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Steve Martin

Cruel Shoes Hardcover – January 1, 1977

by Steve Martin (Author)

4.2 145 ratings

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Hardcover

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$7.22

$46.98

$1.35

Hardcover, January 1, 1977

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$150.00

Paperback

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$78.00

$5.25

Mass Market Paperback

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$17.08

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$17.08

Book by Martin, Steve

Print length

48 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Press of the Pegacycle Lady
Publication date

January 1, 1977
ISBN-10

0915148072
ISBN-13

978-0915148073
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Steve Martin
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Steve Martin
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Steve Martin
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Steve Martin
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Press of the Pegacycle Lady; Limited edition (January 1, 1977)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0915148072
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0915148073

Customer Reviews:
4.2 145 ratings

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About the author

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Steve Martin

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Steve Martin is one of today's most talented performers. His huge successes as a film actor include such credits as ROXANNE, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, PARENTHOOD and THE SPANISH PRISONER. He has won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to the bestselling PURE DRIVEL, he has written several plays, including Picasso at the Lapin Agile and a highly acclaimed novel, SHOPGIRL. His work appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

Author photo (c) Sandee Oliver

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

145 global ratings

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Tracy Quintrell

Classic Steve Martin!

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2022

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My parents had this book on the shelf when I was a kid in the late 70s. I read it cover to cover a million times, I didn't get all of the jokes, but I fell in love with his humor! I don't know where that book went, and I've thought about it many times, but it was always unavailable or a fortune. I am so happy to have a copy again, I get all of the jokes now😊

4 people found this helpful

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James_of_Tenn

This review is written by Serious Dogs and Resurrected Grandpa and we are giving it one star!

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2018

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We decided to give this book one star for each of our sorehead disapointments. First star: Steve Martin wrote on the book flaps with no plot twist. Second star: The stories are too short, humor must be long and ponderous as in as many as 800 pages of small print and footnotes. Third star: The stories force us to use our imagination and suspend our belief in the laws of nature. Fourth star of disappointment: book is padded with pictures. What are these pictures? Commercials? These pictures should be a series of Steve Martin photos showing him seated, looking up from his book and about to speak, so that when you flip the pages it looks like Steve Martin closes his book, looks up and opens his mouth and then when he's about to speak he goes "nahhh..." and doesn't say anything. Fifth and final star of disappointment: we tried using the book as a doorstop and the door shut anyways and we were locked out of our own house so we were unable to finish typing this review. In short, this book is Steve Martin in his prime with his off-the-wall humor and insight and that's it. So if you didn't like the book or our review then all we have to say is,...."WELL......EXCUUUUUUUSE...MEEEEEEE!!!!!!"

24 people found this helpful

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Maximilian Lucado

This collection of short stories (some of the stories only 5 words in length) crosses the line that divides 'funny' from 'danger

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2014

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This book is dangerous. Do not purchase this book unless you understand that Steve Martin was consulting a Ouija board and an unnamed 'spirit' to find inspiration for each deadly short story. Also prepare yourself to be influenced by the most ridiculous mé·lange of demented fragments from a man obviously influenced by some strange, yet powerful entity (and a little Peyote perhaps.)

Furthermore, realize that the 'Steve Martin' you will be reading in this book has left us all to be with the spirits he may have contacted to write Cruel Shoes. I believe they all live in or near Paris working to catalog ancient books on the occult.

As for the content of the book? This collection of short stories (some of the stories only 5 words in length) crosses the line that divides 'funny' from 'dangerously funny.' The kind of funny which may alter the course of your life if you have been cursed with a mind that will actually understand all of the implications of the 'humor' presented in Cruel Shoes from the mind of Steve Martin (*if* that is his real name.)

Some of the information I have found about the 'why's' and 'wherefores' of this book may be dubious, but might explain why the book is banned in twelve countries.

Simply stated;
BE CAREFUL!

Other than that it is a great little book and I highly recommend it.

4 people found this helpful

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Philip P. Gaber

Manifestly Delightful

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2013

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If you were to put a few of those Tex Avery cartoons, a couple Picasso and Pollack paintings and fold in a few passages from Sam Beckett, Jean-Paul Sartre and Jonathan Winters into a blender and grind the bejesus out of 'em, you would have Steve Martin's Cruel Shoes. As a writer this book definitely influenced me and I recently purchased it again because I lost my original copy; it has stayed with me all these years. I first read it when I was 13 or 14. Now that I'm not even close to that age, I can honestly say, without a shadow of a doubt, that I get the same enjoyment and pleasure out of reading it today as I did oh-so-many-years-ago. This book is cheeky, irreverent, thoughtful, giggly, confounding (in a good way), and it plays with language and ideas in such a way that it causes one to pause and reflect the way the Bible causes one to pause and reflect. Steve Martin has written a book for people who still believe that silliness and intellect can not only walk hand-in-hand, but can fall in madly love and live happily, beautifully and absurdly ever after.

5 people found this helpful

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diane

He’s the Man 👨

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2023

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Loved 🥰 since I was 9. Great author, too.

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Edward K.

A book that will make you think (something)

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2013

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This is a great book. I remember the impact of reading Cruel Shoes as an impressionable teenager and thirty years later the same *WTF is this!* thoughts still permeate my head. Comedic genius need not always be connected to gut-wrenching laughter (re: any Dave Chapelle skit from his two season show) but can also be found in subtle but impacting insanity such as Andy Kaufman or... Cruel Shoes. Give this book a shot, you may or may not be disappointed but you certainly will shake your head for some reason or another. Also... I realize the risks of purchasing used books but a couple of disappointing elements from the seller I bought my used copy from: (1) The Dust Jacket was not sent and this book was definitely published with one; (2) seller left a previous price tag sticker of $1 on the book. I think the overall effort was lacking with this transaction albeit the shipping was prompt. There's a lot of competition so I will look for other sellers going forward.

2 people found this helpful

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Matt Kehrleu

"Cruel Shoes" - A Perfect Fit

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2015

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I was given the book as a Christmas gift. It's a wonderful read. Martin, whose standup has never appealed to me, is exposed as a deep, hilarious, thoughtful and sometimes pained mind.
He writes as the deepest of his thoughts came, and he twists what the ordinary mind sees as reality into something far more entertaining.
The cruelty of the shoes he writes about in "Cruel Shoes" is troublesome, but quickly overcome by so many of the other pieces in the book.
Steve Martin has been seen as a comic genius for many years. "Cruel Shoes" allows the reader to see beyond the silliness of his standup routines with a dive deep into his heart and soul.
I loved the book. I recommend it for anyone and everyone who has ever seen or heard of Steve Martin or any of his visual works.

8 people found this helpful

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Xavier Perez-Pons

GOOD LITERATURE IN SMALL DOSES

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2020

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Not as funny as I expected. But it must be my fault: I always expect too much from great comedians. And actually some of these stories are really funny, like The Bohemians or Serious Dogs. In any case, it's as a whole very good literature, hilarious at times.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

iamsuperdan

This book is weird. I definitely didn't burst out ...

Reviewed in Canada on June 6, 2016

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This book is weird. I definitely didn't burst out laughing. I usually finished with every "story" with a confused look on my face. IF you're expecting a comedy book, this isn't it.

C.R.

Received

Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2013

Verified Purchase

Hello,
I received the book yesterday and it is perfect. I want it as a gift and I know the person I give it too will love it.
Thank you again.
Cathy

david

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

It’s so stupid, we never though about it.