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Pure Drivel
by
Steve Martin
Steve Martin's talent has always defied definition: a seasoned actor, a razor-sharp screenwriter, an acclaimed playwright, and, of course, the ingenious comedian who turned King Tut into a national craze. In this widely praised collection of humorous riffs, Martin shows he is also a master of the written word.
From a wildly imaginative meditation on who Lolita would be at a
...morePaperback, 128 pages
Published
October 6th 1999
by Hyperion
(first published September 16th 1998)
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I don’t even know where to start. Plot is not a factor. This is a collection of pure drivel, for certain. It’s tidbit thoughts and ramblings and short story pieces. It’s wrought with Steve Martinism.
Whatever do you mean, Chy? you ask.
“Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol,” Martin says, near the beginning. I was hooked. I loved it. I poured myself a mix drink, shoved my own writing projects aside, and dove in. Marti...more
Whatever do you mean, Chy? you ask.
“Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol,” Martin says, near the beginning. I was hooked. I loved it. I poured myself a mix drink, shoved my own writing projects aside, and dove in. Marti...more
My story with Steve Martin is kind of weird. Due to my age and the fact that I didn't grow up in the United States, I never really knew much about Steve Martin as a comedian. Growing up in Paraguay, I only knew him from the movies I sometimes caught on cable while channel surfing. These movies were usually subtitled or dubbed in Spanish, usually romantic comedies, usually light and fun. I thought of him as the cute (yes, I know, even as a 12-year old I was a weirdo) dude with white hair who was ...more
This is my first foray into reading anything written by Steve Martin, and I must admit I am now on the hunt down for some more fiction as this book was fabulous.
Overall this is a laugh out loud book of 23 short (some pieces are so short they could well be considered flash fiction) stories, and all of them without exception could well be considered literature of the absurd, i.e. "The Sledgehammer: How It Works"- which is exactly what the title suggests, and so much more. Anot...more
Overall this is a laugh out loud book of 23 short (some pieces are so short they could well be considered flash fiction) stories, and all of them without exception could well be considered literature of the absurd, i.e. "The Sledgehammer: How It Works"- which is exactly what the title suggests, and so much more. Anot...more
Jess
rated it
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review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Martin fans, short essay fans, others
Recommended to Jess by:
$1 at a book sale and entirely worth it
Steve Martin wrote this collection of essays, many previously published in the New Yorker or similar, while on a break from acting/writing/etc.
I love Steve Martin. He's an interesting fellow, a good Letterman guest, and the kind of guy you could talk to for an entire afternoon and still want to meet tomorrow for lunch. Because of this, I'd go along with him for most things.
The first half of this book was hilarious. I kept laughing out loud, a nice treat before bed du...more
I love Steve Martin. He's an interesting fellow, a good Letterman guest, and the kind of guy you could talk to for an entire afternoon and still want to meet tomorrow for lunch. Because of this, I'd go along with him for most things.
The first half of this book was hilarious. I kept laughing out loud, a nice treat before bed du...more
if you've been wondering how bill murray managed to stage a comedic comeback but not steve martin, then you're just not looking in the right place. martin's humor is still sharp as ever. it's just been in written form for the last decade. my favorite essay in this one is "times new roman announces a shortage of periods." it's written with only one period over 3 pages and cracks me up every time i read it.
"Pure Drivel" is pure fun. Comedy is a funny thing (well, duh), either you laugh or you do not; you can’t fake it. And if you are into Steve Martin, as I have been since he was that wild-and-crazy-guy with the arrow through his head, then this book will not disappoint.
These supposedly serious essays that originally appeared in "The New Yorker" are off the wall. No one really looks at the world the way he does.
If you've been reading a lot of oh-s...more
This is Steve Martin at his best. The stories are hilarious and his writing style is particularly suited to these stories. He loses a star for the slimness of the volume, "A Word From the Words," "Changes in the Memory After 50," and stories along those lines that seem like filler material. I like the Oulipo thing when it is done well, but it didn't work here. "How I Joined Mensa," "Yes, In my Own Backyard," "The Wily Filipino," and, of cours...more
This book is almost 10 years old, but I ran into it at the library. I’m a sucker for Steve Martin, so perhaps you’ll take this with a grain of salt. I laughed my fool head off. It’s a collection of short pieces that originally appeared in the New Yorker and New York Times Magazine and a couple of other places. If you remember _Cruel Shoes_, you’ll be interested to observe how Martin’s absurdist strolls around the block have aged, not to say mellowed. Like wine, richer, more wry... compared ...more
This book is funny! But, then again, I love Steve Martin. My favorite bit is "Sledgehammer."
This collection of short stories is not his best work (The Pleasure of My Company would be hard to top), but nevertheless each piece is thoroughly in line with his delightful brand of "anti-humor". To give you an idea: several hours after reading the title story, it struck me as a far more thoughtful (and amusing) commentary on his own work than I had imagined while reading it.
