The Devil Wears Prada

by Lauren Weisberger

book data

42,598 ratings, 3.36 average rating, 3,132 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		15%
4		30%
3		34%
2		14%
1		5%

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published

April 15th 2003 by Random House Audio

binding

Audio CD

setting

The United States

isbn

0739302418 (isbn13: 9780739302415)

description

It's a killer title: The Devil Wears Prada. And it's killer material: author Lauren Weisberger did a stint as assistant to Anna Wintour, the all-power...more

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01/28/08

Samantha rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in August, 2006

God have mercy, I finally finished this horrific book! Honestly, it wasn't so bad, just tedious and repetitive. I picked it because (a) the movie was coming out and (b) I recognized the title as a popular book, albeit a couple years ago. The premise to the book is that a young woman takes a Junior Assistant position at a high-fashion magazine and the She-Devil who runs the show. The movie had the same premise, but that's practically where the similarities end.

Andrea Sachs takes the job, even t

...more

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

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09/21/07

Jennifer rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: chicklit, nytimes

recommends it for: No one

This is one of the only books I have ever read in my entire life where the film actually improved my perception. It took me about three years to read this, and the only reason I ever finished it was because everyone else seemed to think it was so great, I thought I must be missing something.

I am generally bothered by books and films wherein the main character is offered an incredible opportunity, but because they are worried they are sacrificing themselves, they toss it out the win...more

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

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05/27/08

Libbie rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Libbie by: My mom. Big surprise.
recommends it for: people who are easily amused and don't care about good writing.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Meh.

I actually listened to the audiobook version of The Devil Wears Prada on a recent road trip. I hope that counts as "reading" it.

Maybe "gossip fiction" (as the back of the CD case repeatedly called this book) just isn't my thing. I know that chick lit isn't my thing, but I was desperate for something other than static hiss or Christian preaching as I drove through the Oregon Cascades. Wherever the hangup occurred, I couldn't like The Devil Wear...more Meh.

I actually listened to the audiobook version of The Devil Wears Prada on a recent road trip. I hope that counts as "reading" it.

Maybe "gossip fiction" (as the back of the CD case repeatedly called this book) just isn't my thing. I know that chick lit isn't my thing, but I was desperate for something other than static hiss or Christian preaching as I drove through the Oregon Cascades. Wherever the hangup occurred, I couldn't like The Devil Wears Prada in spite of my attempts to enjoy it.

The plot moved along rapidly enough, I suppose, although what little conflict was there was barely enough to be called a plot. Let's see: Andy feels ambitious; Andy is abused by her boss; Andy doesn't like it; Andy's friend and boyfriend start to resent her ambition; Andy tells her boss to fuck off. The end. I'm sorry; I missed the conflict here. Where is it, exactly? I suppose it was stuck somewhere in with the whole "deciding whether she should quit her job or not" thing, but that was going on throughout the whole interminable narrative and never really changed in terms of intensity. An unvarying conflict with two-dimensional characters all over the place is just not my idea of a good time.

I will say that the voice used was fairly well done. It felt like it was coming from the mouth of a 23-year-old, if a fairly ineloquent one. I found it somewhat hard to believe that Andy graduated from Brown with a degree in English and that she had aspirations to edit the New Yorker. She seemed fairly limited in her modes of expression. Still, she did seem young and "hip," and that worked well enough with the gossipy tone of the book.

The heavy-handed name-dropping was obnoxious - I can't really see Annie Liebovitz giving two shits what Cruella DeVille thinks of her; not enough to send her ridiculously expensive Christmas gifts, anyway - and some of the cultural references will date this book in a most severely crippling way in about six years. Plus, I get that Miranda Priestly is fabulously wealthy, but how many fashion magazine editors REALLY have THAT much money? I just found it to be a tad on the unrealistic side. Maybe I know too many editors to believe that they can own private jets and can fly to Paris on a whim for the express purpose of acting like a bitch. It didn't ring true, but maybe Miranda was a trust fund kid and invested wisely.

Other aspects of the book were hard to swallow but I was willing to suspend my disbelief in order to get through the experience. I find it exceptionally difficult to believe that a magazine editor who makes huge sums of money from her wildly successful rag would care AT ALL about whether her assistant was wearing Prada or Banana Republic, even IF she is absolutely obsessed with fashion. A woman who's turned a fashion magazine into the kind of success that allows her to demand that two copies of the new Harry Potter book be jetted to her hotel room in Paris the day before the book is released is going to be far more concerned with efficiency and performance from her employees than the label on their clothing. Again, maybe I just know too many business people to swallow the milieu Lauren Weisberger has conjured up out of her fashion-addled imagination. Said fashion editor keeping a staff and a huge closet full of spare high-end clothing specifically to make sure her staff looks right just didn't fly with me.

