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Steve Martin is a veteran observer of human nature and SHOPGIRL, his first
novel, is a human nature observer's dream: Mirabelle is an artist, but mostly
she's the "shopgirl" of our story, selling gloves at Neiman Marcus in L.A.
Barely existing on her salary, she budgets her money and her time, spending
as wisely as possible, endeavoring to wring the most from both.
Mirabelle meets young Jeremy, whose "slouch is so extreme that he appears to
have left his skeleton at home." Having no clue how romantic relationships
work, Jeremy quickly loses her to a man of the world, Ray Porter, who does
know how romantic relationships work and who plays Mirabelle along, showing
her the finer things in life.
If SHOPGIRL were read by anyone other than Steve Martin, it would not
properly convey his definition of character and writing style. SHOPGIRL is
convincingly ironic, subtle, wise and heroically perceptive. Hats off to
Steve Martin for using humor to offset the struggle to find and sustain love
in our "meet and greet" world.
--- Reviewed by Marge Fletcher
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