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thethirdcrouch's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The film version is definitely different than the book version. I liked how Meryl Streep tried to humanize Miranda Priestly which was complemented by the recommendation letter in the ending scene. I like how the book MP is just a total devil. The book, surprisingly, conveyed the Runway staff to be yes fashion and diet crazies but a bit helpful to Andy. Emily especially was the employee who'd well-adjusted to the environment and didn't want to bad-mouth the boss but understood Andy as hints of it slips off the cracks. The book, thru this medium, managed to focus on Andy's personal relationships which for the most part in retrospect was a topic of the story even when she's in the office. With it came my frustration as to how the story seems to impart that Andy was being selfish prioritizing her career.
There was an underlying idea of when someone has a demanding work they should be guilty for not being there for their loved ones. Her boyfriend was so undesirable for this. I understand how Andy really did neglect showing him more care and even I can't believe you can't really make time and forget to call someone you've put a sticky memo in front of your face. But he's so wrong for making her choose. He was patient though and the constant cancellations were too much. But he's in a better place he should be the one adjusting in this two-way relationship. The job would end in a year and it's like how long distance relationships don't last even if it's just for a year. Andy clearly wasn't cruising in that work life so he should have had understood the sacrifice. I couldn't comprehend though how Andy kept working in that job and she did had a choice to resign. But the opportunities that could open after that stint was too hard to decline. She did pass the interview and barely a year close. Then her bestfriend Lily. I didn't read any remorse from her considering that was selfish of her. Whatever she was going through it was very unfair to make your loved ones stop their life because of the consequences of your actions. Even the boyfriend guilt-tripped Andy about this. It all ended for the best but Runway sure gave fuel to what she could do now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
strawberryblonde's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
In all honesty, just watch the movie. It's so much better.
I found the main character in general very unlikeable and the book mainly consisted of her workplace abusing her in every way possible. There were parts I enjoyed, but for me the pacing of the book was generally off. For a long time the plot didn't seem to be going anywhere and then the climax came at the very end of the book, which left me as a reader incredibly confused. It wasn't terrible, but I don't see myself picking it up again.
I found the main character in general very unlikeable and the book mainly consisted of her workplace abusing her in every way possible. There were parts I enjoyed, but for me the pacing of the book was generally off. For a long time the plot didn't seem to be going anywhere and then the climax came at the very end of the book, which left me as a reader incredibly confused. It wasn't terrible, but I don't see myself picking it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Car accident, Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Addiction
anapthine's review
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Alcohol, Body horror, Dysphoria, and Drug use
Minor: Car accident, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Deadnaming
doggamn's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Came into this one wanting to see how much it differs from the movie and what aspects came from the writers of the film's script. Definitely feel like this one is one of those rare adaptations that ends up better than the source. Rather than listing all the casual details that were changed (e.g. Andrea's hair color or Emily being American), which don't matter, I think it's more important to reflect on the ways the film adjusted the structure of the story and treated its characters. Miranda is more sympathetic in the movie, and we see her in vulnerable and human positions: when she finds out her husband wants to divorce her and at the end of the film when she helps Andrea get a new job.
The book also doesn't really have an act three; the conclusion speeds through Andrea learning her friend is in a coma to her cussing out Miranda and flying home. Andrea herself is pretty different as well. Rather than buying into the culture of Runway, as we see her do in the film, she remains pretty much the same throughout the book--complaining throughout the entire thing and not really changing her stance on any of it. Interestingly, the main three scenes in the movie that are most memorable to me (Miranda's divorce news, Nigel losing his chance at his promotion, and of course Miranda's monologue about cerulean) all are unique to the film rather than having any real basis in the novel. Miranda in the novel is cold and we never see her in any real vulnerable position; the closest we get is Andrea watching Miranda navigate her husband's family and their friends for his brother's wedding, but there's no real insight there. Nigel hardly exists in the book other than as a flamboyant fashion master. Miranda never ever speaks to Andy about the ins and outs of fashion and, though she says at the end that Andy acts as though she's above everything Runway, we aren't left with the feeling that there's any reason Andy shouldn't be.
