- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Harper Perennial; Large type edition edition (3 April 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007235216
- ISBN-13: 978-0007235216
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,545,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
" A high-heeled walk on the wild side, Tracy Quan' s Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl is a nifty trick of a first novel, combining sexual slapstick with luxury-goods, hotel-lobby sociology, exposing female vanity and male self-delusion with equal aplomb. Juggling cell-phone calls and quirky clients, Quan' s Nancy Chan is like a Henry Miller heroine with the meter running, bouncing from one trampoline event to another while always keeping an eye on the bottom line. What will shock many is not the explicit play-by-play action but the knockabout, offhand humor- that' s what shocked people about Henry Miller, too. No artificial sweeteners here: Quan' s adventures in the skin trade deliver a cocktail kick."
- James Wolcott, author of The Catsitters
" Nancy Chan is a working girl I can totally relate to, recognize- and imagine sharing my clients with. Addictive, entertaining, and fun to read, this book tells it like it is. Tracy Quan reveals trade secrets and shatters a lot of myths, while creating an accurate picture of what it' s like to be a New York call girl at the turn of the millennium."
- Xaviera Hollander, author of The Happy Hooker
" If you want to know the secrets of the trade, pick this one up." -- Jackie Collins
" New York's latest literary sensation" -- "The Independent"
" Frank, fizzy, and not for the faint-hearted." -- "Mail on Sunday"
" Her sex scenes are delightful" -- "The Times" (London)
" A sassy read about a sparky New Yorker trying to juggle her professional and private life...a startlingdebut." -- "The Mirror"
- James Wolcott, author of The Catsitters
" Nancy Chan is a working girl I can totally relate to, recognize- and imagine sharing my clients with. Addictive, entertaining, and fun to read, this book tells it like it is. Tracy Quan reveals trade secrets and shatters a lot of myths, while creating an accurate picture of what it' s like to be a New York call girl at the turn of the millennium."
- Xaviera Hollander, author of The Happy Hooker
" If you want to know the secrets of the trade, pick this one up." -- Jackie Collins
" New York's latest literary sensation" -- "The Independent"
" Frank, fizzy, and not for the faint-hearted." -- "Mail on Sunday"
" Her sex scenes are delightful" -- "The Times" (London)
" A sassy read about a sparky New Yorker trying to juggle her professional and private life...a startlingdebut." -- "The Mirror"
Cosmopolitan
‘Chock-full of bad-girl secrets... tantalizing’
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
fairly dull
i'm afraid this surprised me. But not in a good way. The ending was diabolical and i wish i hadnt wasted my time trying to read the whole thing!
Published on 1 April 2008 by Ms. F. I. Macdonald
alright
This book was kinda perfect for the post christmas blues because you can just read it without thinking too much about it. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2008 by kimmy
Rubbish
Really bad. I had no interest in the characters and the ending was awful. Just as you get to the point where you think there might actually be a clever twist to the story and a... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2007 by Kiki
Perfect!
I read this awhile ago and hadn't got round to leaving a review! Anyway, this is a perfect read, how did she juggle her life like that! An amazing lady - loved it!
Published on 14 Aug 2007 by Droopy_Ears
Call Again
I got this book free with a magazine sometime ago, you know how it is I will get some spare time to read it, well many months later I have ! Read more
Published on 16 April 2007 by Alessi Lover
Not what I expected!
I received this book as a freebie with a magazine and only kept it because I had nothing else to read on my journey. Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2006 by Minks
Rude with attitude
I wouldn't have said that this is hard to get into but once I came to terms with the language used I found that it was quiet a enjoyable read. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2006 by Devlish Booker
Shocking
I usually don't like the so called 'dirty' books but this one is entertaining and shocking. I haven't picked up such a different book for ages. It is a fantastic summer read.
Published on 17 July 2006 by Miranda England
Dull book with no ending
The title was the only part of this book that was "tantalising" and overall I found it frustrating, dull and lacking an ending. Read more
Published on 16 April 2006 by M. Lansdell
Not as good as I thought it would be
I was really disappointed with this book. It didn't really have much of a story line or plot and was just the same thing page after page ("how can I stop my fiancee finding... Read more
Published on 4 April 2006
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