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laurelin_kitToday at work and at home, I read Shopgirl, by Steve Martin, which Grant has graciously let me borrow as a part of our strange little book club. I read the first twenty pages at the beginning of my shift until Jim noticed and made me put it away. It drove me crazy for the rest of the six hours, sneaking two pages or a half a page while he was on a phone call or talking with the owner. I actually did the idiotic thing of reading it in the car when I was going home. (Stoplights last forever during rush hour, okay?) I read it while I was making dinner for myself, during dinner, and when I was done eating I dumped my dishes unwashed and plodded off to my bed to finish the book.
I don't do that with books much any more. And I really can't remember the last book I tried to read at a stoplight.
If I were to write a novella, this is the style I'd try to write it in. Heavy on the description and reflection, with lots of introspective observations in third person omniscient and light on the dialogue. Somehow that works far better with shorter pieces, but in longer works it seems to drag. Shopgirl, mercifully, doesn't drag at all. It's a very beautifully simple story. The writing style is formal and vaguely esoteric, but it doesn't detract from enjoying it. It, thankfully, doesn't venture into pretension. (But since I'm using words like 'esoteric' and 'pretension,' maybe I'm missing it because I'm a little pretentious. I'll try harder next time.)
I like the book better than the movie, with one exception. In the movie, there was a clear point where the second stage of Ray and Mirabelle's relationship disintegrated. It was at the line "Why don't you love me?" There isn't a turning point like that in the book. Maybe that makes it more realistic, but it makes it a bit more confusing as a story. The Ray-and-Mirabelle arc seems to slip away like Martin could have either decided for it to slip away, or because he forgot to remind us that it was still there.
Overall, though, I loved the book more than I loved the movie. And no one is going to read this part of the entry except for Grant, so I might as well have saved this to tell him on IM.
When Jennifer came to take over for me at five, she asked me where I was the whole weekend, and then she said that on Saturday, things were crazy busy and horrible, and she went up to the hostess stand to Kristen and they were chatting for a minute and bitching about work and then Kristen suddenly burst out with "Where's Laura? I miss her! She needs to come back, because it sucks here!"
And that's why, at the end of the day, I like having this job and I'll miss it when I leave.
I don't do that with books much any more. And I really can't remember the last book I tried to read at a stoplight.
If I were to write a novella, this is the style I'd try to write it in. Heavy on the description and reflection, with lots of introspective observations in third person omniscient and light on the dialogue. Somehow that works far better with shorter pieces, but in longer works it seems to drag. Shopgirl, mercifully, doesn't drag at all. It's a very beautifully simple story. The writing style is formal and vaguely esoteric, but it doesn't detract from enjoying it. It, thankfully, doesn't venture into pretension. (But since I'm using words like 'esoteric' and 'pretension,' maybe I'm missing it because I'm a little pretentious. I'll try harder next time.)
I like the book better than the movie, with one exception. In the movie, there was a clear point where the second stage of Ray and Mirabelle's relationship disintegrated. It was at the line "Why don't you love me?" There isn't a turning point like that in the book. Maybe that makes it more realistic, but it makes it a bit more confusing as a story. The Ray-and-Mirabelle arc seems to slip away like Martin could have either decided for it to slip away, or because he forgot to remind us that it was still there.
Overall, though, I loved the book more than I loved the movie. And no one is going to read this part of the entry except for Grant, so I might as well have saved this to tell him on IM.
When Jennifer came to take over for me at five, she asked me where I was the whole weekend, and then she said that on Saturday, things were crazy busy and horrible, and she went up to the hostess stand to Kristen and they were chatting for a minute and bitching about work and then Kristen suddenly burst out with "Where's Laura? I miss her! She needs to come back, because it sucks here!"
And that's why, at the end of the day, I like having this job and I'll miss it when I leave.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-23 04:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-23 05:47 pm (UTC)You know me well, for that is exactly what I did. Silly, silly boy.
And five beers with the guys is not too much, don't worry. I'm glad you're having fun with the guys.
I will have a lovely Thanksgiving. The same goes for you. I'll probably be cooking for most of today (oh noes!) but I think I'll take pictures and attempt to be witty.
Have fun in Gainesville, babe. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Date: 2005-11-23 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-23 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-23 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-23 06:20 am (UTC)