Calling Out

by Rae Meadows

After Jane is dumped by her boyfriend, she quits her job in Manhattan, drives west, and lands in Salt Lake City, where she takes a job answering phones at a Mormon-frequented escort agency. As Jane struggles to find companionship and purpose in her new surroundings, she mothers the escorts and flirts with the callers. But the pull of mystery and danger is too great, and when boundaries begin to blur, she inches toward a place that would have once been she becomes an escort. Shifting between self-doubt and confidence, uncertainty and sheer adrenaline, Jane descends into the lonely world of sexual commerce and discovers through her 'bad' behaviour a new sense of self. In this smart, sexy debut, Rae Meadows brings us an absorbing story of a young woman coming to terms with a life she hadn't planned. With its convincing, atmospheric prose this novel captures both the landscape and politics of Utah, illuminates the ironies of America's heartland, and reminds us that clarity and community can be found in the most unlikely places.

Genres: Fiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Rae Meadows is the author of the forthcoming WINTERLAND and four previous novels: Calling Out, No One Tells Everything, Mercy Train (in hardcover as Mothers and Daughters), and most recently, I Will Send Rain, which was an Indie Next pick, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is the recipient of the Goldenberg Prize for Fiction, the Hackney Literary Award for the novel, and the Utah Book Award, and her work has been published widely. Meadows lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Heather Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really delicious yet deeply moving story.

[Jeana · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the plus side, this is a really fast read. Good summer reading. It moves fast and I particularly liked that it was set in Salt Lake City, so I knew of all the places the author described as the backdrop. I thought it was quite endearing that Jane took solace in the wide aisles of the local Smith's. He he. Up until the very end (when the massacre of course had to be mentioned--honestly, I still don't know all the facts revolving around that), I felt like the author was very gentle and delicate with Utah and the culture that goes along with it.

The storyline was okay. I kind of cared about Jane, but I didn't understand how going from one job in New York where she felt like she was living a life she shouldn't be, to another job in SLC where she was living a life she shouldn't be was the arc of the story. I didn't see how the move even made any sense, except that she was a little less depressed in Utah. I did like that she finally realized that her job as an escort wasn't exactly a great move and I did feel like her attempts at making the loser guys who needed the escort service happier was indeed endearing. My favorite "date" was with the old man who was a photographer. I was actually moved to tears with the description of his clawed hand photos. It was beautiful. So I guess there was a little bit of good that she did.

I do feel the need to let any of my friends who read this review know that there was quite a bit of sex, which really is a given considering the nature of this novel and that it revolves around an escort service. I just don't want you thinking I'm recommending this one for that reason. . .

All in all, a fine read.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally stumbled across Rae Meadows' second book "No One Tells Everything." I enjoyed that book and so I wanted to read other books by Meadows. Calling Out was good, but I like her second book better. Calling out has some sexual situations, but nothing too graphic. I found the ending to be a little lackluster.

[Marnie Halper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe somewhere between 3.5-4.
This book was beautifully written. Meadows always writes with an incredible sense of place. I think the key message is you can never fully escape yourself.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel about a character who leaves NYC after her boyfriend dumps her for a new woman and moves to Utah where she becomes a phone girl at an escort agency, and eventually an escort. The disconnect that the main character has with life bugged me a little, but I still finished this quick read.

[Kristy P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book because I was going on a trip and grabbed it from the library. This book makes you feel yucky from just reading it. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The only reason I read it is because it was the only book I had without spending money in the airport.

[Darin Strauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

loving this book. You will, too....

[Veronica Bianco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rae Meadows is one of my favorite authors, and her writing style is absolutely beautiful. Regardless of the theme, her writing brings me comfort, and Calling Out wasn't any different. As she did with I Will Send Rain, Meadows filled a seemingly bleak storyline with beauty and peaceful moments without sugarcoating the hardships that the characters face. The story is simple but pretty and surprisingly compelling. I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone.

[Shannoncline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating story about women who made bad life choices and found their way back to reality.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Held my attention, but thought it would be better or have more meaty story to it.

[Amy Schoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived in MormonPromisedland Utah for four and a half years, I cackled out loud -- loudly with a snort in the middle of the public library -- when I read the premise of this book. Woman moves to Utah and becomes an escort in the land of all that is prim and proper and Godly. This woman is on a search for herself, who she is, where she fits in in the world. I hope she finds what she's looking for, and soon. I'm 2/3 through, and the outlook is becoming more bleak with the passing of each page.

