Charlaralotte's review
The Pleasure of My Company: A Novel
by Steve Martin
Charlaralotte's review
The Pleasure of My Company: A Novel by Steve Martin
Charlaralotte's review
rating:
bookshelves:
read-in-the-2000s
recommended for: Mick
I've never read a book that so accurately describes obsessive-compulsive disorder. Steve Martin grew immeasurably in my estimation.
Although he was already a hero to me after seeing "The Jerk" when it was first released. I was probably 8 or something, but that scene with him sitting on the stairs saying, "All I need is my thermos, and my..." That seemed to be life in a nutshell, the way I saw things.
Anyway, back to this book. It's not laugh-out-loud, it's laugh & cringe. Obsessive-compulsion seems funny from afar, but not when you're caught in its clutches. He manages to show the humor of the fellow's life, and also the agony.
The light bulb wattage counting is the best bit. I think about it all the time when I catch myself thinking I have to keep track of something completely extraneous or the world will end.
Although he was already a hero to me after seeing "The Jerk" when it was first released. I was probably 8 or something, but that scene with him sitting on the stairs saying, "All I need is my thermos, and my..." That seemed to be life in a nutshell, the way I saw things.
Anyway, back to this book. It's not laugh-out-loud, it's laugh & cringe. Obsessive-compulsion seems funny from afar, but not when you're caught in its clutches. He manages to show the humor of the fellow's life, and also the agony.
The light bulb wattage counting is the best bit. I think about it all the time when I catch myself thinking I have to keep track of something completely extraneous or the world will end.
