I should have known better. I mean, Prada is in the title! What was I expecting? Still, the book The Devil Wears Prada had a lot of fans, and the movie looked cute enough in an "I can spend $4.50 to see it at a matinee" sort of way. I like to read the book before seeing the movie, so I read Prada (#16), by Lauren Weisenberger.
The book, as others have mentioned when it came out, is very similar to The Nanny Diaries, which depicted an unbearable set of wealthy parent-employers in Manhattan. And like The Nanny Diaries, Prada has a rather unlikable protagonist. The main character, Andy, is just not convincing or admirable. The point of the book, sure, is to see her go through these trials of working in the fashion world and then learn a lesson, but I don't sympathize with her along the way.
The plot is also boring. It goes like this: Andy's boss, Miranda, asks her to do something outrageous. Andy does it, to keep her job, which supposedly will guarantee her a spot at The New Yorker, her dream job, even though her job has nothing to do with journalism/writing. In the process of doing said outrageous task, Andy ignores friend/boyfriend/family, and they feel hurt. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And then, finally, Andy breaks the cycle. The end.
Certainly some humorous scenes. For those of us who work far, far away from Manhattan and fashion or anything close to it, we wonder if the scenes described can really be so horrific (no doubt, some of the tales Weisenberger have a basis in truth). Of course, I'm sure some associate pastor or church staff member could write a funny tale about senior pastors (though probably funny to a limited audience!) But all in all, pretty ho-hum. I'd have been better off just seeing the movie - less time consuming.
The book, as others have mentioned when it came out, is very similar to The Nanny Diaries, which depicted an unbearable set of wealthy parent-employers in Manhattan. And like The Nanny Diaries, Prada has a rather unlikable protagonist. The main character, Andy, is just not convincing or admirable. The point of the book, sure, is to see her go through these trials of working in the fashion world and then learn a lesson, but I don't sympathize with her along the way.
The plot is also boring. It goes like this: Andy's boss, Miranda, asks her to do something outrageous. Andy does it, to keep her job, which supposedly will guarantee her a spot at The New Yorker, her dream job, even though her job has nothing to do with journalism/writing. In the process of doing said outrageous task, Andy ignores friend/boyfriend/family, and they feel hurt. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And then, finally, Andy breaks the cycle. The end.
Certainly some humorous scenes. For those of us who work far, far away from Manhattan and fashion or anything close to it, we wonder if the scenes described can really be so horrific (no doubt, some of the tales Weisenberger have a basis in truth). Of course, I'm sure some associate pastor or church staff member could write a funny tale about senior pastors (though probably funny to a limited audience!) But all in all, pretty ho-hum. I'd have been better off just seeing the movie - less time consuming.
Comments
The senior (or "executive") pastor
expose could be very entertaining...
E