The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada, by Lauren Weisberger

Such a fun, fluff summer read!  As I was already a fan of the movie, I was delighted to find that the book was not all that different.  

**************Some spoilers ahead detailing differences between book & movie - STOP now and read the book if you want to be surprised! **************

Though decently written with vivid descriptions, the language (lottttttsssssss of F-words) was a little disappointing.  

She doesn't ever sleep with Christian in Paris.  YAY for the morality of the character, but I do wish Weisberger had spent more time developing that little flirtatious relationship.  It was fun.  :)

The story is told from Andrea's point of view, which causes the reader to commiserate a bit more with her character.  Unlike in the movie, Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Andy makes you want to hate her just a bit when she becomes absorbed in Miranda Priestly's world.  The novel's Andy, because we the readers are privy to her thoughts, is much more likable.  

Her boyfriend, named Alex - not Nate - is a saint.  He teaches at an underprivileged urban school, typically goes above and beyond in the classroom and extracurricularly, and is something of a frustrating character for that very reason.  He's as much a workaholic as Andy is.  Perhaps that's due to her lifestyle, and the changes therefore in their relationship.  Hmm.  Regardless.  He's not brooding; he's not a chef; and he's more manly, I think, than Adrien Grenier's Nate.

Certain characters are combined in the movie.  Stanley Tucci's character Nigel plays a relatively insignificant role in the book - maybe five whole sentences in the entire 375 page novel - but combined with the characters James and Jeffy of the book, Nigel comes to life on screen.  

Miranda's British, and Emily's not.

Lily, Andy's best friend, is pretty trampy.  The story weaves her story into Andy's... mainly due to the drama Lily causes.  It's Lily's alcoholism that brings about the climax of the story.

The novel ends dramatically differently than the movie.  There is no mutual respect between Miranda and Andy.  They have a significant falling-out, actually.  But this falling-out causes Andrea to receive several consequential job offers.  

**************End of spoilers!**************

Easy-peasy summer reading.  So much fun.  If you liked the movie, you will LOVE the book.  And I guarantee that you will feel like you need Prada and Gucci products after this one.  I don't even know what such brands look like, except in my imagination... but I want them.

The Search for God and Guinness

The Search for God and Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield

Such a delightful and engaging read!  From the history of beer itself to the (rather in-depth) history of this particular brewery, Mansfield takes the reader through the social, religious and political journey of the Guinness family.  

I was surprised by the way the Guinness family almost single-handedly saved the city of Dublin during crisis.  The care, the flexibility, and the proactivity of these visionaries demonstrated that this company was grounded with an understanding of the grace of God, and the responsibility to affect change in their community and world.  Seriously.  This family was involved.

Sounds sappy from the way I describe it, and I'm sorry.  It's not.  It's informative.  It's inspiring.  It got a little boring for a significant portion of the mid-chapters.  But stick with it.  

If you're a fan of Guinness the stout, you oughta read this book.  

If you're a fan of history, or Ireland, you oughta read this book.  

If you like missionary stories, you oughta read this book. 

If you like well-written books with a journalistic feel, you oughta read this book.

recent additions

I have an addiction to buying books.

I just hafta.

My recent finds at a local thrift store:

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok (have already read)

Davita's Harp, Potok

The Book of Lights, Potok

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom (have already read)

The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger

The Search for God and Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield (currently reading)

The Red Pony

The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck

I read this one this afternoon.  It was a glorious day: I was working on my tan, sitting on one of our new lawn chairs... glorious. 

While I don't consider myself a Steinbeck fan, I do appreciate his writing from time to time.  This most recent one reminded of me why I equally like and loathe him.  He certainly creates a scene, develops an interesting character, and causes you to care.  At the same time, however, I find that he revels in the despair of the time period.  I hate how he makes me like a character and then either kills them off or causes them to experience emotional or physical hardship.  Heartbreaking.  

Sigh.  I cannot deny, though, that I truly enjoyed The Red Pony.  I loved the relationship between Jody and Billy Buck.  Billy, the hired hand, had the most depth, I think, of the characters.  I also loved Grandfather and how he was unable to give up his thrilling adventure in the past.  Jody, the boy, essentially told the story; through that, I was given insight into his thoughts and emotional responses, but I cared more about the surrounding characters, to be honest.

Read it.  It'll take you maybe two hours. 

Ella Enchanted

Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted was one of my absolute favorite books growing up.  I love Ella's spunkiness, I love the creativity of the plot despite the Cinderella cliche, I love the first person narrative.  And, having not read it in perhaps over ten years, I was reminded how absurd and awful the film version actually is.  Why could they have not just stuck with the perfect story in front of them?  It's far more intriguing, compelling, and there is no room for horrifying musical numbers!  

Regardless, this was a wonderful kick start to my summer reading list!  Read it if you haven't yet, and if you have, read it again!