The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Summary: Andrea (Andy) Sachs is hired as a personal assistant to a powerful fashion magazine editor, a job that becomes nightmarish as she struggles to keep up with her boss’ grueling schedule and demeaning demands.
Warning: This book review contains spoilers.
Art Imitating Life?
Before reading The Devil Wears Prada, I thought it was an autobiographical account of an experience where the names were changed to protect the guilty. Now, I know that although the story is fictional, it is possibly based on the author’s experience as an assistant to the one and only fashion maven, Anna Wintour. Of course, Ms. Weisberger would never come out and admit such information. I’m sure that is grounds for a lawsuit. It’s better to live in the grey area of speculation. I’m sure life is much more fun there.
Shut Up and Slog
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I could not get over Andy’s whining. She complained about every aspect of her job and question everything like she, as the newly hired assistant with no prior experience or knowledge of the fashion world, knows more than the Editor-in-Chief or the assistant who just had Andy’s job. Yes, it must really suck to be at the beck and call of a very demanding person, but honey, you signed on the dotted line. You’re just going to have to deal with it. Besides it’s only for 1 year, and it’s a job “a million girls would die for!” Plus, if you don’t like it, you can always quit…which is what you eventually did.
Guilt Trips for $100, Alex
My goodness! What was up with everyone making Andy feel guilty for being busy at the job she is being paid to do, especially when those people should be way too busy themselves. Take Alex (the boyfriend, not the Jeopardy host) who starts off supportive and understanding. Soon, he devolves into a petulant child. Andy and Alex breaking up was for the best.
She learned he doesn’t have what it takes to stick it out during the valleys that come in all relationships. As a first year teacher working in New York’s inner city schools, with the hopes and dreams of being the male equivalent of Michelle Pfeiffer from Dangerous Minds, it surprises me that Alex has the free time to even be worried about how much time Andy is spending at work. With the demanding job of teacher, he should be just as busy as Andy, if not more.
Even her parents making her feel guilty about not visiting after her sister has a baby was way too much. Are you kidding me?! As an adult, you know no matter your job, you can’t leave work for an extended period of time to visit your newborn nephew. If parents barely get leave, then I doubt they’re just making it rain PTO on aunts. Besides, Andy already feels guilty for not being there, so why pour salt in that wound?
Overall Opinion
Every single character in The Devil Wears Prada irritated me, but I was more annoyed with Andy and her crew than I was at Miranda and the Clackers. BTW, Miranda and the Clackers is a pretty cool band name. I liked the unconventional storytelling. The story started in the middle of the action, went back to the beginning, then continued the story.
I was engaged in the story from beginning to end. The Devil Wears Prada is not a book that will be life changing, but it’s a good read when you want something light and breezy. Rating: Page Turner