A writer takes over the job of a Steve Martin impersonator and loses himself in his acting job. Relocating from New York to Los Angels at the advice of a friend the main character and narrator (who remains nameless throughout the book) is up for a career change, he wants to write movies. Once in Los Angeles, he meets a comic named Scott who impersonates Steve Martin on the side. Bored with his role he offers turns over to the writer who was interested in interviewing him for a freelance piece.
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As he gets into the character of Martin he loses himself and views life through long narratives of movie classics. Ingrid Bergman, Bing Crosby and other greats are explored in detail. When he meets Jane he asks her if he interview her for an article about her her neighborhood, and she agrees. The two spend a good amount of time together. They fall in love and as his feelings for Jane increase, he becomes more like Steve Martin. His hair is changing to premature gray to the white Martin is famous for.
He and Jane talk Cary Grant and big screen authors as the writer turned Martin works on perfecting Martin's walk and the certain slump in his shoulders. He can't turn off the change once he's started it is like he is literally being taken over by Steve. He can't perform sexually no matter what or whom he thinks about. He figures that if things are going bad sexually with Jane then she must not be Steve's type. He becomes disoriented about keeping the Steve's persona and his real life persona separate.
H isn't sure if this means he should hold off for sex until he gets all of Martin nuances down, or if the Jane who he used to be able to please just isn't interested. He thinks that maybe Jane doesn't like Steve as much as she says. He admits to feeling strange about writing the more Martin comes out of him.
As he and Jane head out for a date he sees himself waving goodbye. This might mean that he has totally crossed over to Steve, or that Los Angeles has completely eaten him alive.
Best part of story, including ending:
I didn't like the story the movie references became redundant.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was when Scott decided to give up his Martin impersonation and pass it on to the narrator.
Opinion about the main character:
I dislike that I was not made privy to the narrator's real name.
