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  <id>3313512</id>
  <title><![CDATA[Shopgirl]]></title>
  <isbn><![CDATA[0792799062]]></isbn>
  <isbn13><![CDATA[9780792799061]]></isbn13>
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  <description><![CDATA[Steve Martin's first foray into fiction is as assured as it is  surprising. Set in Los Angeles, its fascination with the surreal body fascism of  the upper classes feels like the comedian's familiar territory, but the shopgirl  of the book's title may surprise his fans. Mirabelle works in the glove  department of Neiman's, &quot;selling things that nobody buys any more.&quot; Spending her  days waiting for customers to appear, Mirabelle &quot;looks like a puppy standing on  its hind legs, and the two brown dots of her eyes, set in the china plate of her  face, make her seem very cute and noticeable.&quot; Lonely and vulnerable, she passes  her evenings taking prescription drugs and drawing &quot;dead things,&quot; while pursuing  an on-off relationship with the hopeless Jeremy, who possesses &quot;a slouch so  extreme that he appears to have left his skeleton at home.&quot; Then Mr. Ray Porter  steps into Mirabelle's life. He is much older, rich, successful, divorced, and  selfish, desiring her &quot;without obligation.&quot; Complicating the picture is  Mirabelle's voracious rival, her fellow Neiman's employee Lisa, who uses sex  &quot;for attracting and discarding men.&quot; <p>  The mutual incomprehension, psychological damage, and sheer vacuity practiced by  all four of Martin's characters sees <em>Shopgirl</em> veer rather uncomfortably  between a comedy of manners and a much darker work. There are some startling  passages of description and interior monologue, but the characters are often  rather hazy types. Martin tries too hard in his attempt to write a  psychologically intense novel about West Coast anomie, but <em>Shopgirl</em> is  still an enjoyable, if rather light, read. <em>--Jerry Brotton</em></p>]]></description>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl]]>
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    <![CDATA[Steve Martin's first foray into fiction is as assured as it is  surprising. Set in Los Angeles, its fascination with the surreal body fascism of  the upper classes feels like the comedian's familiar territory, but the shopgirl  of the book's title may surprise his fans. Mirabelle works in the glove  department of Neiman's, &quot;selling things that nobody buys any more.&quot; Spending her  days waiting for customers to appear, Mirabelle &quot;looks like a puppy standing on  its hind legs, and the two brown dots of her eyes, set in the china plate of her  face, make her seem very cute and noticeable.&quot; Lonely and vulnerable, she passes  her evenings taking prescription drugs and drawing &quot;dead things,&quot; while pursuing  an on-off relationship with the hopeless Jeremy, who possesses &quot;a slouch so  extreme that he appears to have left his skeleton at home.&quot; Then Mr. Ray Porter  steps into Mirabelle's life. He is much older, rich, successful, divorced, and  selfish, desiring her &quot;without obligation.&quot; Complicating the picture is  Mirabelle's voracious rival, her fellow Neiman's employee Lisa, who uses sex  &quot;for attracting and discarding men.&quot; <p>  The mutual incomprehension, psychological damage, and sheer vacuity practiced by  all four of Martin's characters sees <em>Shopgirl</em> veer rather uncomfortably  between a comedy of manners and a much darker work. There are some startling  passages of description and interior monologue, but the characters are often  rather hazy types. Martin tries too hard in his attempt to write a  psychologically intense novel about West Coast anomie, but <em>Shopgirl</em> is  still an enjoyable, if rather light, read. <em>--Jerry Brotton</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>6</votes>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jul 18 10:33:16 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 01:03:12 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A lot of people seem to like this book, but I think they're just trying to be nice to Steve Martin. He will be okay. He is good at a lot of other things. Michele doesn't like this book either. I think the word she used to describe it was &quot;vapid.&quot; I read this book so long ago that I don't r...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3223346">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3223346]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>12437447</id>
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    <id>65207</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Shannon]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Sacramento, CA]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.38</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8742</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>8</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[boring people]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Feb 25 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Jan 13 18:15:12 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Feb 26 16:33:57 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[OH, what an utterly FASCINATING look into the totally important and equally fascinating stereotypes regarding heterosexual sexual relationships. Everyone in this book could have died in a fire, and I wouldn't have cared.  The girl, I hate her. I refuse to believe this girl is smart, everything she d...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12437447">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12437447]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12437447]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3417179</id>
    <user>
    <id>214169</id>
    <name><![CDATA[T]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Seattle, WA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/214169-t-g]]></link>
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  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>5</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[chumps]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jul 23 12:39:28 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 17 01:40:08 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[A haunting tale...in that I am still haunted by Martin's borderline misogynistic caricatures of women (and what he thinks we do in public restrooms (page 101)). He writes like a child who got a thesaurus for Christmas but has never read a great book, or been allowed to use the f-word, or met a woman...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417179">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417179]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3417179]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6901897</id>
