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I have just finished this book and it was absolutley fantastic. It's about a girl in Japan who is sold to be trained as a Geisha. Geisha are there to entertain men with art such as music, dance and conversation. It is considered they are raised from a very early age for this job and there are many rituals and traditions that you learn about with it. The reality is, (according to the book) geisha women are led into a prostution. The main character lost her virginity at 15 and her virginity was sold to the highest bidder. Also if they are lucky??? they are 'kept' by a wealthy man who basically keeps them as a mistress and they are expected to sleep with him in return for their upkeep. It was a fascinating book with lots of information about something I knew nothing about before and is beautifully told. I would love to discuss it with anyone that has read it to hear your thoughts.

I am hoping to see the film to see how it compares.

I have finished re-reading this now after originally reading it about 4 years ago. It was well worth another look. My only main criticism about it is that I do think it glamorised the role of the geisha somewhat. I can see that life as a geisha would be easier for Sayuri than as a virtual slave working in the okiya, but in taking away her choices and her childhood and training her in a role which is completely for the benefit of and subservient to men, she is just a prostitute, no matter how much the author waxes lyrical about geishas being entertainers and cultural masters. The ending is a bit too neat for me and again glamorised Sayuri's life after she became a geisha. I wondered what really happened to the girls who had gone past their prime and who's dannas discarded them? Did they then move to the lower class brothels or did the danna keep them financially even after he no longer had any other need of their company?

The book was beautifully and descriptively written and did seem to reflect this part of Japanese culture in an expressive and authentic way.

I'd also recommend that you read 'Geisha' by Lisa Dalby.She was the first western lady to become a Geisha so she's able to compare cultural perspectives.I won't say anything to spoil it,but if anyone's read it(or wants to read it first) they are good books to compare to each other

I may well try that one to get a different perspective. What did you think of Memoirs of a Geisha Pikey?

I agree ellie that there was a certain romantic image about it all when as I read it I was actually thinking it wasn't far off child prostitution. There seemed to be an understanging and unspoken rule about how things were and even a ritual about her losing her virginity which was just accepted. In reality this must have been a terrifying thing. It has been somewhat westernised I'm sure, and in fact apparently in the film they have used Chinease actors for the main characters as opposed to Japenese. That said I still think there was a lot to learn from the book and I really enjoyed reading it. One of the few I would read again.

There was a lot to learn about the book HC, you are right. I knew nothing at all about Japanese culture before I read this book and may get round to reading the book Pikey has recommended too, if I finish the other 25 in my bookcase that I haven't got round to reading yet.

Although I wouldn't be able to tell the difference, thicko that I am, don't Japanese people and Chinese people look different and wouldn't they be able to tell that the wrong nationality of actors were used?

there is information about the book Here and talk about people not liking the fact that chinese actors were used Here



I SO need to get out more

I don't want to spoil either book..but felt that both did rather romanticise the 'job'...but it did make me question was that my attitude to their lifestyle choice or not.