Rating: 
Summary: This reinstates my vow to avoid best seller list books.
Review: I swore off "best seller fluff" long ago, but this book had been lurking around the list for so long, thought I'd give this new author a try. Well, dang, just more fluff. The writing is not so bad, but where oh where is any semblance of a plot? I kept on reading, thinking something was bound to happen eventually. Totally lame ending, totally lame book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Read for the Beach or the Pool!
Review: This is a great book if you read it for what is---fun reading for the beach and similar venues, plus some insight into the fashion world. I read this book on a raft while sipping a frozen margarita, and it really fit the bill. Deep reading this book is not, but the story is highly entertaining. For those of you who live and read in saner parts of the country, Lauren Weisberger really hit the mark on this one. It was fun mentally comparing notes as I read and laughed through the book. I have known other Mirandas (female and male) in other fields, and in a past life lived in a ritzy DC suburb where some of them also lived. There really ARE Mirandas who make these types of demands on their help without any regard or kindness in return, folks. I once knew a local Miranda who liked to gather her wannabes around her for regular worship while she rattled her jewels and burned out a new nanny every year... This is great catty entertainment!
Rating:
Summary: Won't Appologize For A Fun Read!
Review: Imagine graduating from college and landing a posh job at the major fashion magazine in New York City. Such is the case of Andrea Sachs, a 23 year-old small-town girl who's more comfortable in a pair of Nikes than a pair of Jimmy Choo stiletto boots. As a junior-assistant to the awe-inspiring, evoking panic in you heart Miranda Priestly (just Miranda to you) - Andrea is forced to juggle her personal relationships, some semblance of a social life and all the while try not to forget how many "raw sugars" to put in Miranda's Starbucks™ tall latte every morning. One would think that landing an elite position that "millions of girls would die for" at a place like Runway magazine would be a proverbial walk in the park, but Andrea quickly learns - Miranda Priestly is to be respected, not questioned and most importantly - feared. While Andrea struggles to remember how to arrange Miranda's daily ration of magazines just so and how she likes her bacon arranged on her plate - her personal life beings to collapse. Her best friend Lily turns into a promiscuous raging alcoholic and her boyfriend begins to feel neglected. So why would anyone put up with the verbal abuse dished out by Miranda? Easy, once a year has lapsed in the position a recommendation from Miranda guarantee's that Andrea can almost pick and choose from her choice of jobs. So with her eye on the prize - Andrea leaves her personal life behind amidst a sea of "Yes, Miranda's", "I'm Sorry Miranda's." and a slew of late night cell phone calls with ambiguous demands. The dialogue of "The Devil Wears Prada" is quick and easy to follow. While it enhances the reading experience to be a bit familiar with the fashion industry - its designers and brand names, it definitely won't stop you from enjoying Weisberger's witty writing style or from laughing out loud. The novel definitely falls into that "chick lit" section of reading, but it is definitely engaging. Weisberger is adept at making you "feel" what her characters are going through - whether it's the anticipatory fear that Andrea feels when she thinks that she might have missed an all-important phone call from Miranda or the decisions she must face in choosing between Miranda and her own life. If you're looking for deep character analysis or a book that will cause you to ponder the troubles o' the world - this is not the book for you. If you are in the market to be entertained and to laugh for a bit - you'll probably like this. Weisberger has crafted in Andrea a character that you can get attached to. While Weisberger pokes fun at the size 0 girls who consider themselves fat that work at Runway, there is still that underlying feeling that there might just be more to be thankful for than to complain about. All in all, I'm impressed with "The Devil Wears Prada" as it is Weisberger's first novel. She created a young, hip and entertaining read that can appeal to a variety of readers across the board. Another Amazon quick-pick I recommend is "The Losers Club" by Richard Perez
Rating:
Summary: The Devil Wears Prada
Review: This book was funny! It kept me in stitches, because I know someone like Miranda! The story was well written, the story line kept me interested. If you enjoy laughing and smiling than read this book, because it'll get you going. I also felt a lot more "fashion" informed after finishing.