    <user>
    <id>425220</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Lissa]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[New York, NY]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/425220-lissa]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Sep 27 12:54:29 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Sep 27 12:54:53 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[ I picked up Shopgirl at the Strand for $4.95. I had heard of it vaguely as the movie with Steven Martin in it as an adaptation of the book Steve Martin wrote. I purchased it as a book that I could take with me on vacation and have it be ultimately disposable. Sometimes this trick backfires on me as...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6901897">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6901897]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6901897]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>42845806</id>
    <user>
    <id>1900992</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jesse]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Denver, CO]]></location>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Jan 12 18:04:05 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Jan 12 18:08:30 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Steve Martin is surprisingly adept at prose. A master of the comedic genre, Mr. Martin manages without pretentiousness to imbue the story of a slightly imbalanced shopgirl, Mirabelle, a veritable everyday girl with little to do of anything, with a mirth and understanding that undercuts all of his ce...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42845806">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42845806]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42845806]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>38602499</id>
    <user>
    <id>1578083</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jennifer]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1578083-jennifer]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>true</spoiler_flag>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2002</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Nov 25 03:47:21 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Nov 25 03:56:38 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this before I had even heard this was going to be a movie - which is great because I was able to read it without picturing Claire Danes as Mirabella. (I thought she did a very good job in the movie - I just like reading a book and making up my own vision of the characters.)<br/>It's a simple...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38602499">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38602499]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/38602499]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>21980347</id>
    <user>
    <id>211364</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Shaindel]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Pendleton, OR]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/211364-shaindel]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1228879749p3/211364.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">10873</id>
  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873.Shopgirl_A_Novella</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Steve Martin fans, novella fans, people with emotions :-)]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat May 10 09:30:26 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat May 10 09:40:20 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read this book out of curiosity because I'd always wondered what kind of writer Steve Martin is.  (I mean, I'd used his quote &quot;I think I did pretty well, considering all I started out with was a bunch of blank paper&quot; for YEARS in writing classes, at the tops of syllabi, etc. I could at l...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21980347">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21980347]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21980347]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>19739924</id>
    <user>
    <id>721497</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Diane]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Milwaukee, WI]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/721497-diane]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1200848307p3/721497.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">10873</id>
  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[People who like words]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Co-worker]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Apr 08 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Apr 08 13:54:21 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Apr 08 14:15:02 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book was a surprise to me, loaned for on-the-plane reading after I'd finished the book I'd brought on the trip.<br/><br/>I had low expectations of the writing and the story.  Both were pleasant surprises.  Written in almost elegant prose, the characters in their small lives unfold.  Vignettes...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19739924">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19739924]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19739924]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>3075677</id>
    <user>
    <id>103459</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Eileen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Philadelphia, PA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/103459-eileen]]></link>
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  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873.Shopgirl_A_Novella</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fiction" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Jul 14 12:20:49 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 08 15:58:45 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I love Steve Martin. &lt;---This was how I was going to begin this review. Cushioning the harsh criticism with true admiration. Before I continued ...after that first line I decided I was much too harsh and I went into other goodreads reviews of this book to see how close my opinion was with the gen...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3075677">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3075677]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3075677]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>1726964</id>
