Revenge Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

Over 10 years after the original Devil wears Prada a sequel has been released. The main characters are all now in their early to mid 30's with more advanced careers and have moved on from Runway. It was great to revisit the lives of Andy and Emily again and hear what they have been up to in the last decade, sort of like catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen since Uni.

However the first half of the book felt very different than “Devil”. It was a lot slower paced and the characters seem to have out grown their swearing that as very prevalent from what I remember. It seemed more of rehashing the interim from “Devil” than actually having a new story. The original was marked with a go-go-go style with no time for breaks, never ending descriptions of people’s outfits and fashion items all interspersed with chipped, snarky comments from numerous characters. So far everyone is civil to each other, there is little to no swearing, the pace is chilled out and the fashion descriptions are so minimal that you actually pay attention to them when you come across them when reading.

The second half of the book gets more into a storyline but it jumps all over the place and is disjointed. You get into a scene and want to know what happens and how things go and then Bam! you are a few months in the future with little to no reference about it at all. Disappointing.

While yes there is more of the storyline it is a boring storyline. No one wants to read a book about a person coming to terms with being married and having a kid, especially when it’s a sequel to such a fast paced, in demand, exhausting book 1.

Emily has lost all her pizazz and edge and is just another run of the mill character from any book, while Andy is a very watered down version of her 'pushed over' self. And still even then you only see that happen infrequently.

It seems as though this book was toned down to be the sequel of the movie version of “Devil wears Prada”, not a continuation of the book version. I was very disappointed and the ending made me gag. Can you get any more American Hollywood feel good ending. Not a story I would choose to read. Ever!

Last night at Chateau Marmont - Lauren Weisberger

I thought this was quite a good book. Like all of Weisberger's books they draw you in and make you want to keep reading. The idea of this book was really good, it showed you behind the curtain of what it would be like to catapult to fame very quickly and how someone would deal with that. Weisberger has a great way of going on depth into a world that most people don't get to see, in Devil wears Prada it was a fashion magazine, Everyone worth knowing showed the PR world.

The only big downfall of this book was the ending. It felt very rushed and rolled together too easily. I found myself wishing for a different ending just to make it more interesting and what I feel would be more realistic.

Lauren Weisberger is still one of the authors I like enough to read whatever she writes and I look forward to her next book

The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

An extraordinary debut novel from a stunning new author. Follow Andrea 'Andy' Sachs as she scores the job 'a million girls would die for'. Working at the world's most fashionable magazine, Runway, as second assistant to Miranda Priestly, the boss from hell.

Join in the life of a lowly personal assistant during her first year working at the fashion magazine where, if she makes it through, a recommendation from her boss will help her get a job at the magazine of her choice. The catch, she has to make it though that year. Working with the bitchy, elitist clackers and being assigned absurd takes such as aquiring the yet to be released Harry Potter book for Miranda's children, to finding that vintage dresser Miranda saw that one time in an antique store somewhere downtown.

Not only is Andy dealing with the absurdities of working for absolute meager pay, although sometimes with decent perks, she also has to handle the trials and tribulations of trying to juggle her life with her boyfriend, alcoholic best friend and her cramped living arrangements.

Can Andy survive long enough to make it through and get her recommendation? Does she even want it anymore?

Jaki's review

A phenomenally powerful book. It's hard to believe this is Lauren Weisberger's first novel. While the book is written so well with superb narration by Andy Sachs, I felt that going through all the trials with her left me feeling lethargic, worn out and a little depressed every time I put it down. However I still wanted to read more, after I had time to get my energy back. Though there are light notes throughout the book that leave you feeling good, such as the singing security guard and his games each day, Andy drew me into the book as a likable sane character who steered me through the highly elusive world on the other side of the glossy magazine covers.

The Devil Wears Prada does include a lot of swearing which may deter some readers, but it is an ideal read for anyone interested in what it takes to put out a fashion magazine and what happens behind those closed shiny designer doors. And of course those who think they have worked for a boss from hell, and especially those dreaming of strangling their boss with their one-wear-only Hermes white Scarves.