve Martin. This was great.

Excellent Novella

I listened to this book in just two sittings. I loved Martin's story and his direct, deadpan delivery, which makes the bittersweet story funny and believable. I can't wait to watch the movie.

Autobiographical Fiction

This is a beautiful and meaningful story. The more so after reading/listening to Steve Martin’s memoir.
He has magnificent insight and soul.

This story is what got me in to audiobooks

This is a great story of a girl, becoming a woman in the struggles that come with it. It really makes me fall in love with. It is Steve Martin’s net ration. He really gives the story an amazing tone and depth. I really enjoy it every time I listen to it.