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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
S'OK..., 27 May 2006
This novel was lent to me by my brother's girlfriend, after a conversation about books, or prostitution, or something of that nature. I didn't expect the book to be particularly interesting, but I was disappointed anyway. It gets off to a very promising start with an in-your-face raunchy `scene' (by the way, this is to be made into a film, I believe!). I had best not go into detail! But it falls flat soon after this. The problem with this book is that the main character, a New York high-class prostitute by the name of Nancy Chan, isn't especially likable, and there is nothing, except how she earns how money, that is interesting about her. Because of this it is very hard to care about her, and the main `tension' of the book (will her fiancé find out about her line of work?) deflates. The plot is centred on her trying to balance her work and her love life. The dilemma of whether to give up hooking or whether to give up her boyfriend seems to be the core theme. Needless to say, as a reader, I was waiting for a big cheesy event (possibly at her dreaded wedding, with fellow prostitutes as guests) where her real job is exposed. This, let me tell you, doesn't happen. In fact, little does. Also, the author introduces encounters with a pro-feminist lobby aiming to legalise prostitution. Nancy's friend becomes involved with the group for `sex-workers rights', much to the disproval of her fellow call-girls, who would make much less money if their profession was legal and widespread. This had the potential to be the most interesting aspect of the book, and much could have been made of Nancy's changing views on these women, but it seems to only be there for comedic (or not) effect. There is also an awful moment when we learn of a young woman's ordeal of being black-mailed for money by a ten year old boy, and, shockingly, nothing further is mentioned of it! Despite the fact that at the time it appears to be a turning point. This is a novel that doesn't really go anywhere, and the ending, is an enormous anti-climax (one of those "What?...That can't be the end!" type of endings). Having said all this, this book does have its moments and it is quite good fun. Just don't expect anything more than a bit of a trashy, light read. Nothing wrong with that!
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing, 29 Mar 2006
I never expected great meaning from this book, but what I did expect was some light reading with a few engrossing plots, and a 'gossipy' feeling to it. But I was disappointed. Hardly anything mildly interesting happens in the book, until a couple of half-baked storylines near the end which go frustratingly unconcluded. I kept waiting for something to emerge which would capture me, but this never happened. The main character, Nancy, is, for me, unlikeable and it is hard for the reader to empathise or be put in her position. Overall, the book is crammed with irrelevant little details and dialogues, and tends to drag on relentlessly. There were foundations in this book for several riveting plots, and it was exasperating to see that so many oppurtunities were wasted. I would have liked to see a little more description where emotion was concerned too.
As for the end, it was as if the author ran out of time in a high school English exam. A real train wreck of an ending-completely unsatisfying.
I hate to say that on the whole, this is a poor book, although it's marginally better than reading the back of your ticket when you're bored on the bus.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Quick and easy read but with a disappointing ending, 22 Sep 2005
As I left for work this morning, I was about to pop "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl" into my bag but then I realised that I had actually finished it. The reason it took me a second to realise this is that I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending - it was kind of like a three-course meal where you get an entree and only half of a main course.The beginning and majority of the book is great; witty, funny and interesting. It provides an informative and unpretentious insight into the world of being a private call-girl. But as another reviewer commented, it seems like Quan didn't know how to wrap up the strands of the narrative and opted for a cop-out instead. Overall: Interesting but unsatisfying.
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