    <user>
    <id>120540</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Theresa]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Highland, IN]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/120540-theresa-abney]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto-F-111x148.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">71949</id>
  <isbn>0753820285</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780753820285</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">23</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170797520m/71949.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170797520s/71949.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71949.Shopgirl</link>
  <average_rating>3.30</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>154</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[From the comic genius of Steve Martin comes a contemporary fable of life an love from the point of view of a shopgirl behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus. Mirabelle, a semi-glamourous young woman who is making her way through the romantic jungles of Beverly Hills/Los Angeles, is an aspiring artist who prides herself on her clothing aesthetic. Unfortunately, she doesn't always have the best taste in men. When she meets a young Turk named Jeremy, whose idea of a great second date is a visit to the Laundromat, she sees him through a haze of prozac and other anti-depressants, and through the prism of her own poor self-esteem. But then she meets Ray Porter and thinks he could be her Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, he does turn out to be a worldly, rich gentleman who is a kindly and even exciting lover, but he never really takes Mirabelle seriously. Together, Mirabelle, Ray, Jeremy, and a few other suporting characters populate this insightful piece that is sometimes quirky, sometimes comic, and sometimes languid as a summer day.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="2007reads" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 06 16:22:19 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 03 20:26:06 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[&quot;She knows that she needs new friends but introductions are hard to come by when your natural state is shyness.&quot; p.4<br/><br/>&quot;However, Jeremy does have one outstanding quality. He likes her. And this quality in a person makes them infinitely interesting to the person being liked.&quot;...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1726964">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1726964]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1726964]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>18385596</id>
    <user>
    <id>41583</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Becky]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Columbus, OH]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/41583-becky]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1194409069p3/41583.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">10873</id>
  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873.Shopgirl_A_Novella</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="adultbooks" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Allison, Ellen S., Tamara]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Mar 22 11:33:44 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Mar 22 11:41:16 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I re-read this during the snowstorm and liked it almost as much as the first time. I have not seen the movie, because it can't be as good as the book. I have not written down any favorite quotes, because I would have basically been transcribing the book. The novella is short and the story is quiet, ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18385596">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18385596]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18385596]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6266762</id>
    <user>
    <id>378678</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Laura]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Charlotte, NC]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/378678-laura]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1189779205p3/378678.jpg]]></image_url>
    <small_image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1189779205p2/378678.jpg]]></small_image_url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">10873</id>
  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873.Shopgirl_A_Novella</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
  <votes>3</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="fiction" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sun May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2005</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Sep 15 21:48:05 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Sep 15 21:48:05 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Steve Martin, how I love you.<br/><br/>But please, please, please don't write anything ever again.<br/><br/>Kisses,<br/>Laura<br/><br/>PS: Please stop being in movies involving the words &quot;dozen&quot; or &quot;bride&quot; in the title.  K thanx.<br/><br/>PPS: Also, if you specifically n...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6266762">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6266762]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6266762]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>21799923</id>
    <user>
    <id>528388</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Holly]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/528388-holly]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1192047096p3/528388.jpg]]></image_url>
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  <id type="integer">10873</id>
  <isbn>0786891076</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786891078</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">884</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507m/10873.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166334507s/10873.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10873.Shopgirl_A_Novella</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
        <shelf name="read" />
