Only recently we posted the news of Belle de Jour's upcoming
book, Belle de Jour's Guide to Men. Belle, who gained notoriety for her blog
about her job as high-class London escort, broke anonymity last year, revealing
her identity as research scientist Dr Brooke Magnanti.
Belle's controversial accounts of her job as a prostitute were adapted into the popular TV show Secret Diary of a Call Girl, starring Billie Piper, and Belle also went on to pen novel Playing the Game, based on her experiences in the sex industry. Belle's books have been hugely successful, so it was always highly likely that she'd write more.
This book, Belle's Best Bits, is effectively a mix of some old Belle adventures and some new material. I'm a big fan of Belle's writing and have read all of her books to date, so I was excited to get my hands on this one. Belle's writing style is quirky and addictive. Add to that the fact that her naughty adventures leave hardly anything to the imagination, so if you're fond of a raunchy read, this title is just perfect...
Those who have read Belle de Jour's previous works may be familiar with her past adventures, and of course, some of the main 'characters' (such as The Boy, N, and her numerous friends). All are back, in some new tales and experiences, along with some of the classic memoirs. As usual, Belle describes her clients and her life as a high-class call girl, whilst dealing with normal London life with her friends and boyfriend. Her diary entries, reminiscent of her blog posts, are sometimes short and sweet and sometimes highly descriptive. Belle's writing style is a joy to read which made me finish this book rather quickly; she's funny, witty, professional and naughty, and it's hard not to love her!
However, even as a Belle fan, I can't help thinking that she's done enough. Belle's Best Bits is a highly enjoyable read (although some of the book is basically some of the earlier volumes, reprinted - which is great if you haven't read them in a while but otherwise, could be a let-down). It's a fantastic collection if you're new to the Call Girl series and I'd recommend Belle's Best Bits to anyone who hasn't read it before (it may be best to get this volume rather than the first few books, but that's just a suggestion!)
Belle's wit and unique character make her different from the array of call-girl memoirs that are available - she's the original and best. But personally? I think she has so much more potential. The originality of these books, and not to mention the shock value that made her famous in the very beginning is waning a little, and even though Belle's Best Bits is a great book, I think there's a lot more Belle - or should I say, Dr Brooke - has to offer besides tales of her stint in the world of escorting.
Rating: 4/5
