Clever, witty, hilarious and shameless in the very best way possible. I want this woman to be my best friend. ( )

Surprisingly tedious and empty. ( )

I read Belle's blog so much of the book was familiar material, which led to much of my disappointment. This book is what it is -- a recycling of blog entries with some new material and not much editing. ( )

The tv series that was based on this book/siary/blog was panned for being a cheap knock off trying to capitalize on the scuccess of HBO's Sex and the City, but the book is actually where Belle shines. Her tv persona (played by Billie Piper) was funny, but her writing really brings out the quirks in her personality. I found myself laughing a lot while reading about Belle's life, which really focuses more on the regularities of her life in London than on the "glamour" of the sex trade - which was clearly the focus of the tv series since sex sells (sorry). What really got me about this book though was her frank attitude towards sex and sexuality, which goes far beyond the novelized version of Sex and the City. Clearly she has very different limitations than I do (if any limitations at all), but I genuinely appreciated her liberation. ( )

Belle de Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl I've read some of the other reviews here on this book and I think some of them miss the Englishness of this book. The English are so loose and casual about sex. I don't mean in its execution, more in the attitude towards it. I think the English lack the puritanical aspect that seems to dominate other nations, particularly America and its hypocrisy about sex.The sex scenes are described more like a mechanic talking about a days work. Note the lack of shame, self-disgust and judgement, just the plain facts ma'am, with a touch of respect for her clients.As a story, I liked the well spelled out relationships that she inhabits, how friendships are most times more solid than romantic relationships. All up a good read, nothing earth shattering in the sex either, as she says, anal is the new black. I'm old enough to remember when blow jobs were new to the middle class burbs and that was a long time back.The oldest profession! Well written with a terrible ending. Loved it ( )