Well, I have to say... this was, by far, my least favorite Steve Martin book. The stories were short... very short. Most topping off at about 2.5 pages, which was fine. But, my impression is that it wasn't enough for Martin to build a solid tale from. Quite a few of the stories read like Mad Libs, although there were a few gems along the way, and it was easy to see a glimmer of what would eventually become "The Pleasure of my Company", which I enjoyed very much. If you liked his n...more
I read this book in a couple hours today while I was helping out at the store. I did't know what it was about honestly. I have read 2 novellas that Steve Martin wrote and enjoyed them well enough. This was just a bunch of ideas, one chapter per idea, I didn't get it I guess, and didn't really enjoy it. Laughed a few times but would have lived life fine without having read this. But I also have this problem, I have to finish a book that I start.
I had to put this book on my "funny" shelf because I don't have a "mildly amusing" shelf.
These short pieces are just like I remember Steve Martin's comedy: a little silly, a little weird, mostly unexpected, but eliciting soft chuckles and no guffaws.
My favorites from this book are "Writing Is Easy!," "Times Roman Font Announces Shortage of Periods," "Artist Lost to Zoloft," and "A Word from the Words."
These short pieces are just like I remember Steve Martin's comedy: a little silly, a little weird, mostly unexpected, but eliciting soft chuckles and no guffaws.
My favorites from this book are "Writing Is Easy!," "Times Roman Font Announces Shortage of Periods," "Artist Lost to Zoloft," and "A Word from the Words."
This was the first Steve Martin I've read, and I wasn't overly impressed, though I was somewhat amused maybe twice to the point of laughing out loud. Maybe this humor isn't for me, I don't know. Maybe it was because this was the first book I've read on the kindle. But overall, I found the humor in the book to be sometimes almost embarassing...trying a bit too hard, I think. But again, maybe this humor just isn't for me.
Steve Martin's voice is evident in this short volume of articles, many of which had previously appeared in The New Yorker. Mr. Martin may be a wild and crazy guy, but he's also smart as a whip. The combination of those two factors plus a very randomized quirkiness makes for a fun read. In this case, it also makes for a quick read - this is the sort of book that could easily read in one sitting.
It baffles me how this got in the non-fiction category, but at its heart, Pure Drivel is a selection of absurd short stories, some of them verging on flash fiction. I particularly enjoyed the closing pieces about the shortage of periods in Times New Roman (the most loathed font ever), "Bad Dog" and "Side Effects."
I listened to this one, rather than read it, and I feel like it was the right banana.
I listened to this one, rather than read it, and I feel like it was the right banana.
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This is a collection of short essays, many published in the New Yorker magazine, which highlights Steve Martin's skill in comic writing. It was hard to pick a favorite, but the essay about membership requirements for Mensa ranks in the top three. Martin comments on the minimun 132 IQ cutoff for inclusion--until he meets someone with an IQ of 131 and it all becomes clear. A short, very enjoyable book.
I really enjoy Steve's humor, both on film and on paper, but I felt that this book was no where near the quality of his regular hilarity. Although I do not want this to seem as though I feel he has no talent, quite the contrary. I think Steve Martin is one of the most gifted people of his generation, unfortunately I don't see that in this particular piece of work.
What can I say? Steve Martin is a funny, funny man as well as a really good writer. This book is a quick read - a collection of short "essays" (his word) with each being no more than a couple of pages. Subjects include, among other things, dwindling memory, what a dog is thinking, and what Michael Jackson's old face thinks of his new one.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
Although best known for his movie and stand-up comedy, Martin proves his status as a comedic genius in the pages of this book. One of the funniest books I've ever read, this will delight even the most casual of fans. Although it is segmented and without much of a thread between stories, the power of the individual tales more than make up for this.
For the person who doesn't mind poking fun at intellectualism while simultaneously indulging in it...
This book (as well as Cruel Shoes) is a great book to have around if you want to read a short story here or there. Perfect for traveling.
Books like this, though, kind of make me think, "Cheaper by the Dozen? REALLY, Steve Martin?" :)
This book (as well as Cruel Shoes) is a great book to have around if you want to read a short story here or there. Perfect for traveling.
Books like this, though, kind of make me think, "Cheaper by the Dozen? REALLY, Steve Martin?" :)
an interesting little collection of essays. I loved the humor in the Love Letters one and the one with the warnings on the side affects his product causes. Very fun, but not my typical type of read. It was a nice break, but I wouldn't have read all the way through if it wasn't for a book list. It just isn't my type of book.
Steve Martin is a delightful entertainer. He constantly surprises me with his skills as a comic actor, a dramatic actor, a bluegrass musician and a writer, both comic and dramatic. A true Renaissance man. I would totally like to hang out with him.
I checked out this book because one of the Goodreads readers likened Demetri Martin's This Is A Book to Pure Drivel. Verily, it is along the same lines. An extremely brilliant comedian lending his genius to the printed word, and having a gre...more
I checked out this book because one of the Goodreads readers likened Demetri Martin's This Is A Book to Pure Drivel. Verily, it is along the same lines. An extremely brilliant comedian lending his genius to the printed word, and having a gre...more
So this was both interesting and weird to listen to. It was fun in some instances because it was performed. Weird in that it was a collection and sometimes too short to follow while trying to drive. Might be better to be read, although you miss some of how Steve Martin really wanted to portray his work.