The author received a lot of praise for this, her debut novel. I'm impressed, especially by the detail with which she describes Salt Lake City, the state in general, and its many quirks and idiosyncracies. Goofy liquor laws, Samoans working at 7-11, missionaries, General Conference, Smith's grocery store, names like Moroni and Nephi. Maybe if you haven't lived it, you wouldn't appreciate it. But I do.

Overall, the book didn't go much of anywhere unexpected (if you read the book jacket synopsis, you pretty much get the tale and see where it's going), and the ending left me feeling a bit cheated -- I wanted more than the author gave me. The end seemed like little more than the wrap up of an after-school special.

[Sonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure where I heard about this book or why I chose it, but I added it to my library list and when it came, I found out it's about prostitution in Utah! Actually, an escort service. Did I know that when I chose it? Don't remember. Anyway, it's about a young woman that gets disenchanted with New York, so she picks up and moves to Utah and gets a job working the phone lines of an escort service. It was pretty interesting to read about an outsider's view of Mormons, Mormon doctrine and living in Utah, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. It does feel slightly familiar, though, being of a certain age and wondering "what am I doing? is this who I really am? What does the future hold for me?"

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a very easy read and simply written. I liked to subject matter and the juxtaposition of the escorts and the Mormons. However, I found most of the characters to be shallow and have no depth.

I cannot wait for book club so I can discuss it with my friends, but it is so far away!

There was some questions that I had after I finished reading the book:

1. Was she in love with Ford? Where was their relationship going?
2. What was the strange relationship with Ember? Why did she have such a strong attraction to her?
3. Was she suicidal when she left New York?

[Nicole D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine picked up an advance readers copy of this book in New York. The author was featured in an emerging voices session. Authors that bear paying attention to. I couldn't agree more.

Calling Out surprised me, not because I'd never given much though to legal escort services in Utah, but because of the beauty of the book. The story moved quickly and the characters were so engaging that it only took a couple of pages to make them friends.

The story is beautifully written, with tender moments and a very accurate portrayal of humans, being human.

Don't pass this book up! You'll be glad you read it.

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I checked out this book. It must have been in a stand facing out at the library. It was okay. It was based in Utah, which was surprising and the author did know her way around SLC (her bio says she got a MFA at U of U). But it was about a girl that works as an escort, which was an interesting premise, but still it wasn't good enough for 3 stars. Oh and it totally makes me want to go eat at Ruth's because it is mentioned multiple times in the book.

[Matt Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman decides to answer phones for an escort agency and shortly thereafter makes the plunge into escorting. There are a few truly awe-inspiring moments in the book, and I've read some of Meadows's short stories (which are good), so I think that she's at least an author to watch.

[Denise Hlavka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after 'Mothers and Daughters' because I wanted to see what the author had done before.
I actully liked this better..it was darker and more revealing and for me, touched on the vein of
the 'lost' younger generation and the need for change within themselves and their motivations.

[alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

From this book I learned that my wife writes the lights out.

[Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good light read about sex work and mormans.

[Lisamarie Donthaveone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything is possible! This book made me realize that life goes on and it can be better then before.

A good read for those looking to pass the time while going through a hard time.

[Dara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's what reviews often term "keenly observed". A nicely written glimpse at the strangely interesecting worlds of call girls and Mormons, with heart.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl who works at a Utah, mostly Mormon, clientelle escort agency tries to figure out her life. Quirky and raw, a good read with a surprising ending.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good. I like Rae's clear style. This book has a fascinating plot, as the main character works as a receptionist for an escort service in Utah. A good read!

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fastest book I've ever read (i'm a slow reader). Calling Out is about lost souls looking for a new beginning.
I'm looking forward to her next book which is out next week.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is okay, I would not seek it out. Interesting, but not what I thought it ws going to be.

[Heather Skyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really dug this book. Great setting and intriguing characters. Also, a local author!

[Kris Hilliard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice, quick, read - I like how she doesn't finish the intent of some of her character relationships. For instance, was she attracted sexually ro Ember or just attracted to her personality?

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great quick read. I finished it in 24 hours. It's a very engaging book.

[Tabbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one in half a day.

I really enjoyed it.

[Jvetrone]

woman's perspective of growing up, but not that realistic I hope.
not as sexy as expected, but interesting enough. enjoyed sarcasm,
poke at utah and mormons