          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed May 07 13:27:06 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu May 22 10:19:00 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Main theme I gathered from this book is that &quot;pain changes our lives.&quot;  or is what makes us grow.<br/><br/>When I first started this book, I was like &quot;oh, brother.&quot;  But I kept reading because a friend recommended it to me and I trust his opinion on things.  I ended up really e...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21799923">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21799923]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/21799923]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>19716090</id>
    <user>
    <id>4695</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Daniel]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Glendale, CA]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4695-daniel]]></link>
    <image_url><![CDATA[http://photo.goodreads.com/users/1259455214p3/4695.jpg]]></image_url>
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    <book>
  <id type="integer">18655</id>
  <isbn>0786866586</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780786866588</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">70</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167063214m/18655.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167063214s/18655.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18655.Shopgirl</link>
  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>10449</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Steve Martin's first foray into fiction is as assured as it is  surprising. Set in Los Angeles, its fascination with the surreal body fascism of  the upper classes feels like the comedian's familiar territory, but the shopgirl  of the book's title may surprise his fans. Mirabelle works in the glove  department of Neiman's, &quot;selling things that nobody buys any more.&quot; Spending her  days waiting for customers to appear, Mirabelle &quot;looks like a puppy standing on  its hind legs, and the two brown dots of her eyes, set in the china plate of her  face, make her seem very cute and noticeable.&quot; Lonely and vulnerable, she passes  her evenings taking prescription drugs and drawing &quot;dead things,&quot; while pursuing  an on-off relationship with the hopeless Jeremy, who possesses &quot;a slouch so  extreme that he appears to have left his skeleton at home.&quot; Then Mr. Ray Porter  steps into Mirabelle's life. He is much older, rich, successful, divorced, and  selfish, desiring her &quot;without obligation.&quot; Complicating the picture is  Mirabelle's voracious rival, her fellow Neiman's employee Lisa, who uses sex  &quot;for attracting and discarding men.&quot; <p>  The mutual incomprehension, psychological damage, and sheer vacuity practiced by  all four of Martin's characters sees <em>Shopgirl</em> veer rather uncomfortably  between a comedy of manners and a much darker work. There are some startling  passages of description and interior monologue, but the characters are often  rather hazy types. Martin tries too hard in his attempt to write a  psychologically intense novel about West Coast anomie, but <em>Shopgirl</em> is  still an enjoyable, if rather light, read. <em>--Jerry Brotton</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>2</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Apr 08 08:08:46 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Apr 11 09:36:54 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[There are a handful of writers I've come across who've successfully broken the &quot;show, don't tell&quot; rule every writer is taught. Kurt Vonnegut was one, and Steve Martin is another. It'd be hard to imagine Vonnegut in &quot;Breakfast of Champions,&quot; for example, giving the reader all the ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19716090">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19716090]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/19716090]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>18495225</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Sheila]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
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    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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    <body><![CDATA[I don't know why, but I almost want to perceive the story of the relationship of Mirabelle and Ray Porter as the author's parable of all relationships between older men and younger women.  <br/><br/>A shy young woman toils in relative obscurity, unseen and unappreciated by her contemporaries (men ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18495225">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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</review>
      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
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    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
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  <date_added>Fri Feb 22 05:04:13 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 23 16:09:53 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Bored, I checked this out of the library one day, and I have to say, I found it surprisingly affecting.  It's easy to sneer at Steve Martin for being a lit-pretender, but this wasn't a pretentious book in the least.  It's a melancholy (not depressive), wise, and well-drawn portrait of a young woman ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16066215">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16066215]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16066215]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>13341163</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Kelly]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <read_at>Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jan 23 18:59:43 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Jan 03 17:17:27 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Almost everything about this book works surprisingly well. The tone and style of the narration brings the reader very effectively into the life of Mirabelle, a girl who is lonely and longing to connect with other people. She doesn't get the opportunity to do so very often since she is both shy and e...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13341163">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13341163]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13341163]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>12612030</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Dawn Michelle]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Shopgirl: A Novella]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.37</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p> One of our 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. <p> Mirabelle is the &quot;shopgirl&quot; of the title, a young woman, beautiful in a wallflowerish kind of way, who works behind the glove counter at Neiman Marcus &quot;selling things that nobody buys anymore...