Because She Can

Book title: Because She Can
Author: Bridie Clark
Amount of pages: 274

I don't go hunting for books because I know I'll never be able to keep my hands off them and would probably go broke just feeding to my hunger for good novels. So I let them hunt me.

I borrowed this book from my dear friend, Alice, who wrote a beautiful review of it on her blog. I indulged in it immediately because I have interest in publishing and it's always fun to read a book that is related to the industry. Besides, I've watched The Devil Wears Prada and thought that the main character truly reflects a lot about myself. This book would probably do that same, I thought. And it did.

Synopsis from http://www.bridieclark.com
Life is really looking up for Claire Truman. In a New York minute, she lands a plum job at a top publishing house, catapulting her out of editorial assistant status and tripling her salary. In the same stroke of good luck, Claire goes from loser magnet to girlfriend of her decade-long crush: the fabulously successful and gorgeous Randall Cox (who's a nice guy, to boot). The perfect guy, the perfect job...it seems like Claire's dreams are all falling neatly into place.

Enter reality. It doesn't take long before Claire realizes she's working for the publishing world's worst tyrant: the outrageously abusive Vivian Grant, a woman who churns out New York Times bestsellers with the same frequency as she sends traumatized assistants flying out of her office in tears. Soon Claire is in staff meetings that feel more like war zones, at a book party thrown at a strip club, and watching Vivian run her employees into the ground and into therapy.

As Claire's job steals more and more of her time and soul, her relationship with Randall begins to feel the strain. It doesn't help that Claire's been spending overtime with Luke Mayville, a handsome, brilliant novelist whose career she's helping to launch.

With her love life at a crossroads and her work life driving her crazy, Claire can't help wondering if her future will have a happy ending. Her career may be on the fast track, but does she like where it's taking her... and who she might turn into?

I love the way each character is being crafted though the repetitive of certain actions/scenes were kinda annoying. The book gets kinda draggy after a while because it's about a repetitive process of how Vivian tortures Claire in her effort to build a respectable career. Nevertheless, the way each character seems so realistic is a plus point to this book.

A lot of focus was placed on the career path of Claire. You can hardly call this a love story because Claire's love life is really minimal between the pages. Minimal as it is, you could guess who's the guy she would eventually end up together before the story ends. It's nice to go through the pages dreaming of a handsome guy who would whisk you to Paris for a weekend gateaway because he is rich enough to do so.

Extra bits taken from Distressed Jeans
The comparison between Because She Can and The Devil Wears Prada is inevitable. What do you say to the critics who will compare these two books which both feature bitchy, demanding designer- clad bosses from hell and young ingénues who are eager to please?

I say: thank you! I loved The Devil Wears Prada – book and movie – and think Lauren’s a very funny writer, so the comparison is flattering. To the charge that it’s “just more assistant lit,” I’d say that there’s room for a few books on the topic. I think readers like fiction that’s in some way reflective of their own experiences. Lighthearted, entertaining books centered on the workplace – and making sense of one’s career – seem to resonate with young women who are heavily invested in their careers.