The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger

Title: The Devil Wears Prada Author: Lauren Weisberger Genre: Chick-lit Rating: 7/10 # pages: 392 Date read: July, 2007

Summary: Most recent college grads know they have to start at the bottom and work their way up. But not many picture themselves having to pick up their boss's dry cleaning, deliver them hot lattes, land them copies of the newest Harry Potter book before it hits stores and screen potential nannies for their children. Charmingly unfashionable Andrea Sachs, upon graduating from Brown, finds herself in this precarious position: she's an assistant to the most revered-and hated-woman in fashion, Runway editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. The self-described "biggest fashion loser to ever hit the scene," Andy takes the job hoping to land at the New Yorker after a year. As the "lowest-paid-but-most-highly-perked assistant in the free world," she soon learns her Nine West loafers won't cut it-everyone wears Jimmy Choos or Manolos-and that the four years she spent memorizing poems and examining prose will not help her in her new role of "finding, fetching, or faxing" whatever the diabolical Miranda wants, immediately.

Review: Chick-lit and fairly enjoyable, but as you can see from the rating, I wasn't knocked off my feet. It was okay, but Andrea needed to grow a spine in the worst way. I couldn't believe she'd let her boss treat her like that - and CONSTANTLY. It'd be one thing if Miranda had at least some redeeming qualities, but there were none. Which made for a train-wreck-like book (i.e. you couldn't look away), but not one that could be labelled 'comfort book' by any stretch of the imagination. I kept waiting for Karma to bite back and it never happened, which left me with a terribly unsatisfied feeling.

Book List

By The Shores of Silver Lake - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: By The Shores of Silver Lake Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Genre: Classics Rating: 4/5 # pages: 220, Audiobook ~6hrs Date read: July 2007, March 2011, August 2012, January 2018

The days of moving from place to place are finally over for the Ingalls family. After going through a very hard time on Plum Creek, good news comes in the form of Aunt Docia, who hasn't seen them since they left the Big Woods. She's married now, and her husband works for the railroad in the Dakota Territory. He's in desperate need of help, so Pa decides to leave the Plum Creek area and move west with the railroad.

After they've moved west, they have the job of setting up their new home in the wilderness all by themselves. The last workmen have moved out and they are all alone. Or so they think. One man remained behind and he and his new wife become the family's closest friends. Little by little, new people start arriving and making their own homes. Pa has to act fast if he's to claim the homestead he'd picked out!


This is very obviously a 'transitional' book where Laura has to get her and her family from one place to the next but not much happens. It's a true sign of a good author, however, when even books where 'not much happens' are well worth reading :)

Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: Farmer Boy Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Genre: Classics Rating: 4.5/5 # pages: 236, Audiobook ~7hrs Date read: July 2007, January 2010, August 2012, January 2018, November 2024

The Story of a boy named Almanzo Wilder...While Laura Ingalls grows up on the western prairie, a boy named Almanzo Wilder is living on a farm in New York State. Almanzo and his brother and sisters work at their chores from dawn until supper most days -- no matter what the weather. There is still time for fun, though, especially with the horses, which Almanzo loves more than anything.


It took me quite awhile to read this one the first time around, because I didn't originally think that a book not about Laura could possibly be as good. I don't know why I thought that, seeing as it was the same person writing them, and fortunately my mum talked me into reading it. Now, it's one of my favourite of the series. It has a lot more explaining how they do this or that, but that doesn't bother me at all, since lots of this is completely new to me. I also like the fact that this book spans over almost exactly one year, so you get to see how life on a farm was back in those days.

The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: The Long Winter Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Genre: Classics Rating: 4/5 # pages: 251, ~7hrs Date read: July 2007, Jan 2010, August 2012, January 2018, November 2024

The town of De Smet is hit with terrible, howling blizzards and Laura and her family must ration their food and coal. When the supply train doesn't arrive, Almanzo Wilder and his brother realize something must be done. They begin an impossible journey in search of provisions, before it's too late.


My mum used to say that this was the most boring book of the lot. Perhaps for that reason alone I never felt so. I realize it's quite repetitious, but you get to follow an entire town during a difficult time, and get lots of survival tips... should you ever be in a situation where they're actually needed ;) If I remember correctly it's the only book not told solely from one person's POV which I think was a good choice as there would otherwise have been far too much telling and not enough showing.

Reread in January 2010: It's been insanely cold for an insanely long period of time (after Danish standards anyway), so I figured it was quite appropriate to reread this now. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it as much as always. Definitely made me realize how lucky I am to live in a day and age where electricity, heat and transportation are things we can take for granted.

Reread in November 2024: It struck me this time around that they managed to find Christmas presents for everybody except Laura! That bothered me a bit.

Little Town on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: Little Town on the Prairie Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Genre: Classics Rating: 4.5/5 # pages: 223 Date read: July 2007, January 2010, August 2012, January 2018, 2024

The long winter is finally over, and with spring comes a new job for Laura, town parties, and more time to spend with Almanzo Wilder. Laura also tries to help Pa and Ma save money for Mary to go to college.


This is one of my favourite LIW books. I'm fascinated by the descriptions of life in town. Two things that struck me in particular were a) how modestly they lived and b) how quickly they had to grow up. Just think of Laura, going off to teach at age 15. I was no where near mature enough for that at that age. And they all seemed so selfless too - always passing on things to each other, because they didn't need them themselves, and thought the other person would like them more.

These Happy Golden Years - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Title: These Happy Golden Years Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder Genre: Classics Rating: 5/5 # pages: 237 Date read: July 2007, January 2010, August 2012, January 2018, November 2024

Fifteen-year-old Laura learns that living away from home and teaching school can be a bit frightening when most of the students are taller than she is, but every week Almonzo Wilder arrives to take her to her family for the weekend.


I love all of Laura's books, but if I had to choose a favourite, it would probably be this one. It takes up exactly where "Little Town..." leaves off and describes Laura's life now that she's suddenly a grown-up school teacher. I couldn't imagine teaching school at an age where I still ought to GO to school! It's fascinating. And the courtship between her and Almonzo is just adorable. I always finish this book with a happy sigh :)