Lauren Weisberger's - The Devil Wears Prada

Genre : Humor
Rating : 4/5

This title was in my to-watch list rather than in to-read list. And before I culd get hold of its DVD I came across its paperback edition in the monthly library sale.

It is that insubstantial chick lit u want to devour on cozy weekends or on tiresome weeknights. It is the self-tale of Andrea Sachs a 23 yr old 'Brown' graduate who is eager to take up any job that will lead to her dream job as a New Yorker writer. When she gets a interview as an assistant for fashion magazine Runaway's editor-in-chief Miranda Priestley, she is assured that Miranda is a guaranteed ticket to any job as publisher if Andrea proves herself in an yr’s tenure as Miranda's assistant. Less did she know that Miranda is looking for a puppet who would be required to do all sorts of jerkwater works as fetching coffee and lunch for Miranda (which should appear on her desk in couple minutes after she has asked for), arranging her table for lunch, cleaning her dishes, sending her dirty clothes to the dry cleaning, making an arrangement for the Harry Potter book for her 10 yr old twins on the day before the book is released. Miranda likes to keep all her employees on the toes even on the weekends. She has her own whimsical style of dealing with her employees. This book is full of Andrea's rants about her boss, told in a very humorous way. Not knowing ABC of the fashion world she hates her job and she hates her boss equally. She takes pleasure in all the gossips in the office that belittles her boss. Its only the hope of getting into New Yorker, that keeps her tied to the job.

Miranda Priestley is portrayed as the meanest, rude, unrealistic, spoiled or any adjective that u can think of in the similar terms. If you see her through Andrea's eyes you ought to hate her.. but she is THE manager, who can teach you 5yr's lessons in an yr's term. She is ungracious but she knows how to be at the pinnacle of success. She accepts no glitches from any of her employees and thats what the main character, Andrea, hates of her. Andrea fails to understand that she has unknowingly learnt a lot as an assistant to Miranda.

This book is jam-packed with the citation of top-class models, designers as Prada, Manola, Guccii and what not. I gulped many a times reading the price tags of the handbags, clothes and shoes these fashion world damsels wear in their day-to-day life. The book drones on the same thing from page 1 to the last and is predictable yet it is a page-turner coz u wait to know Miranda's next eccentric demand and Andrea's feat to full-fill it.

I am impressed by the author’s choice of words. There is repetition of words later but initial 150 pages have made my vocabulary richer with quite number of good words. And also was a good insight into the lives of Manhattan’s fashion celebrities. In short this book is a devilish manna!

Bill Watterson's - The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes

Genre : Humor
Rating : 5/5

Alltime a good pick if you need something to cheer you up. Bill Watterson seems to be observing this world too closely.. and My! What do I say about that darling Calvin? I had mentioned here how much I was obssessed with Calvin when I read this character for the first time. Since then I have read many and yet, everytime I open the next volume with the same excitement. Such is the charm of Calvin and Hobbes series!

This volume is not the best of all Calvin and Hobbes series.. but how does it matter, as long as you have witty Calvin and adorable Hobbes (Calvin's stuff tiger) at your disposal ! Few of the strips I liked in this volume were -

- Calvin's mom is working in the kitchen. Calvin drives on his bicycle and stops near the kitchen, screaming - Can I have 4 cookies for to-go?? :)

- Calvin and his parents (of course Hobbes is with them too) go to a zoo, which also happens to be first zoo-visit for Calvin. This poor little guy is so engrossed in watching the animals that he gets lost alone (Hobbes is not with him). Instead of asking real person for help, Calvin goes near tiger's pit and asks those ferocious tigers if they have seen Hobbes :)

- When Miss Wormwood (Calvin's teacher) asks him a question, the answer to which Calvin doesnt know. He simply replies - Hard to say Ma'am. I think my cerebellum just fused :)

Mariane Pearl's - A Mighty Heart

Genre : A True Story
Rating : 5/5

I was not aware of this book until I read about it on Sampada's Semantique and her review made this book's entry in my 'To-read' list.

This is the most intimate portrayal of Mariane's fight for the life of her husband- Daniel Pearl, Wall Street Journal reporter. The story starts with the dawn of January 23, 2001 in Karachi - the day when Danny has an appointment with Sheikh Gilani, an spirtual leader, (apparently more than that)! Mariane has accounted every single incident from the day Daniel went missing till the day she received the news about the death of her beloved. The tireless efforts of all the people in tracing Danny's kidnappers. The minute particulars of the stringers (liasons between Danny and Sheikh Gilani). Exact details as they put the pieces of the puzzle together. Her every emotion. Every individual who helped her in the investigations. And while describing this she doesnt shred an iota of wrath against those extremists. Neither there is any melodrama in the book. The extraordinary courage that she displays is simply rivetting. Not even for a single moment did she wish bad of Danny's captors. Daniel was mistaken as an CIA agent and all she wanted was to let his kidnappers know that they have abducted an innocent journalist, whose only weapon was pen! She indeed possesses A Mighty Heart.

Daniel's love for journalism His penchant for truth. His moral strength to declare his religion. His fondness for his wife. His affection for their unborn. Everything was modest, and yet I found him so exceptional. Through the book, I had gained so much respect for the Pearl couple that inspite of knowing the consequences and watching similar kind of brutality on the internet, my heart skipped a beat or two as I read about the hideous end of Daniel.

Though this book relates to the terrorism, while reading about the moments Danny and Mariane spent together, at times I felt it as a love story. Such was the beauty of their relationship, which was sadly scattered to pieces!