The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

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The Devil Wears Prada
by Lauren Weisberger
(Audio)

I watched the movie years ago and loved it, so when I found this in an Audio Bookbox, I decided to snag it to earread.

Unlike the movie, everyone seemed one-dimensional. Granted, Andrea didn't quite know what she was getting into, but the level of abuse her boss, Miranda, inflicts upon her is inhuman. There are no redeeming moments when we learn WHY Miranda tortures her assistants. And going through that just to possibly get an unrelated job at an unrelated magazine seems highly unlikely and unbelievable. I simply didn't buy the entire reason of the book--why Andrea was doing all this. Perhaps it was because all the details and timing were spelled out for me in the book, not just a montage of nightmarish demands and moments that go by in seconds in the movie. Perhaps it was because I honestly couldn't figure out how anyone could have such illogical, unrealistic expectations as this boss does. Or perhaps it was because I really think she never should have taken a job in an industry she cared nothing for if she wanted a job elsewhere anyway. The whole thing left me in disbelief and, actually, siding with her boyfriend more often than not (which sucks, because I'm one of those people who tends to sacrifice friends for other things and then regrets it later, the way Andrea did). Maybe if this had been set anywhere other than in the fashion industry I would have taken to it better? I honestly care nothing for fashion (like Andrea).

Once I put aside the fact that these characters are one-dimensional and that no one grows or changes at all (not even Andrea, who stands up for herself by reverting to the person she was at the beginning of the book) and the stupid reason for her employment, I did enjoy the every day struggles. It was entertaining to see what she was going through and shake my head and think how terrible it was. But discs and discs of terrible moments were just light entertainment. Even the big moment in Paris left me cold, because the amount of abuse she took was so unbelievable, I couldn't believe anyone would allow anyone to put her through so much.

I didn't walk away from this book with any grand realizations apart from the fact that this is one of the few cases where I definitely liked the movie more than the book. But I was entertained and I am glad I gave it a read.