Pure Drivel
by Steve Martin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Steve MartinEdition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 1999-10-06
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Book Reviews of Pure Drivel
Book Review: Pure Absurdist Fun
Summary: 5 Stars
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. Another favorite piece was the closing number, "A Word From the Words," wherein the words, letters, and even the question mark get the last "word" in as it were. Most of the tales are so absurd that they could truly be considered sublime.
If you are a fan of Steve Martin's stand-up routines than grab this book post haste, as it lives on the same street as the best of his stand-up comedy, and loses nothing in being captured on the page- the genius of Steve Martin truly knows no bounds which this book proves over and over again (at least 23 times).
Summary of Pure Drivel
Steve Martin's talent has always defied definition: an actor who's kept us riveted for over 25 years, a razor-sharp screenwriter, an acclaimed playwright. In this ingeniously funny collection of humorous riffs, those who thought Martin's gifts were confined to the screen will discover what readers of "The New Yorker" magazine already know: that Martin is a master of the written word.Hilariously funny and intelligent in their skewering of the topic at hand, the audiobook's pieces, some of which first appeared in "The New Yorker," feature Martin at his finest.
With a playwright's ear for dialogue, a sense of irony only Steve Martin could muster, and a first-class comic ability to perfectly time the punch line, "Pure Drivel" will have listeners crying with laughter, and marveling at the fact that in addition to all of his many talents, Steve Martin is also a superb writer.
Don't listen to Steve Martin read this hysterical compilation of his most absurdly funny writings if you're recovering from abdominal surgery or have taken a vow of silence. Martin's brilliant, juxtaposed wordplay, sly commentary, and hilarious observations are delivered with such a droll wit that only a dead person will avoid unabashed laughter. Genius is in the ear of the beholder and Martin's metronomic timing allows each sentence to unravel perfectly. His deadpan delivery is often clever enough to make you laugh twice at the same line and makes it clear why he has enjoyed such remarkable success as an actor, screenwriter, playwright, and author. (Running time: two hours, two cassettes) --George Laney
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