Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 12, 2008 18:25:50 GMT -6
This one is a quick read -- I'm a slow reader (due to constant stuttering when my lips move) and I still managed to finish this within my first three days during my recent Hedo trip.
Basically, it's Steve Martin's memoirs -- specifically, focusing on why he got into stand-up comedy, how he spent years perfecting his craft and then, once he was at the top, why he quit.
It's difficult -- maybe impossible -- to be objective about yourself when writing your memoirs, but Martin comes about as close as you can reasonably expect, talking in great detail about some very personal matters and how he was complicit in creating a schism between himself and his family. Specifically, there was a rift between himself and his father and later, between himself and his sister. The story takes him through many years later, where he attempted to patch things up with his family, long after he became successful in show business.
Many years ago, I read one of Martin's first books, "Cruel Shoes", a collection of humorous short stories and essays similar to Woody Allen's books, "Getting Even", "Without Feathers" and "Side Effects". Having never read Martin's novella "Shopgirl" (although I'd seen the movie), I was unprepared for how greatly Martin had both improved and matured as a writer; in every respect, this is truly a well-written book as his words were clearly well-crafted and chosen with care and interest in detail, thoroughness and accuracy.
If you're a fan of either Steve Martin in particular or stand-up comedy in general, this is a fascinating read.
Basically, it's Steve Martin's memoirs -- specifically, focusing on why he got into stand-up comedy, how he spent years perfecting his craft and then, once he was at the top, why he quit.
It's difficult -- maybe impossible -- to be objective about yourself when writing your memoirs, but Martin comes about as close as you can reasonably expect, talking in great detail about some very personal matters and how he was complicit in creating a schism between himself and his family. Specifically, there was a rift between himself and his father and later, between himself and his sister. The story takes him through many years later, where he attempted to patch things up with his family, long after he became successful in show business.
Many years ago, I read one of Martin's first books, "Cruel Shoes", a collection of humorous short stories and essays similar to Woody Allen's books, "Getting Even", "Without Feathers" and "Side Effects". Having never read Martin's novella "Shopgirl" (although I'd seen the movie), I was unprepared for how greatly Martin had both improved and matured as a writer; in every respect, this is truly a well-written book as his words were clearly well-crafted and chosen with care and interest in detail, thoroughness and accuracy.
If you're a fan of either Steve Martin in particular or stand-up comedy in general, this is a fascinating read.