The Devil Wears Prada

I have to be completely honest: the reason I bought this book was because I have seen the film so many times, that I felt I owed the book a read. I took it with me on vacation to Cabo and within the first chapter, I was a bit put off. The writing at the beginning is a little…. less polished than I expected?? Anyway, I put the book down on my first poolside day and kind of forgot about it.

However, I threw it in my bag recently and now I am pretty into it. The writing is not the best but perhaps I should not have been expecting so much. The book is entertaining, the characters and story suck you in, and I want to know what happens. That is good considering I have seen the movie. Give it a try!!

Caveat: I am aware that I usually have a bit of a hard go at reading a book when I have seen the movie because I have a hard time separating the actors from the literary characters. This is the reason it took me forever to read The Talented Mr. Ripley.

I really enjoyed reading this story, as it has themes that many people can relate to. Everyone loves talking about that especially awful boss! There were 2 small things that annoyed me, but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book: 1) the depiction of the relationship with Alex. That guy sounded like such a dweeb that I was honestly happy the relationship didn’t last. I was rooting for Andy to get together with the hot writer and dump her irritating boyfriend. The fact that you would live in the same city and not live together in the same apartment with your boyfriend after finishing college sounds totally unrealistic to me and like they were just asking for their relationship to end. No wonder they saw so little of each other that the relationship became unsustainable! On a related note, Alex and Andy refusing to spend the night together in the old apartment before Andy moved to her new apartment so as not to create an “awkward” situation with the parents also came across as unrealistically prudish, unless they are religious and have made a pledge of no sex before marriage, which did not appear to be the case in this story. 2) everyone treating Andy like she’s personally let them all down. It sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to treat someone that way when they already have to deal with a horrible boss and don’t have much of a choice over their schedule and free time. I don’t know anyone who would treat their loved ones that way, unless they were themselves selfish and thoughtless.

Other than those 2 small things, this was a really fun, easy read which mirrors the movie quite well.

Andrea Sachs dreams of a publishing job with the New Yorker but knows she must pay her dues first. She only needs one year without getting fired to get the recommendations shell need for that job. She takes a job as assistant to the editor of a fashion magazine. She doesnt look right, doesnt act right and is treated badly. Her boss, Miranda, is a tyrant demanding unimaginable things all the while belittling Andrea and others in the firm. Andrea has no free time and her personal relationships suffer. Finally, she is pushed too far.

It is an interesting look inside the fashion industry. Though not sure how real the depiction is

I did not see the movie to make a comparison. The book was enjoyable. I can understand giving your all to further your career and letting your private life suffer for a time. But – Andrea stayed too long hurting all relationships, some beyond repair.

If you (like me) saw the movie before reading this, youll be disappointed. Although it was interesting to read Mirandas background of being of Jewish descent, growing up poor in London, it definitely didnt make her likable. Emily wasnt British, and instead of dramatically being hit by a cab, missed out on Paris by getting mono, the kissing disease, which I assume she got from Mirandas butt. Alex (Nate in the movie) is whishy washy and instead of a cook, hes an elementary school teacher in Brooklyn. Lily has a much bigger role as an alcoholic eternal student who sleeps with every guy she meets and berates Andy for not going for it with Christian, who is an even bigger slime ball than in the movie. The only thing redeeming about Andy is she doesnt sleep with Christian while on a break from Alex, and dooms her job at Runway much more spectacularly than tossing her phone in a Paris fountain. The book most notably lacks the fun of the movie Nigel, the stylish mentor and keeper of the Closet, throwing out snarky one liners and dressing Andy to perfection.
This book is one of the very few that did not outshine the movie, and I wouldnt recommend it.

Don’t understand the hype for this book. I found the heroine annoying, and it is rare that I prefer a movie over the book but that was the case here. At least Anne Hathaway’s character was believable and sympathetic. I could understand Meryl Streep’s character and although over bearing, she was still real. The book’s Miranda was not real. I stuck with it to the end just to get there.

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