SUBJECT: 3.5/5
WRITING: 3/5
OVERALL: 3/5
GENRE & THEMES: Biography, Memoir, Singapore, Escort
On the lookout for some nonfiction writing, particularly in the biography and memoir genre, I stumbled upon Ashley Chan and Gerrie Lim’s Scarlet Harlot: My Double Life: Memoirs of a Singaporean Escort. This book promises to unveil the clandestine realm of Singapore’s elite escorts, delving into the many inner conflicts they grapple with.
After Liyana Dhamirah’s Homeless, Lauren Ho’s Last Tang Standing, and Jennifer Gargiulo’s Diary of an Expat in Singapore, this book is yet another addition to my growing pile of ‘books read about Singapore.’ Like the other three, this book was also consumed by me through the medium of audiobook.
While the name of the original writer has been changed to Ashley Chan to maintain anonymity, writer Gerrie Lim is an established writer who is known to write books on the sex industry.
What is the book all about?
“Scarlet Harlot: My Double Life: Memoirs of a Singaporean Escort” offers a unique perspective through the experiences of a young escort in Singapore. Ashley, balancing college by day and escorting by night, sheds light on various aspects of the industry. She discusses how Singapore’s small size necessitates a different approach compared to larger cities like Vegas, emphasizing the importance of professionalism and adaptability when dealing with clients.
She discusses her aspirations as a college student and the pressure to maintain a decent lifestyle while pursuing her studies, which ultimately led her to this path. Candidly, she expresses no regrets about her profession, appreciating how it enables her to maintain a lavish lifestyle and travel internationally due to her foreign clients.
She reflects on her attempts to live a normal life outside of her job, seeking relationships and envisioning a future beyond the industry. She particularly emphasizes how many individuals become ensnared in this profession due to inadequate planning and financial management. Maintaining a glamorous lifestyle demands significant spending, leaving little room for saving or future considerations, and this is what proves to be a bane for most young women in the industry.
Ashley also delves into her free-spirited nature, expressing a deep appreciation for the autonomy and liberation she experiences through her sexual freedom. With an adventurous spirit, she finds joy in the exploration of her desires, reveling in the diverse experiences her profession affords her. Furthermore, she provides detailed insights into the nuanced racial profiles of her clients, offering thoughtful observations on the varying cultural expectations and preferences.
From the distinct preferences of Indians to the refined tastes of Japanese, and the discerning standards of beauty upheld by Chinese clients, Ashley navigates the intricacies of each encounter with insight and candour. Among them, she highlights Koreans as particularly demanding, shedding light on the unique pressures they impose regarding beauty standards and expectations from girls.
Through her experiences, Ashley illuminates the multifaceted dynamics at play within her profession.
On the whole, I found the writing to be somewhat shallow and lacking in the depth. While the author does touch upon several significant drawbacks of the escort industry, such as the pervasive sense of loneliness, the myriad health issues that can arise, the constant threat of legal repercussions, the challenges of leading a double life, the gruelling work hours, and the intense competition among escorts, there’s an undeniable off-putting quality to the overall tone.
The author’s casual and standoffish demeanour, coupled with monologues that often come across as dismissive of her own shortcomings while being overly critical of various aspects of the industry, detract from the reading experience. Moreover, I noticed that certain themes and points were repeated throughout the narrative, causing it to feel somewhat repetitive and drawn-out at times, almost like a prolonged rant.
In the end, while I had anticipated a more profound and introspective exploration of the subject matter, “Scarlet Harlot: My Double Life: Memoirs of a Singaporean Escort” left me feeling that it offers little more than a superficial glimpse into the world it seeks to illuminate.