Rating: 
Summary: My view on the novel
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: little insight and ungrateful
Review: Lauren/Andrea seems to have great contempt for the magazine she works for, the people she works with, and the fashion industry herself ("why do I care?" is asked often in this book), but she seems perfectly happy to wear/adopt the designer clothes and shoes that are given to her, and, for someone who doesn't care about fashion, she introduces all new characters (even the doorman) by what they're wearing. On top of this, she is ungrateful for her position (who takes that many personal calls?) and doesn't have the insight to understand why she should care: her boss, Anna Wintour/Miranda Priestly, is one of the most important and influential businesswomen in the world today-how can that escape the narrator? If Andrea were really an aspiring writer she would be taking the networking opportunities much more seriously: she completely misses an opportunity with Christian's editor, for example. And the ending is indeed a letdown-the Nanny Diaries did a much better job of vindication.
Rating:
Summary: Superficially interesting, but utterly disappointing.
Review: I bought and subsequently read this novel in the course of a few hours, hoping that the negative reviews regarding the author's style and the story itself would be proved wrong. At first Devil is funny, and yes, it does bear many similarities to The Nanny Diaries, but it ultimately pales in comparison. What put me off of this novel was its so-called heroine, Andrea, the quintessential "I graduated from an Ivy school as an English major and therefore I am entitled to work for 'meaningful' publications!" whiner. I didn't really care about her and found her irritating and self-righteous, and especially in the current economic climate, wholly unappreciative that she actually had a job. But I digress. The characterization of Miranda Priestly was amusing, but it felt like it became such a tired plot device after we must hear of how Andrea screwed up...again. I would have liked to see a more balanced portrayal between the two characters, because towards the end I almost liked Miranda (or was at the very least fascinated by her) and and decidedly did not like Andrea. What irked me beyond the main character was her narrative style, one that would make asides such as using "the most cliched phrase in the English language" but then continue to use said phrase, or interject rules of proper English grammar. It's as if she must apologize for not coining a more original phrase or not following those rules she knows so well, and her time could have been employed much better in writing a better novel. Overall, a highly disappointing read and a book I hope to return promptly.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Guilty Pleasure
Review: When I picked up this book to read for a book club, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was immediately drawn into the fast-paced plot. The journalist in me reveled at the workings of a fashion magazine, reminding me why I got out of the business. :-p I saw a lot of myself in Andrea, the main character, a never-failing people pleaser determined to stick out the job from hell. A quick and engaging read, I couldn't put it down and immediately passed it on to a friend. Super summer (or anytime!) reading. :-)
Rating:
Summary: I think I could be Andrea.....
Review: Wow! If I didn't know better I would have thought that "I" was Andrea. The book made me flashback to my younger days when I worked in NYC at Federated Department Stores Corporate Headquarters on 14th and Broadway. I moved to NYC from Maui, Hawaii and somehow landed my very first job in the fashion industry. I HAD NO IDEA what I had gotten myself into. From my first interview wearing a borrowed business suit (puffy sleeves and all) and cheap black heels I felt exactly as Andrea did in the book. I absolutely HATED my boss (and at least 98% of my coworkers). But, just like Andrea, I found myself transforming. Within a month or so my 20% discount at all Federated Stores was like gold and I wore nothing but Adrienne Vittadini and Versace. I remember the ridiculous demands, the late hours, the low pay, the hunger pains, and of course the fabulous looking, perfectly chiseled gay men. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this book as much if I weren't familiar with the world of high fashion. Those people are looney! BUT, like Andrea, my fashion industry job was an unbelievable learning experience. I hated the ending. The ending was the only completely unrealistic part of the book. No one would put in that kind of hard time and give it up with a month to go. Not for a loser friend who brought her situation upon herself, and certainly not for her boring boyfriend. The world of fashion hardens you. If Andrea were a real person she would have either cursed Miranda out within the first couple of months, or seen it through to the end. I also don't understand why the author alludes that Andrea is somehow responsible for her friend's deterioration. All in all, sappy ending aside, if you've ever worked in or around the world of fashion, you'll relate to this book. Pull out those old company photos and throw darts at everyone. It'll be fun!!!
Rating:
Summary: Go away negative self-talk
Review: My biggest problem with this book is that the main character, Andrea, is constantly berating herself. It reminds me of the negative self-talk that drives young women to eating disorders and other self-esteem problems. I can't stand how critical women are of themselves, and I can't stand that this novel's heroine (!) is constantly engaging in this type of behavior.
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