Revenge Wears Prada

"Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns" is the highly anticipated sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada" written by Lauren Weisberger. The original book debuted in 2003, the movie adaptation hit theaters in 2006 and featured the queen Meryl Streep along with Stanley Tucci, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt. Obviously I love the movie, and I did love the first book. I wouldn't go as far as to say that I loved the sequel though. 

The first fifty pages of the book I spent trying to reacquaint myself with the book characters. There are a few subtle differences that I had forgotten existed between the original book and the movie. Character nuances that didn't make a huge difference from page to screen, but transporting myself back into the pages did take some work. Especially because a lot of the book involves what went on ten years earlier. The plot follows Andy Sachs ten years after she worked for the dreaded Miranda Priestly. She and her previous nemesis Emily Charlton are now besties and run a wedding magazine called The Plunge. Andy has moved on from her boyfriend Alex (Nate Cooper in the film) and is now getting married to billionaire investor Max Harrison. 

The book scans years of time and so for awhile I got lost in the story, and I don't mean in a good way. I think Weisberger was trying to reconnect with the characters herself why still keeping interest from the movie fans, but I found the book to be lacking concept and ideas. The whole plot was a little mundane, and although I did read the book in less than three days, I found myself unsatisfied and unfulfilled. I hate to say this about such a great author because the first book is a great story. But I think what I have come to realize is that the producer and director, along with the entire cast and crew of the film, took a good story and made it into a brilliant movie. Weisberger laid the foundation, but Meryl and Anne (I know I am acknowledging her talent for once, don't get used to it!) made the characters real. I love Miranda's character in the movie, and I am not ashamed to admit it. "Revenge" has little to do with Miranda and when she does make her grand appearances, she is mostly kind instead of icy and withdrawn. This left me feeling confused and wondering what the whole goal of writing the follow up was, other than a ploy for a second film (which would be lacking in content but again would have wonderful acting if everyone signed on). 

If it doesn't come across in this post, I am confused about the book. The goal of it, the point of writing it and the storyline itself. The twists and turns are completely predictable and yet I can totally see the film already playing before my eyes. I obviously read this book so fast because I love Meryl Streep and would love nothing more than for her to fulfill the role of the dragon lady once again. I don't know what the future holds but we shall see. If you want to feel as befuddled as I do, pick up a copy and read it for yourself.