The characters in this book were flatter than a tortilla. Nobody changed at all throughout the course of the novel. Even Lily's drinking didn't appear to increase, even though Alex said her drinking was increasing. O RLY? Because from the first time we "meet" Lily she has a glass of the alky in hand and never puts it down once. Speaking of which, I suppose we as readers are supposed to sympathize with poor Lily, driven to alcoholism by the neglect of her eight-grade BFF, but instead I found myself laughing at the character. Lady, if you can't get over the fact that your bestest pal from EIGHTH GRADE is trying to build a successful career for herself and has more ambitions in life than sleeping with as many creepy men as she can lay her hands on, then you have bigger problems than alcoholism. The DWI-induced coma Lily lands in is the drippy, maudlin icing on the two-dimensional character cake. Boo.

Far more interesting than the day-to-day minutiae of Andy's job and struggles to receive her lunch breaks (hey, Andy - ever heard of OSHA?) is the obvious memory problems of her boss, "devil" Miranda Priestly. I thought there was a much more intriguing story buried among the lifeless characters and the pop-culture references. Why couldn't Miranda remember a damn thing, and how did a woman with an obvious case of early-onset Alzheimer's disease manage to be so successful at editing a major magazine? I kept expecting some explanation of Miranda's severe memory issues, but none ever came. I guess she was borderline demented because she's a bitch, not because she had some serious problem that would have added whole layers of interest to this book. Nope. She was just a bitch. That's all, folks.

This would be a one-star review but for the fact that there is one deft bit of writing in the entire novel. It struck me after I finished the last audio CD and gratefully managed to tune my crappy iPod radio-sync player into some band of static I could use for greater entertainment that Miranda Priestly is never described as wearing Prada. At least, not as far as I could recall. Andy, however, admits that she feels good about herself when she leaves her apartment decked out in Prada from head to heel. Thus implying, of course, that the titular "devil" is Andy and not Miranda Priestly at all. Alas for Weisberger, Andy never comes across as a true devil; just a young woman trying desperately to do what it takes to establish a good career in the publishing world.

All in all, I would not recommend this book to anybody. It may be that the film was more entertaining. I might watch it some day, but it will be a while before I can scrub the spectacle of the novel from my fevered brain.(less)

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

2 comments

10/29/07

Michelle rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in October, 2007

A woman came up to me while I was reading this book and said, "Oh, how is that book? I've been meaning to read it." I answered, "Um, well, it's kind of fun." She raised her eyebrows at me. "I see." I added, "I wouldn't pay full price for it. I got it on sale for, like, a dollar." She nodded as she began to walk away, "Okay, I know what you're saying."

I can explain more if you still feel like reading this book. Honestly, I won'...more A woman came up to me while I was reading this book and said, "Oh, how is that book? I've been meaning to read it." I answered, "Um, well, it's kind of fun." She raised her eyebrows at me. "I see." I added, "I wouldn't pay full price for it. I got it on sale for, like, a dollar." She nodded as she began to walk away, "Okay, I know what you're saying."

I can explain more if you still feel like reading this book. Honestly, I won't stop you from reading The Devil Wears Prada, I just don't suggest you push off absolutely everything else in order to do it. There are many, many more worthy books.

The main character, Andrea/Andy, is just really not likeable. I wish she was. I kept trying to see her point of view. But she really bothered me. She had a great opportunity to get into the publishing business, fashion business, or whatever else. She just had to hold out for a year. Fine, she's getting four or five hours of sleep a night. I really don't care. Fine, her boss is ridiculous. But Andrea defiantly sighs at her to show her how she feels, which really, just makes her a big baby. I didn't like a lot of the people I worked for, but if you're a hardworker, you're not going to huff and puff to prove your point that all of this is beneath you. You're going to suck it up and do it. Andrea acts like the super expensive, fashionable clothes that everybody wears are ridiculous, and yes, she sells what she has at the end, but she also puts down Franco Sarto shoes and Ann Taylor (or was it Express?), which made Andy pretty hard to relate to since most people reading the book are probably wearing those things. She doesn't treat her best friend well the entire time, which okay, sometimes these things get left behind when you're busy, but come on, she was an alcoholic. Pull it together, Andy, and be a friend. And when she tells off Miranda at the end, God, I really think the author was going for that whole, Yeah, sock it to her, Andy! thing, but that's really not how I felt. I wanted to tell Andy to grow up. Wouldn't a decent person and adult have said, "Look, Miranda, my friend has been in an accident. I'm sorry if you want me to stay, but I have to go." Which, okay, that's not the best ending either, but really, don't bring up the whole friend in an accident thing, and then have Andy blow up and quit because she couldn't get Miranda's two kids some passports. (Yes, I understand that in the back of her head Andy was probably upset about her friend, but that really didn't come out at all.) There's a lot more to complain about, but really, do I have to say anything else?

