Rating: 
Summary: A fast moving, very funny, very spicy novel.
Review: "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl" is a fast moving, very funny, very spicy novel that has unexpected subtlety and depth. It does what Henry James claimed for his "Turn of the Screw." It "sets traps for both the wary and the unwary reader." Diary is replete with very subtle literary allusions, particularly to the earlier literature of prostitution. For example, Nancy's therapist is Wendy Kessel. Joseph Kessel is the author of "Belle de Jour," the story of a Parisian housewife who moonlighted as a prostitute. Taken as a whole, the world and work of Nancy Chan is a metaphor for the contemporary world at large, intertwining sexual, romantic and economic relations. In this regard, the novel is not unlike Jean Genet's play, "The Balcony," which used the brothel to represent the human world. "Diary" can be read purely for entertainment, which is perhaps unfortunate, since a more careful reading yields unexpected rewards.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful, Readable, and Surprisingly Real
Review: ... There is no snobbishness; just a comedy of manners, so to speak, that is delightful, readable, and surprisingly real. Perhaps the reviewer didn't know what to make of a prostitution novel that lacked the usual elements of such stories; abuse, violence, degradation, exposure, etc. Nancy is fully aware of the worst elements of her profession, as are Jasmine and Allison, each in their own way. Yet she manages to create for herself a life that steers reasonably clear of these dangers and approaches her chosen profession, sex, with the same professionalism you see in other fields. Those who haven't had direct contact with this world may find it hard to believe Nancy's approach to prostitution can be real, or for whatever reasons, they may prefer to deny that it can be real. But the book is real (subject perhaps, to literary license that's no greater than that taken by any other novelist). Tracy Quan knows. So do I.
Rating:
Summary: Once started, this is difficult to put down...
Review: ...This book is quite difficult to put down. Rather than filling time in my schedule, I found myself making time to read this book! The pace is perfect and the only complaint about the ending is that although not abrupt, you are left wishing that the author would have given you just a little more. In retrospect, I think that my delay in picking up the book initially was the subject matter. I think most people find the general topic tantalizing but we exist in era where we are inundated with sex in the media to the point of oversaturation. That being said, I was willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt, having read her column on Salon.com and knowing that she had experiences from which she could mine the seeds of a funny and credible story line. As it turned out, the book used sex as a backdrop to a story that was really a character study of a quirky individual with interesting idiosyncracies and equally conflicted friends (with the exception of one very focussed colleague in the story). The author cleverly peppers the story with a bit of sexual experience to satisfy nearly all possible fetishes among the book reading audience, but no one fetish is ever focussed on enough to work to disengaging those not so inclined or to the point of becoming a sub-plot in and of itself. All in all this a very fun read and the potential audience for this book is much more broad than the title would suggest. I don't like comparing books to other stories but this is much more 'Sex in the City' than it is voyeurism into the day to day life of a hooker in NYC. Spend a weekend relaxing with this book and you'll find it was time laughingly spent.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining gift
Review: A friend of mine gave me this book as a Christmas gift, along with some Jane Monheit recordings. I thought it was great fun to live in Nancy Chan's world while listening ot the retro sounds of J.M. There's something simultaneously very modern and very timeless about Nancy Chan -- you get the feeling that there will always be girls like her, in New York and elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Not very realistic
Review: Although this book is a good "beach book", it's not very realistic. Her average client pays $300 ( not top level in New York, especially in the 90s and 2000) and she seems to have about 4 clients including the clients from her Network. There is no way you could survive in New York City on 4 clients unless they were paying very high rates on a very regular basis ( more than every 6 months like one of her clients). And still be able to buy expensive bags, shoes and clothes? This book was more like a Sex in The City type story then a true account of what it's like to be a highly paid call girl. The only character that seemed realistic was Jasmine. She is a go getter, cut throat and very pessimistic. She is always trying to "build up her book" at whatever the cost. That seems to be more of what a successful and independent call girl would be like.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but fluffy.
Review: Amusing.. I read it from cover to cover in an afternoon. A clear sign that it was amusing, but not deep enough to require any thought. Take it if you plan on sitting at the airport for a few hours... but I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a satisfying read that makes you think.
Rating:
Summary: NO CLIMAX!!!
Review: At the finish of this book, the reader is left hanging to wonder in anti-climactic annoyance about too many things. Among the many unanswered questions in this book is one particularly annoying question because it is so steadily built up, then left frustratingly unanswered: why is Nancy's district attorney sister-in-law constantly plying her with double-entendre questions & suspicious comments about Nancy's career? Does the D.A. sis-in-law know something? Too, the last chapter jumps 8 mos. leaving a multitude of unanswered questions! Ridiculous!!
Rating: 
Summary: Fact or fiction?
Review: Been there, done that, and the bottom line being, this book tends to glorify and create a sad misconception of a dark, consuming lifestyle. If her quasi-memoirs happen to encourage naive young ladies into the "game", then she ought to feel ashamed for herself for most will encounter a nightmare of the likes they've never seen before. I was once a so-called pimp (writing my own memoirs at the moment) and the garbage I was witness to, troubled me deeply. This was on the up-scale level, escort side of the equation. Not the street. The freaks in this business knows no demographic: Rich, poor, culutured, plebeian, race, color, or creed. They walk amongst them all... I have yet to encounter a book by a former sex trade worker that truly tells it like it is without shamelessly glorifying their perception of themselves and more often than not, continuing the denial (a prerequisite to remain in the game) in the failing hope of hanging on to what little self esteem remains, if any at all. I was very disappointed and found it to be a boring read as she meandered through her tale. It was a struggle to finish the book. I was that turned off. It's like comparing Disney flicks to pornography. That's how far removed it is from real life. Part fiction? All fiction is more like it. Replete with a sacharin-sweet, candy covered coating. Ugh... A book that truly tells of the darkness is "Children In the Game" by Ross McInness (former Calgary vice detective). I have seen the fear, the horror, and the pain as it is depicted between those very pages. If you want the truth, by his book! Taz
(retired administrator, formerly of Ambrosia's Allure -
a once high-end Toronto escort service)
Rating:
Summary: decent
Review: call girl is an enjoyable read with it's well-written entries and quick pace. I most liked the look at sex workers unions due to my studies in both sociology and gender theory. What I found most disappointing is the abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered. (...) book (...) was ment to deliever: a quick, fun, enjoyable read; not a moral reflection on the proffession.
Rating:
Summary: decent
Review: call girl is an enjoyable read with it's well-written entries and quick pace. I most liked the look at sex workers unions due to my studies in both sociology and gender theory. What I found most disappointing is the abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered. (...) book (...) was ment to deliever: a quick, fun, enjoyable read; not a moral reflection on the proffession.
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