by Lauren Weisberger


As much as I enjoyed the movie more, the literary work is equally entertaining in its own right. I could say they are both great but I cannot truly compare the book and movie on a same wavelength.

For one, the movie is the gist of the book. It was visually appealing and Anne Hathaway as Andrea is easier to picture and brings the story to life with her charm. The book, on the other hand, is beyond detailed of course and this being descriptive is the axiomatic reason why I find weaving the picture of high couture better, lacing each chapter with Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana and all the other glory of dearly-worn brands.

Rating: 4 stars - The implications of Andrea's highs and lows as Miranda Priestly's assistant is something that makes this whole story addictive. In the movie, I found Andrea sympathetic and captivating. In the book, however, I find her stark and aggressive and at times, overly complaining. But don't get me wrong: the plot is what makes this work. I think what makes the readers grasp the idea is its ability to engage the audience to relate to the protagonist whilst making her way up to the ladder of life.

This is a must-read not only for people who are into the fashion world, but if you have patience for descriptive works... this is the book for you.

by Paulo Coelho

I've been trying (or should I say struggling, stress on the word) to read this book for over a year and I haven't been successful in finishing it. One day I'll put it down then the other day I'll pick it up then put it down. Finally I had a chance to understand what the public is raving about this.

Veronika is a young girl from Ljubljana, Slovenia who had everything anyone could hope for - good and attractive physique, steady job, loving family and a lot of admirers. But it seems she wasn't contented with that when she tried to commit suicide on a winter morning by overdosing on sleeping pills.

Veronika then wakes up at a local mental hospital called Villete where the doctor tells her that her heart is damaged and she'll die soon within a week.

I admit the topic of suicide doesn't really appeal to me, so I was hesitant to read this book (though I got it from Bookmooch!). However as the pages turn I find more and more fascinating thoughts contained - like realizations of life and death. People in Villete have been curious with Veronika's case and instead of accepting her imminent fate, Veronika has surprisingly found herself struggling to live.

What I liked most from Paulo Coelho's book is that it presented awareness - awareness of life and awareness that we don't have the eternity of time wasting it without knowing its true essence. The characters in the book are also interesting; the downside is that this is slower to read than expected but don't get me wrong: the slow points are the biographical background of each major character involved so I can't imagine any other way that Paulo Coelho would write it.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars