Novella: a story with a compact and pointed plot. A work of fiction intermediate in length and complexity between a short story and a novel.
Thanks to the folks at Merriam Webster for the definition of novella. I just thought it was important for you to know what we are dealing with before I present my review.
Steve Martin's entrance into the world of fiction begins here with Shopgirl. The girl in question is Mirabelle and her particular shop is the glove counter at the Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills.
Mirabelle is stuck in that stage between college and career, her MFA degree being of no use at a counter "where nobody buys anything." However, she has plenty of time to daydream and set her bored gaze across the aisle to the couture department.
Mirabelle's life is simple, but not fulfilling. Her circle of friends consists of two flaky girls. Then there's Jeremy, who stencils logos on amplifiers for a living. With nothing better on the horizon, Mirabelle has sex with Jeremy in the hope that he will give her a little affection in return.
However, this stagnant life is turned asunder when Mirabelle receives a gift and an invitation for a date from a man twenty years her senior. Ray Porter is a millionaire from Seattle. We soon learn that his definition of affection is different from Mirabelle's. Shopgirl documents this relationship and observes its subtleties.
It's very easy to list the concrete events of this story in a review. What I can't capture is Martin's ability to describe the two emotionally immature characters, their equally messed-up friends and the Los Angeles dating scene in general. Martin has a knack for people watching, and he's put those observations between the pages.
This is not a humorous story, but there are many funny elements including another shopgirl named Lisa, who wants Ray Porter for herself and uses her sexuality to form a trap. Her plan backfires in an amusing way.
Critics of this book like to mention that the ending isn't very dramatic and the plot doesn't get too deep. This is exactly why I placed the definition of a novella at the beginning of this review. It's not the job of a novella to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster with a stunning conclusion. Rather, this type of fiction must be deeper than a short story, yet not as involved as a full-scale novel. Shopgirl does just that.
This is a quick read at a mere 130 pages. It is the ideal length for a day at the beach, a two-hour flight, or an idle afternoon at the glove counter.
Shopgirl delivers everything that's been promised. It lets the reader into the lives of Mirabelle and Ray, sharing their details but leaving the relationship when the time is right. If you need a heavier story to be satisfied, then perhaps it's best to skip the short books and go straight to the weighty fiction section. Everyone else should stop by the book counter and check out Shopgirl for a light and entertaining read.