Weak.(less)

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

2 comments

07/23/07

Jack rated it:

(review of isbn 038550926X)

Read in June, 2007

Not bad, I suppose—especially interesting when compared to the film adaptation, which I'd seen first.

The movie was no great shakes, really, although the cast did a solid job with what they'd been given. Still, I sought out the book because I felt that, as with most film adaptations, a lot of depth had probably been jettisoned, and rightly so, in the translation to the screen. After all, a novel can tackle a lot more than two hours of screen time can.

Imagine my surpris...more

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07/25/07

Belinda rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: contempopop, marshmallowfluff, stinkers

recommends it for: NO ONE

The only reason I waste words on this piece of trash is that it holds the distinction of being THE WORST BOOK I EVER READ. The title was held previously (for a good 15 years previously) by "The Bridges of Madison County," and it took some DOING to surpass that awfulness.

I could write for three days about how much I hated this book. I still can't believe I finished it, and the only explanation I have is that it was kind of like not being able to look away from a trainwreck...more

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01/26/08

Cassandra Babino rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

I kept thinking *THIS WILL BE A GREAT MOVIE* but never a good book. I was really disappointed and on a side note ... when I DID watch the movie I was so disappointed because all I could think was * This would be a GREAT book.

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02/12/08

Katie rated it:

(review of isbn 0767914767)

Read in June, 2004

recommends it for: people working their way up to fine literature from STAR magazine

I picked this up because it was in the guest room at my aunt's beach house and it seemed like good "summer is here, I just finished finals, don't make me think" reading. I think I read it in about 3 hours, and I couldn't remember a single thing that happened to the main character once I was done.

In fact, if they hadn't come out with the movie (which I'm a big fan of, by the way), the book would have probably disappeared from my radar forever.

Nothing really happ...more

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02/11/08

Ana T. rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: bookrings, contemporary

I finished The Devil Wear Prada last night. I had some trouble getting into the book, those first descriptions of Andrea's adventures before joining the magazine were really not that interesting to me. After she enters the magazine world I became more interested in her relationship with everyone else. Meaning I'm not that into fashion so some people might actually appreciate the fashion angle in this book more than me.

Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the jo...more I finished The Devil Wear Prada last night. I had some trouble getting into the book, those first descriptions of Andrea's adventures before joining the magazine were really not that interesting to me. After she enters the magazine world I became more interested in her relationship with everyone else. Meaning I'm not that into fashion so some people might actually appreciate the fashion angle in this book more than me.

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.

After Andrea starts working at the magazine she has to deal with her boss's impossible requests, rude manners and every hour calls. She feels compelled to try to answer every request because everyone tells her that after one year of putting up with Miranda Priestly she will be able to choose the job she wants.

As the action progresses Andrea is more and more into the Runway spirit, where everybody wears designers clothes, is sickly thin and lives in fear of the boss. Her relationship with Priestly's Senior Assistant Emily shows exactly that - either Emily is defending her boss and her rudeness or, when she is also a target, she is bad mouthing her in secret.

Although she becomes more of a Runway girl Andrea keeps herself focused on the real job she wants - to write for The New Yorker, and can't resist sometimes feeling superior to everyone else who works for the magazine. With that goal in mind she keeps accepting Miranda's demands thus hurting her relationship with family and friends. The climax come during a trip to Paris where Andrea is preparing to help Miranda organise a party even though her best friend is cometose in the hospital. Miranda makes one more impossible demand - to removate her daughter's passports in 3 hours - and Andrea finally tells her F*** ***.

That's the end of the job and she comes home to be with friends and family even if her relationship with her boyfriend is already damaged.

I thought this was a fun book to read after I made through those first pages because Miranda's rudeness and everyone else's reaction too it are actually really fun and make for some LOL moments.
However once you close the book there's really nothing that stands out. As an example of chick lit I think it lacks some growth of the main character, in the end Andrea only learned to dress herself better and maybe to pay better attention to her family. But she already had her own set of values and principles at the beginning of the book.
A C+.(less)

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01/28/08

K Z rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: 2008, owned

Read in January, 2008

Lauren Weisberger
The Devil Wears Prada
2006, Anchor
432 pages
Book bought in: Moab, Utah – USA

In this review, the book has not been compared to the movie; I wanted to review the book in itself.

