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Title: The Devil Wears Prada : A Novel by LAUREN WEISBERGER ISBN: 0-385-50926-X Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 2.85 (421 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Trendy read and just as fleeting!
Comment: Fashionistas around the globe have been salivating for the publication of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADAsince its first announcement. For those in love with all things Vogue et.al., who wouldn't want to read a deliciously biting roman a clef about a woman who is probably Anna Wintour and then some? Alas, that's the problem with the book, it only caters to those in the fashion know, which results in a shallow exercise of style over substance.
While author Lauren Weisberger has a grasp of sustaining a narrative, but the predictable scenarios she concocts are hardly the stuff of good fiction or, sadly, biting satire. Bitchy asides and brand names are stretched thin, for sure.
Even worse, her alter ego, Andrea, is too bland a creation for the reader to really care about. Her ambition is not telegraphed with any real force since all I kept thinking was why stick it out in a thankless job that is beyond demeaning? Is being a writer at the New Yorker that important? I'm sure it is for the character, but Ms. Weisberger's colorless prose fails to register such details with depth.
As for the infamous character of Miranda Priestly, I know plenty of folks like this woman. Hell, I even worked for one. The only real joy generated by this novel was smiling over what a complete and total virago she remains throughout the book. I also loved how Weisberger captured the absolute absurdity of such fields like fashion and other show business enterprises that rely so heavily on image. The worlds she creates are definitely based on some sort of fact, but it is unfortunate the she didn't take such an interest in her overall plot or characters.
Perhaps my dissatisfication in the novel stems from something greater. As "chick lit" continues to fill our minds and best seller charts, does the world need one more "Mary Tyler Moore-clone taking on the world on her terms kind of heroine?"
British sensation Helen Fielding offered some reality and humanity to the hip and happening world of Bridget Jones. However, Andrea Sachs is no Bridget Jones and the short-lasting effects of this novel makes you wonder why can't us Yankees create such a vivid piece of fiction!
Ultimately, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA is Diet coke for the brain. To be honest, I am tiring of our current fascination with excess, entitlement and shallowness. This hotly hyped novel implodes before its predictable "up yours" finale. Like the fashion magazines it lampoons -- it's all about really pretty pictures with ultimately very little to say.
Rating: 3
Summary: Fun read but not a great book
Comment: I liked this book and found it fast and enjoyable to read. But at the end of the day it doesn't really add up to a lot. Andrea Sachs, an aspiring magazine writer, lands a job as personal assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high profile editor of "Runway" magazine. Andrea quickly finds that the job involves numerous mundane and tedious chores, long hours, incessant demands and enormous personal sacrifices. The fact that author Lauren Weisberger wrote this book after working as Personal Assistant to Anna Wintour from Vogue adds a lot of credibility to the environment and story.
One of the flaws with this book is that the job really does sound like it would be glamorous and (at least sometimes) fun. Although Miranda does come across as being the Boss From Hell, you still feel that Andrea is just a whinging and ungrateful employee, who performs her job with little grace. I'm a stay at home Mom, and all I can say is that if it's too much to deal with someone who refuses to eat the food you've bought for them, changes their mind irrationally and makes petulant demands of you, then Lauren Weisberger should never have children! At least Andrea got to dress in designer clothes, attend Parisian fashion shows and go home at the end of the day.
The other problem with this book is that you never really care about Andrea. In the end she has to make a decision between a job that she hates and a boyfriend and best friend whom I had come to dislike intensely. It wasn't a dilemma that invoked much sympathy from me.
I did enjoy reading this book, but I suspect that I'll have forgotten it by tomorrow.
Rating: 3
Summary: My view on the novel
Comment: Think you have a horrible boss? Try working for Miranda Priestly who is the infamous owner of Runway Magazine. She is always constantly ordering her assistants around to do what seem to be useless tasks. For Andrea Sachs, her brand new job working at Runway will be her first class ticket to a great writing position at the Prestigious New Yorker. Or, at least she hopes so. Upon being hired for the job Andrea is told, " This job is glamorous and a million girls would die to do it." (Page 18) Andrea soon finds out that this is far from the truth.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I think Lauren Weisenberger the author of this novel, did a great job creating a visual of the fashion world through words. She also did a good job of developing her characters. For example Miranda Priestly. Throughout the entire novel you as the reader will love to hate this character. "You think there aren't a million girls who want your job and who understand couture just as well as you?" "She took a step back, slowly moved her eyes up and down each of their bodies, lingering just long enough to make each feel fat, ugly, and inappropriately clad, and commanded them all to return to their desks." (Page 249) Lauren also does well with creating tension between Andrea and Miranda. It's almost as if you can feel Andrea's frustration towards her irritating boss.
However, one weak aspect of this novel would have to be the plot. At the beginning of the novel, it seems cute and quite comical. As the book progresses, there doesn't seem to be much variety in the plot. The problem of Andrea and her co-workers constantly messing up and Miranda reprimanding them, happens over and over. It gets to be very redundant.
Another thing that became annoying throughout this novel would be that Andrea would never stand up for herself. It was also frustrating that Andrea constantly complained about her job, but would never do anything about it. " I think I got pretty lucky. Who else gets to drive around in a chauffeured car on their first day? I mean, so yeah I think I'm ready." "Jill rolled her eyes and shot me a look as if to say Cut the crap Andy: We all know you're probably working for a psycho surrounded by anorexic fashionistas and are trying to paint this really rosy picture because you're worried you're in over your head." (Page 74)
However despite these downfalls, if you are interested in the world of fashion, and can relate to a horrible, annoying, rude boss, then The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisenberger will definitely be an entertaining read.
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