&quot; <p> Slightly lost, slightly 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. <p> 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 Steve Martin critical success, <em>Shopgirl</em> is a work of disarming tenderness.</p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>1</rating>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[Saw the movie first]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Mon Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Jan 15 15:31:00 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Aug 08 09:39:22 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[<br/> Have you ever really, REALLY wanted to read something, serasrch ALL over for it, finally found it, and then were so genuinely disapointed by it you could almost cry?? THAT is how I feel after reading &quot;Shopgirl&quot;.<br/><br/> I saw the movie (with Steve Martin, Claire Danes and Jason ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12612030">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12612030]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12612030]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>2690076</id>
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    <id>149353</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Gerry]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Scotch Plains, NJ]]></location>
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    <![CDATA[Shopgirl]]>
  </title>
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    <![CDATA[Steve Martin's first foray into fiction is as assured as it is  surprising. Set in Los Angeles, its fascination with the surreal body fascism of  the upper classes feels like the comedian's familiar territory, but the shopgirl  of the book's title may surprise his fans. Mirabelle works in the glove  department of Neiman's, &quot;selling things that nobody buys any more.&quot; Spending her  days waiting for customers to appear, Mirabelle &quot;looks like a puppy standing on  its hind legs, and the two brown dots of her eyes, set in the china plate of her  face, make her seem very cute and noticeable.&quot; Lonely and vulnerable, she passes  her evenings taking prescription drugs and drawing &quot;dead things,&quot; while pursuing  an on-off relationship with the hopeless Jeremy, who possesses &quot;a slouch so  extreme that he appears to have left his skeleton at home.&quot; Then Mr. Ray Porter  steps into Mirabelle's life. He is much older, rich, successful, divorced, and  selfish, desiring her &quot;without obligation.&quot; Complicating the picture is  Mirabelle's voracious rival, her fellow Neiman's employee Lisa, who uses sex  &quot;for attracting and discarding men.&quot; <p>  The mutual incomprehension, psychological damage, and sheer vacuity practiced by  all four of Martin's characters sees <em>Shopgirl</em> veer rather uncomfortably  between a comedy of manners and a much darker work. There are some startling  passages of description and interior monologue, but the characters are often  rather hazy types. Martin tries too hard in his attempt to write a  psychologically intense novel about West Coast anomie, but <em>Shopgirl</em> is  still an enjoyable, if rather light, read. <em>--Jerry Brotton</em></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>2000</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
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  <date_added>Tue Jul 03 18:29:51 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 10 18:39:15 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[<em>Shopgirl</em> may be thin, but it's not light. Some might think that Martin, in his debut novella, would go for the easy laughs of his earlier books, <em>Cruel Shoes&lt;i/&gt; and <em>Pure Drivel</em>. Instead he draws a stunningly lifelike portrait of a young woman, Mirabelle, and the two suitors who don't so much w...</em><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2690076">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2690076]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Shopgirl]]>
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    <![CDATA[Steve Martin's first foray into fiction is as assured as it is  surprising. Set in Los Angeles, its fascination with the surreal body fascism of  the upper classes feels like the comedian's familiar territory, but the shopgirl  of the book's title may surprise his fans. Mirabelle works in the glove  department of Neiman's, &quot;selling things that nobody buys any more.&quot; Spending her  days waiting for customers to appear, Mirabelle &quot;looks like a puppy standing on  its hind legs, and the two brown dots of her eyes, set in the china plate of her  face, make her seem very cute and noticeable.&quot; Lonely and vulnerable, she passes  her evenings taking prescription drugs and drawing &quot;dead things,&quot; while pursuing  an on-off relationship with the hopeless Jeremy, who possesses &quot;a slouch so  extreme that he appears to have left his skeleton at home.&quot; Then Mr. Ray Porter  steps into Mirabelle's life. He is much older, rich, successful, divorced, and  selfish, desiring her &quot;without obligation.&quot; Complicating the picture is  Mirabelle's voracious rival, her fellow Neiman's employee Lisa, who uses sex  &quot;for attracting and discarding men.&quot; <p>  The mutual incomprehension, psychological damage, and sheer vacuity practiced by  all four of Martin's characters sees <em>Shopgirl</em> veer rather uncomfortably  between a comedy of manners and a much darker work. There are some startling  passages of description and interior monologue, but the characters are often  rather hazy types. Martin tries too hard in his attempt to write a  psychologically intense novel about West Coast anomie, but <em>Shopgirl</em> is  still an enjoyable, if rather light, read. <em>--Jerry Brotton</em></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Mar 13 10:07:28 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 16 16:35:39 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[You know that thing that stand up comedians do where they describe a situation that everyone has been through but no one ever verbalizes, so it's very funny when they, on stage, verbalize what they take as every person's thoughts on the subject and you think &quot;hey - he's right!&quot; That's what...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/255203">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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