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celiapowell's review against another edition
2.0
I remember reading the occasional snippet from Belle de Jour's blog back in the day - I found the character irritating then, and she's even more so in book form (and I imagine anyone who loved and read the blog would be bored with the book, as it recycles plenty of material). This seems like such a shallow and unrealistic view of what it is to be a sex worker - I read the fantastic "Callgirl" by Jeannette Angell after this which is far better - and I become irritated with reading a book that was obviously designed to titillate and nothing beyond that.
chewbecca91's review
5.0
Finished this in a sweet 24.5 hours. Not entirely what I was expecting. Pretty graphic and odd at times, hilarious at others. So so so different to the TV series (which I loved equally) in terms of characters and plot but the character of Belle was captured nicely in the TV adaptation. Apart from that, they're two very different narratives. Even if you're not into fisting quite as much as Belle, I think most women will recognise a bit of themselves in her character. A charming little novel despite its sexual nature which some readers may find hard to engage with.
knitnetic's review against another edition
4.0
This book is precisely what the title claims: the (true) story of the carousing of one of London's high-priced call girls. Originally written in the form of a blog (which won the Guardian's best blog of the year award), the book includes not only explicit tales of Belle on the job, but also stories of how her work affects her personal life.
I really appreciated the lightheartedness of this book -- it was basically a 300 page episode of Sex and the City -- a book which, for the record, I did not enjoy. Though Belle acknowledges that there are those in the sex industry who are genuinely exploited, she makes a good case for legalization (and high taxation) of the legitimate sex trade. Her stories, though explicit, show a human side to customers that are generally villainized in mass media, gently nudging her reader to make their own choices in how they view this (and other) taboos.
Note: I have given this book the grade it would deserve if I had picked it up without having read the first year or so of Belle de Jour's blog. Unfortunately, there is only about 5 pages of new writing if you have read the blog.
Final Opinion: If you've read the blog, skip it. If you haven't, it's a great, fun, beach read.
I really appreciated the lightheartedness of this book -- it was basically a 300 page episode of Sex and the City -- a book which, for the record, I did not enjoy. Though Belle acknowledges that there are those in the sex industry who are genuinely exploited, she makes a good case for legalization (and high taxation) of the legitimate sex trade. Her stories, though explicit, show a human side to customers that are generally villainized in mass media, gently nudging her reader to make their own choices in how they view this (and other) taboos.
Note: I have given this book the grade it would deserve if I had picked it up without having read the first year or so of Belle de Jour's blog. Unfortunately, there is only about 5 pages of new writing if you have read the blog.
Final Opinion: If you've read the blog, skip it. If you haven't, it's a great, fun, beach read.
cosymilko's review against another edition
4.0
This was a light hearted change from the series I've been reading recently in that there is nothing deeper than Belle's contemplation of sex, being paid for sex, the morals around being paid for sex, and where Belle fits in the world as a callgirl.
I immensely enjoyed the way things were listed. I enjoyed the journal entry structure, the randomness that comes with being a journal entry, and that we never really got the full story on anything.
I read this a few years ago when I potentially wasn't open to reading book about sex and relationships that is so blasé in the view of these things. Now, I find it interesting to be inside Belle's head and intrigued at looking at things from her point of view. I still find her views to be blasé and somewhat narcissistic but I guess that is par for someone who charges for what most of us give out for free.
I loved the male characters, in particular the A's. I thought they were beautifully male and such a good contrast of each other and Belle. At times they seemed her moral guide at times whether for good or worse.
Obviously this is not a book about a corner walking whore but a more upper class whore. Easy reading, fluffy and entertaining, the right amount of smut, and enough pop philosophy and psychology to get you thinking.
I immensely enjoyed the way things were listed. I enjoyed the journal entry structure, the randomness that comes with being a journal entry, and that we never really got the full story on anything.
I read this a few years ago when I potentially wasn't open to reading book about sex and relationships that is so blasé in the view of these things. Now, I find it interesting to be inside Belle's head and intrigued at looking at things from her point of view. I still find her views to be blasé and somewhat narcissistic but I guess that is par for someone who charges for what most of us give out for free.
I loved the male characters, in particular the A's. I thought they were beautifully male and such a good contrast of each other and Belle. At times they seemed her moral guide at times whether for good or worse.
Obviously this is not a book about a corner walking whore but a more upper class whore. Easy reading, fluffy and entertaining, the right amount of smut, and enough pop philosophy and psychology to get you thinking.
envy4's review against another edition
5.0
Such a turn on! Incredibly fun and easy read. Keep your vibrator near by.
blondierocket's review against another edition
Now adapted to a popular TV series on Showtime, Secret Diary is one of my favorite stories, and new favorite TV shows. It’s raw, funny and true.
I love Belle’s candid tale of her life, becoming a call girl, trying to date and have a semi normal life with a very personal job.
I don’t recommend this book for anyone who may be offended by language or graphic sexual situations. Having seen the TV show, I knew what to expect, but even that was different than reading the book. Even sometimes it felt like it wasn’t really a true story, but fiction.
I love Belle’s candid tale of her life, becoming a call girl, trying to date and have a semi normal life with a very personal job.
I don’t recommend this book for anyone who may be offended by language or graphic sexual situations. Having seen the TV show, I knew what to expect, but even that was different than reading the book. Even sometimes it felt like it wasn’t really a true story, but fiction.