Book Review: The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

Andrea.....

Photo credit: wikimedia.org

Andrea.....

Andrea....!!!

I can't let go this book during my long vacation break. I have been always fascinated by the fun side of fashion world, the arts of textile, photography, and the trappings of glamour. Enjoying every bits of Andrea's journey from fresh grad to the cut throat world of fashion and finding her true self by working for the dragon lady - Miranda. I can't imagine if these were to happen to a person but if you were to go through all the challenges, you're gold. Absolutely golden! 

A highly relatable book if you're also working for a monster boss. Whenever I was feeling down or bad at work, I think of Andrea, if she can pulled it through Miranda, so can I. (actually, she did't... but i like to think that she did because Miranda granted her ultimate wish) Set all the drama aside, this book gave me the power to get through the bad days in work. 

Book Review : The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith

(photo credit: google books)

One word to describe this book, beautiful. To be honest, I noticed of this book after the film "Carol" trailer caught my attention. I did't watch the film at first, but glimpses of the film already provide me some visual to imagine according to the story. It is far more easier to imagine the book with the face of Carol (Cate Blanchett) and Therese (Rooney Mara).

Basically, this book is about love, forbidden love between a young, fresh, a little lost woman with an independent, seasoned and resolute woman. The love relationship here is not complicated, but I feel that they are unsure of how deep of their feeling towards each other. Added to that is the uncertainties with the concept of homosexuality. There are no burning flame love or grand proclamation of love towards each other but everything is brought down to very basic love emotion: compatibility with each other. I guess that's why travel consists most part of the story. 

Apart from the romantics between the two, (I am not born in the era of this book setting) I truly understand how important the invention of mobile phone is today. I'll just say telegram is a chore, hotel is very important and postcards really something back then. Or I should say, telegram while travelling is a chore, going next town to pick up telegram, this hotel to pick-up telegram, and next hotel to leave a telegram (oh my, I can't even). Postcard is the best, it's just simple and concise. I cannot not think about this all the time reading this book.

Finally, I really really like the ending of this book. Some say in every relationships, there is a "reacher" and a "settler". In this story, I think they are both the "reacher".

Book Review : Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah

(photo credit: goodreads.com)

No doubt this will be one of my favourite book. This is a memoir of Adeline Yen Mah's journey from child to adult across some of the most difficult times and places in history. I am always interested with the life and settings of power family and Chinese cities. The book is easy to read, everything is narrated clearly and concise.

I consider this book some kind of a family's dirty laundry exposed. All the stories within the family, the gossips and the secrets. The writer basically told her stories growing up in an upper class with wealthy grandfather, aunt, and parents but never really have the chance to enjoy a grand upbringing. Her unfortunate life was mostly portrayed to be caused by her beautiful stepmother (the typical evil kind) and a father who is forever unable to be satisfied despite all her achievements academically. The whole family bond also got affected when the stepmother took her position as the lady-in-charge in the house. The already negligible daughter became more invisible. 

Besides all those internal drama, the story follows how family survived a series of event that happened to China and guarded their wealth safely. Adeline moved from one place to another and another to a point of being abandoned. Nonetheless, she was brought back to reunite with her family. She continues to be successful academically and later in her career, but struggles to obtain universal human needs: love, especially from her parents (including her stepmother).

I see the book as a daughter looking for love and recognition from her own father, waiting for a pat at the back, and "well done, Adeline".