Callgirl Hardcover – July 1, 2004

Many books have been written about the sex trade. Some are well written, by scholars, where all the knowledge is second hand. Some are written from first hand knowledge, by the sex workers themselves, who, on many occassions lack the needed skills for good, effective written communication.Here is a book, written from a first person perspective, by someone who, being an anthropology PhD, can and does write effectively, has the know-how to write a book on the subject and make it interesting, educational, and yes, also prurient.This is a narrative of her years as an expensive call-girl in Boston, working for a small agency. It does not pretend to show life in other, larger, and less "decently" run agencies, although it does show a few snapshots of girls in other agencies.This is also not a report on other facets of the sex insdustry, i.e brothels, or street hookers. They are mentioned "en passant" but not dwelt on.However, for anyone who is interested, pruriently or not, on the ins and outs of the life of call-girls, a great read.

Callgirl has, in my opinion, several flaws, that are hard to ignore when you are reading this thinking that it is, indeed, a very faithful account of an escort, and in general, flaws on form.The first is, I would say, in the department of believability. This has been already brought up by several other reviews, but there are too many incongruences on its writing. It is hard to believe that an Ivy League educated Ph.D holder would be so naive in several issues, and that, teaching classes about prostitution, she would not care to check issues of the legal ramifications of her profession, among other clear issues there.Second: the style of narrative is inconsistent, and often rambles a lot. The first few chapters indeed correspond to her first few weeks in the business, and the last few chapters correspond to her last few weeks on it. But in the middle, she goes back and forth in time, without giving you a clear timeline. Many of the "relevant" incidents on the book cannot be clearly put in chronological order. Most chapters try to focus on one thread of a complex story, taking it from start to finish. For example, the chapter about Mario, one of her favorite clients. She tells you about what she heard from him before she met him, her first call with him, the client/service provider relationship they developed, and how this relationship came to an end at some point. Not a bad chapter, but not all of them are like that. Others, she starts several threads of thought at once and didn't finish either of them. For example, chapter thirteenth! She starts telling you that her night job was starting to take its toll on her teaching, and half way through her explaining why she thought this was happening she starts telling you that there were worse professors than she ever was, and suddenly, the topic changes to her ongoing romance with a guy she met through Peach (her madam), then some rambling about why men prefer having sex with prostitutes, and how it was not "fun" for the prostitute, but exclusively hard work. Then she changes to how (even when her teaching was deteriorating) she started getting invitations for a lecture somewhere else, and as her classes were "cutting edge" she was being invited to the right parties to be to raise on the academia, and somehow it turns to how she made a bunch of doubles (the client paying for a threesome with two girls), how it was a "collaboration" between the two girls, how one of them once help her in the situation where she had suddenly gotten her period just a few minutes before walking on the guy's place, and then some ramblings about why threesomes between friendly acquaintances generally would not work. All that in thirteen pages. Messy, isn't it?Third: her ramblings (yeah, I know, I am rambling a bit too with this review). She rambles too much at some points. She is in the middle of an interesting point of the story, something noteworthy happening with one of her client, and she would start this several pages long philosophical ranting about some opinion she has, or preconception she thinks everybody else have. With respect to the inclusions of her life as a professors, unlike other reviewers, I indeed appreciated it, maybe because as her, I am a PhD holder and a college professor, and a few of her insights may be interesting, but in the place they are, take the interest way from where it should be: THE STORY!Fourth: Her idea pushing. It is natural that someone who writes a book wants to make a point out of the narrative. But when the writer aggressively assume that the reader agrees with her, it is a bit antagonizing. I remember one of the points that actually upset, when she is talking about another of Peach's girls who is also a school teacher, and asks the reader "Would you want your eleven-year old daughter to be taught English by a woman who is, in addition to a teacher, a prostitute? Tell the truth. Gotcha. I rest my case." I remember even cursing at the author at that point, how does she dare to presume to know what my opinion is. Truth is, I (and I bet, a lot of people to) would have no problem with my children's teacher's activities out of the school, as long as they do not affect her performance and ethics as a teacher. I would be concern if this Beth she describes, is abusing drugs in the way she admittedly was, as generally people who abuse drugs are addicts, and addicts tend to do things they shouldn't, and that may affect my children. But if she has sex with strangers on her free time, that is not my business, even if she is getting paid for it.Fifth: Abuse of fancy vocabulary and dull phrases. I consider myself to have a broad vocabulary in English, but this lady had me going to the dictionary a few times per chapter, with few exceptions. It's not that I don't appreciate the opportunity to learn a new word, but she abuses of obscure and arcane language, what ends up being somewhat distracting. Also, there are plenty of dull phrases that may be cute the first time she tells them, but when they are told twenty or fifty times during a 220+ pages book, it ends up being terribly annoying. Like the "rat bastard boyfriend" Peter, or the fact that she and some of her clients knew, thought or felt things on their "heart of hearts". Once is cute, twice is still funny, three times is pushing it, but more times than chapters in the book, that's plain irritating.In closing: It's not precisely a book that would inspire me to read more from the same author, and I think it is by far much closer to fiction than to a memoir, but if you are not too picky with your reading choices, it is still entertaining.

If you looking to Vicariously share in the Fantasies Jean played out with her Clients, this really isn't your book.If you are however willing to read an honest, and often harrowing account of the life of a working girl, you will want to read this book. It is going to challenge your courage however. I stopped three times at least not sure I could read the next chapter, re-reading previous chapters, like you might massage something that's been wounded, coaxing it to heal.The loss of her best Friend, another dear friend's spiral into addiction, her own near miss with that end. Its often a very painful book. Yet you feel because Jean has had the great courage to share with you, that you owe her the courage to stay with her to the end, her "Gentle Reader".Jean reminds us, this is not a Victimless crime. Not when addicts are purposely manufactured, and women find themselves trapped in a life they often can never get out of on their own diminishing means.She reminds us that each and every working girl is someone's daughter. We punish them, but it is our guilt for employing them that is being punished. They need our protection, not our condemnation. They deserve our thanks for being there for us when we are just so damn lonely we will gladly pay to be lied to for an hour. Not our Judgment for what are after all our own failings. At the end of the day the people in this book are rather sad, or course they are, they are all adrift.So Jean asks you to have the courage to raise your voice to change the law. After you read this book, you may find the courage to do so.If you have a daughter, you should read this book, but it will make great demands on your courage to finish it. Blessed Be, BB.

On Saturday I promised myself that if I finished a chore, I would get to start reading CALLGIRL, sitting brand new on my shelf. Chore done, I opened the book...and couldn't put it down. A cliché come true. I finished that night before bed.The author's first-hand, frank account of the escort trade, of the business aspects and the intriguing characters and the risks and rewards, would by itself be riveting reading, but what adds unique depth is the interweaving of a second world, the one in which the author is a respected college professor who teaches, among other things, a course on prostitution. The author, who is now a writer and wife, makes it clear she has no regrets for her past "other" life, and presents cogent arguments to legalize prostitution.The following day, I gave the book to my wife. She couldn't put it down either.

Firstly ignore the cover , this is not belle de jour joking her way around , this isn't a romp nor its it a kiss and tell news of world rudeness. This is a story of a broke academic woman who becomes Tia. She works as a lecturer sociologising prostitution with students by day and in an increasing murky often druggy world at night , which some times she enjoys , other times she doesn't. One of the best of its kind , Jenny has such a strong voice.

Really good... better than expected and is fantastic price n delivery fast and not badly priced either! Author is brilliant.

For anyone looking to make a better life in spite of social expectations. A lovely read.