Arguably one of the most successful chick lit books of the past few years, it has also been made into a successful film with Meryl Streep. Which we've reviewed. Twice. Andrea has appeared on Trashionista as a heroine, yet, *whispers* we've never actually reviewed the book. So today I'm going to right this wrong.
If you don't already know (and if you don't where have you been?!) this brilliantly titled book is about Andrea Sachs, who has ambitions to write for The New Yorker and gets a job as Miranda Priestly's assistant. Apparently if you work for her for a year you can practically name the magazine you want to then go on to write for.
Lauren Weisberger has written this from her own experiences as she worked as the assistant for Anna Wintour the all powerful editor of Vogue. Priestly an exacting, outrageous control freak is supposed to be based on Wintour.
Andrea has no interest in fashion, diets, low carbs or any of the stuff associated with that industry. She has to learn fast both how to survive the looks and comments from her peers but also how to manage the demands of her boss. She is reduced to buying the coffee for her whilst also trying to negotiate several other difficult demands at the same time.
The plot of this book isn't it's strongest point. It has humour, a vivid look at the inside of the fashion industry, and definitely that page turning factor. But what carries the book, for me, is the character of Miranda. She is just so outrageously awful, so demanding of all these people who do exactly as she says, so larger than life that you just have to keep reading.
Occasionally I felt irritated by Andrea. Why put up with all of this? But Andrea has got to the point where she is so sucked into it all she believes she doesn't have a choice, which we, as a reader, can see that she does. Because of this I was led to believe that we were leading up to a big ending. A big bang, if you like. And whilst I won't give it away, I have to say the only bit I was slightly disappointed with was the end. Otherwise, I loved it.
Rating: 4/5 for sheer entertainment.
Like this? Try The Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin
