by Steve Martin
This short novel about an aspiring young artist who sells gloves at Nieman Marcus and her relationship with an older, wealthy businessman touches on so many important topics: male-female communication, depression, family dynamics, the image-culture of Los Angeles, the growing-up that's necessary to take the big frightening step from casual dating to committment. Martin is one of those rare literary finds: intelligent, warm without being sentimental, hyper-observant; his writing sparkles with humorous touches. His characters are informed by his many years of experience in TV and films, and by his own experience with major depression.
The high point of this book for me? When the intelligent Maribel "seduces" her nerdy, self-obsessed amp salesman boyfriend. It's the funniest--and most believable--first-sex scene I've ever read. You keep thinking: "She can do WAY WAY better than him...!" But I don't want to give any of it away...see for yourself.