As a horribly unfashionable person myself (at least, that’s what I believe, as Prada does nothing for me and I can’t for the life of me walk in heels, oh, and I like my hips), picking up The Devil Wears Prada with all of its fashion stereotypes meant ind...more

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12/30/07

Jamie added it (review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in January, 2008

Where to start with this one! Seldom have I ever read a book that actually made my blood boil with rage, but this did it! I can, unfortunately, relate to the utter misery that Andy faces while at Runway, while my own clearly does not amount to her cataclysmic year of agony.

Having seen the movie well over 20 times, I found the book to be very little like the movie in most regards. The book is far more depressing, but far more real, and thus far more enjoyable. If you've never read...more

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07/24/07

Alana rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: awful, chicklit

Andrea Sachs, a recent college grad yearning to work for The New Yorker, accepts a job as personal assistant to the editor in chief of the ever successful fashion magazine Runway. (For those of you who missed it, the author worked as personal assistant to chief editor at Vogue). She soon discovers, however, that she is completely at the mercy of her boss-from-hell 24/7.

The story was amusing to begin with, parts of it were laugh-out-loud funny, but as the book drags on, it simply beg...more

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04/24/07

Rosey rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in November, 2006

I am giving this book a 3. I enjoyed this book, yes, but it was not to the point where I went "wow." I've read so many better books than this. However, don't get me wrong. I DID enjoy this book. It reminded me of Ugly Betty in a way. It's funny and pretty quick-paced. It would make a great summer beach reading, ya know? Also, the title - The Devil Wears Prada. Hm? I've kept that in mind while reading the book, and could not find any connection. Any idea? The devil's obviously the boss,...more

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04/03/07

Erin rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in February, 2007

I usually enjoy these trendy books about editors and fashion and love, specifically Jane Green books, but this one was not the pick of the litter. Apparently we are supposed to be impressed that this girl works for someone who values a pair of shoes more than the people she works around, and we are supposed to feel sorry for the main character because she is so stressed she loses weight and has to wear Gucci. After this book I actually put it down and said "That's it??". I would have l...more

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09/04/07

Marie rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in August, 2007

I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. I've made it a point to read these chick-lit NYC books (The Nanny Diaries, The Ivy Chronicles) and this one, although by no means good literature, pulled me in because of the relationship between the two main characters. I once worked for a woman who, although by no means rich or famous, had the same approach toward her employees as Miranda, and I found myself reliving some of my more horrible moments with my ex-employer. Although the book ...more

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09/05/07

Casey rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

bookshelves: abysmal, finished, read-for-fun

This book was terrible, and I'm someone who enjoys chick lit. The Devil Wears Prada is a roman-a-clef by Lauren Weisberger, a mediocre writer who takes herself too seriously. The plot is just a series of bad decisions made by the novel's unlikeable protagonist Andy Sachs, who thinks the best way to become a writer for the New Yorker is by becoming an assistant at a Vogue style magazine for a year. Andy spends most of the novel whining about her mundane entry-level job and stealing designer cloth...more

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09/09/07

Audra rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in September, 2005

recommends it for: Any girl looking to laugh!

Main character: Andrea Sachs – in her early 20’s; wants to be a writer for the New Yorker, and lands a job as a junior assistant to this bitch magazine editor, Miranda Priestly. She puts up with all her crap, thinking that perhaps Miranda might give her a good recommendation to the New Yorker after she has paid her dues. I think I like the character of Andrea’s best friend Lily the best – she’s such a free spirit (although that characteristic gets her in trouble). Andrea almost giv...more

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10/29/07

Chloe rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

I read this book long before the movie came out, and I had mixed feelings about it. There was a lot of detail about the fashion world which I enjoyed reading about (it's always fun to read about something that you don't have experience in!) but Miranda was not an enjoyable villain for me to read about. I think that Weisberger had a great opportunity to make Miranda Priestly a great villain/antagonist but she did not come through. I found myself not caring about what happened to her in the end. T...more

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10/22/07

Christina Grant rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in January, 2003

recommends it for: very few

I did not really enjoy this book at all- everything this book should have been was the movie. Cut out the other 70% of the book all together.

I was considering giving up and putting the book down a few times during this read- but I figured "it's gotta get bback on track sometime"

This was never ending- there was just so much bitching, and complaining and horror stories about this boss that it was almost painful to read after a while. She's the devil- in prada- we...more

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08/12/07

Megan rated it:

(review of isbn 0307275558)

Read in January, 2003

i was reading this book at the same time i was working in a very similar environment as andy, the main character. i laughed and cried with her because i could relate to her character so much. miranda liked her perrier placed everyday on a certain side of her desk. my old boss, mehmet, liked his evian room temperature from the bakery across the street. miranda would dump her coat and bags on andy every morning. mehmet would hold out his arms for me to put his YSL coat on and bow his head dow...more

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