Memoirs of a Geisha

I really loved this book. It was so beautiful the way it described the Japanese way of life for these women. You learn that they are not prostitutes which is the normal misconception but are just paid for their company. Yes at times they do have sex for money but they get to decide who after their virginity is lost and it is not very often. The story is around Sayuri (Chiyo is her real name) and her becoming a Geisha and living that life during major changes in Japan. Her drive to become a Geisha is to find a man that she met when she was a child who made her feel special and the more she thinks of him as she grows up, she falls in love with him. So when she finally does meet him again all she does is in order to become closer to him. Of course obstacles ensue and you find yourself wondering if they will ever get together because she must do what society dictates.

The author is very tricky because when you read the book it sounds like it could be real. That she is a real person and the people she encounters are real. I even found myself looking up an artist she talks about painting her picture to see if his art was online. Sure enough I found his name but it was only from a chat site where women had done the same thing as me and discovered that this book is completely fiction. But that didn't really detract from my love of this book too much.

The movie that recently was released is very good too but I would highly reccommend reading the book first before watching it because the book will fill in all the holes that the movie doesn't catch. Read this book. Its soo good.