Weisberger definitely intended to show how Andy lost sight of what was important in her life as she fell more and more into her job and had to work long hours, but that didn't really land. Andy in the book feels somehow more isolated from her family and friends, but that's not due to Runway. Though the book insists that she loves her family, her boyfriend, and her best friend, we don't really get the feeling that she has any strong relationship with any of them. When she misses Alex's calls or doesn't help Lily with her drinking problem, it doesn't really affect anything. Lily gets in a car crash and ends up in a coma, but by the time Andrea is back in the US, everything is pretty much status quo again.
Personally, I feel like the book lacked some of the heart the movie had. All of the characters in the novel seem to be annoyed with each other at all times, rather than having relationships that are in flux and change because of Andy's descent into Runway and fashion. Ultimately, the novel didn't come to a satisfying conclusion, as Andy gets a job with a magazine as a writer under a boss who was Miranda's assistant years earlier. The story ties things up in a few short pages and we're left feeling that there is something missing from the story. Weisberger apparently didn't like that the movie softened Miranda Priestly but, without that softening, the novel feels more like a rant than a coherent story. The book is ultimately fine and an easy read, but it isn't engaging in the way the movie is for me.
Additionally, the book is riddled with outdated terms and language; Miranda's husband is referred to as BDAD for "blind, deaf, and dumb" and Weisberger always mentions when a character is not white (using general terms, such as "Asian" and so on). Though the book is an easy read, it isn't one I would recommend at the end of the day. If you want to enjoy a version of The Devil Wears Prada and not slog through chapters of repetition, I'd recommend skipping the book and going straight for the film.
The book also doesn't really have an act three; the conclusion speeds through Andrea learning her friend is in a coma to her cussing out Miranda and flying home. Andrea herself is pretty different as well. Rather than buying into the culture of Runway, as we see her do in the film, she remains pretty much the same throughout the book--complaining throughout the entire thing and not really changing her stance on any of it. Interestingly, the main three scenes in the movie that are most memorable to me (Miranda's divorce news, Nigel losing his chance at his promotion, and of course Miranda's monologue about cerulean) all are unique to the film rather than having any real basis in the novel. Miranda in the novel is cold and we never see her in any real vulnerable position; the closest we get is Andrea watching Miranda navigate her husband's family and their friends for his brother's wedding, but there's no real insight there. Nigel hardly exists in the book other than as a flamboyant fashion master. Miranda never ever speaks to Andy about the ins and outs of fashion and, though she says at the end that Andy acts as though she's above everything Runway, we aren't left with the feeling that there's any reason Andy shouldn't be.
Weisberger definitely intended to show how Andy lost sight of what was important in her life as she fell more and more into her job and had to work long hours, but that didn't really land. Andy in the book feels somehow more isolated from her family and friends, but that's not due to Runway. Though the book insists that she loves her family, her boyfriend, and her best friend, we don't really get the feeling that she has any strong relationship with any of them. When she misses Alex's calls or doesn't help Lily with her drinking problem, it doesn't really affect anything. Lily gets in a car crash and ends up in a coma, but by the time Andrea is back in the US, everything is pretty much status quo again.
Personally, I feel like the book lacked some of the heart the movie had. All of the characters in the novel seem to be annoyed with each other at all times, rather than having relationships that are in flux and change because of Andy's descent into Runway and fashion. Ultimately, the novel didn't come to a satisfying conclusion, as Andy gets a job with a magazine as a writer under a boss who was Miranda's assistant years earlier. The story ties things up in a few short pages and we're left feeling that there is something missing from the story. Weisberger apparently didn't like that the movie softened Miranda Priestly but, without that softening, the novel feels more like a rant than a coherent story. The book is ultimately fine and an easy read, but it isn't engaging in the way the movie is for me.
Additionally, the book is riddled with outdated terms and language; Miranda's husband is referred to as BDAD for "blind, deaf, and dumb" and Weisberger always mentions when a character is not white (using general terms, such as "Asian" and so on). Though the book is an easy read, it isn't one I would recommend at the end of the day. If you want to enjoy a version of The Devil Wears Prada and not slog through chapters of repetition, I'd recommend skipping the book and going straight for the film.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Medical content
why_prateek's review
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
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