Showing his masterful touch with humor that is as funny as it is intelligent, Steve Martin collects some of his finest works from The New Yorker and throws them in with some new works as well. You'll laugh, you'll cry from laughing, and you may even laugh from laughing. Such is the power of Pure Drivel.
Don't waste your time. The title is supposed to be funny and let the reader know that there isn't supposed to be anything serious or anything even tied to reality in the book. But still, it was really just drivel. It's a lot like Woody Allen's book The Insanity Defense. Again, don't waste your time.
I listened to the 2CD, unabridged audiobook version.
Steve himself narrates the book, which is great. I can't say I found it that funny tho. The first CD is shorter stories and is the funnier disc. The second has longer, conceptual humor, which is fine, if it were funnier. Ther eare undoubtedly some funny lines here and there, but only about 3 stsrs worth.
Steve himself narrates the book, which is great. I can't say I found it that funny tho. The first CD is shorter stories and is the funnier disc. The second has longer, conceptual humor, which is fine, if it were funnier. Ther eare undoubtedly some funny lines here and there, but only about 3 stsrs worth.
Does exactly what it says on the cover.
An absolutely delightful look at the random flotsam and jetsam that floats around in the head of one of our generation's greatest comedians. When I read this and some of his other works, it just makes me wonder why his movies aren't still this funny.
An absolutely delightful look at the random flotsam and jetsam that floats around in the head of one of our generation's greatest comedians. When I read this and some of his other works, it just makes me wonder why his movies aren't still this funny.
A collection of funny essays (most of which appeared in The New Yorker), plus a few pieces that are more heartfelt. The collection will appeal especially to writers, as several of the essays (including the title piece) touch on writing and authorship with sharp, sardonic wit.
I pick this up any time I need a laugh or don't have anything to read. this book is great for sharing aloud or laughing in bursts of hysteria to oneself.The times new roman is running out of periods is not only hilarious but an amazing grammatical and punctuational piece.
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Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician, and composer. He was raised in Southern California in a Baptist family, where his early influences were working at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and working magic and comedy acts at these and other smaller venues in the area. His ascent to fame picked up when he became a writer for th...more
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“Scientists at first were skeptical that a kitten-type being could exist in the rare Martian atmosphere. As a test, two Earth kittens were put in a chamber that simulated the Martian air. The diary of this experiment is fascinating:
6:00 A.M.: Kittens appear to sleep.
7:02 A.M.: Kitten wakes, darts from one end of cage to another for no apparent reason.
7:14 A.M.: Kitten runs up wall of cage, leaps onto other kitten for no apparent reason.
7:22 A.M.: Kitten lies on back and punches other kitten for no apparent reason.
7:30 A.M.: Kitten leaps, stops, darts left, abruptly stops, climbs wall, clings for two seconds, falls on head, darts right for no apparent reason.
7:51 A.M.: Kitten parses first sentence of daily newspaper that is at bottom of chamber.
With the exception of the parsing, all behavior is typical of Earth kitten behavior. The parsing activity, which was done with a small ball-point pen, was an anomaly.”
—
42 people liked it
6:00 A.M.: Kittens appear to sleep.
7:02 A.M.: Kitten wakes, darts from one end of cage to another for no apparent reason.
7:14 A.M.: Kitten runs up wall of cage, leaps onto other kitten for no apparent reason.
7:22 A.M.: Kitten lies on back and punches other kitten for no apparent reason.
7:30 A.M.: Kitten leaps, stops, darts left, abruptly stops, climbs wall, clings for two seconds, falls on head, darts right for no apparent reason.
7:51 A.M.: Kitten parses first sentence of daily newspaper that is at bottom of chamber.
With the exception of the parsing, all behavior is typical of Earth kitten behavior. The parsing activity, which was done with a small ball-point pen, was an anomaly.”
“LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA: WHY IT'S A BAD TITLE
I admit that "Love in the time of . . ." is a great title, up to a point. You're reading along, you're happy, it's about love. I like the way the word time comes in - a nice, nice feeling. Then the morbid Cholera appears. I was happy till then. Why not "Love in the Time of the Blue, Blue, Bluebirds"? "Love in the Time of Oozing Sores and Pustules" is probably an earlier title the author used as he was writing in a rat-infested tree house on an old Smith Corona. This writer, whoever he is, could have used a couple of weeks in Pacific Daylight Time.”
—
41 people liked it
More quotes…
I admit that "Love in the time of . . ." is a great title, up to a point. You're reading along, you're happy, it's about love. I like the way the word time comes in - a nice, nice feeling. Then the morbid Cholera appears. I was happy till then. Why not "Love in the Time of the Blue, Blue, Bluebirds"? "Love in the Time of Oozing Sores and Pustules" is probably an earlier title the author used as he was writing in a rat-infested tree house on an old Smith Corona. This writer, whoever he is, could have used a couple of weeks in Pacific Daylight Time.”
