Robert-n-kate (whatever happened to them?) sent me this a few months ago, and I just got around to reading it.

This is the story of Chiyo, from a poor family in a poor town, who is sold when her mother is dying, and ends up as Nitta Sayuri, a prominent Kyoto geisha. Told from Sayuri's point of view, it is a romanticized explication of the geisha community in the '30's and through the war and immediate post-war period. Because it's written in the first person, Sayuri is really the only character we get to know in any depth, which is a bit of a drawback. However, her character is finely and credibly drawn.

I'm glad that I had previously read Liza Dalby's Geisha, a scholarly work about the subject, since, as a novelist, Golden has taken some liberties.

Here are some Liza Dalby links:
liza dalby
tale of murasaki

Got this at MoJoe's. Will read this. Eventually.

Excellent, I loved it. Can't wait to read it again. The power relationship between the women is something to look at.

I'm sitting here in the office with 40 pages left to read, and the only thing I can think of is running out of here at 5 so I can finish this book. (Compelling and captivating book, maybe?)Honestly, I didn't think I would enjoy this book as much as I did... I wanted to read this ever since I saw the documentary on Liza Dalby that aired on cable last year (maybe 2 years ago?). Will journal again when I finish.

Wow... this was a fascinating read. Passed the book along to a coworker.

8/14- Co-Worker has since passed the book along to another coworker.
10/4/04: Found the book in the possession of another co-worker. This book is still making the rounds of the office.

Just received from a fellow BCer through Bookrelay. Thanks much! Can't wait to read it!

What an interesting story! I don't know much about Japan or Japanese history, so I really enjoyed learning nuances about the culture through the words of Chiyo.

Unfortunatley, for me anyway, I left those book at jury duty! Luckily it had a BC sticker on it, so hopefully someone will pick it up and read it.

RELEASE NOTES:

Left it on the table where the feedback forms are turned in.