August 20th, 2006The Devil Wears Prada
I became aware of this book a few months ago. I read in a Cosmo mag (if I’m not mistaken) that this book by a first-time author Lauren Weisberger was funny and was given a really great rating (forgot the exact rate). Plus, it was tagged as a best-seller so being the sucker that I am, I added this one to my “To Read” list. After months of being on THE LIST, I finally found the time to read it.
Here’s a blurb from Random House:
Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of Runway magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts Prada! Armani! Versace! at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to plaints about “The Boss from Hell.” Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day-and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.
And my verdict… a TEN! It was worth the time (two days!). I LOVE THE BOOK! I fell in love with Andrea’s character, I hated Miranda Priestly so much I wanted to slap her for Andy! It was scary when her phone rings! I got tired as well when she goes back and forth to Startbucks so Miranda won’t have to drink a not-so-hot latte (with two raw sugars). It was funny and poignant when Alex, her boyfriend, asked for a “break” from their relationship. It was kilig when Christian, the genius writer, flirts with her. It was truly hard even for me to decide if she’s coming back to New York to be with Lily, her bestfriend who figured in a car accident, or be with her bitchy boss in Paris to attend a fashion show so she won’t get fired. The story includes the reader in Andy’s journey to maturity that it was sad and painful to let go at the end of the book.
Maturity sneaks into each one of us in different forms. In this story, Andy’s maturity was brought on by a combination of everything that happened to her after taking on the job as Miranda’s assistant. Miranda’s known for being cruel, demeaning and cold. Very demanding and impossible to work with. She was able to bring out her best despite that fact. She is the most un-fashion conscious person in her world. Making the decision to go to the office every single day to face her boss, do her humiliating job and be fashion-conscious as well made her realize that she was, after all, a strong person. Because of her demanding job, she inadvertently neglected the people around her (her bestfriend Lily, Alex her boyfriend, her parents as well as her sister and newly born nephew). She faced the consequence of her decisions when Alex broke up with her and when she nearly lost her bestfriend.
Moral of the story: your job should not be the end all and be all of your life.
Do not get married to your job! In the end, your job is just a means to get your basic needs. It will be taken from you in a snap of a finger (by a devil of a boss no less!) and if it’s all you have, what will happen to you afterwards? Devastation. Depression. Get a life outside of work! If it comes down to a decision whether your job or your family, I say, choose your family! There are a thousand other jobs waiting out there.
Can’t wait for the movie to come out! Anne Hathaway’s portraying Andrea while Meryl Streep will take on the role of Miranda Priestly.
To end this post, let me borrow Miranda’s favorite parting words…
That’s all.
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