A Book Review

I've just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and since the movie is going to be shown soon, I figured the massive amount of readers of my blog would benefit from a simple review and what to look out for in the movie.

Firstly, a confession: I've always thought that Memoirs was not fictional. This silly little mistake was gratefully corrected by this witty, quick, charming and intelligent literature correspondent of mine. However, as I think about the book, and read the acknowledgements in greater detail, I realised that years ago, whoever had wrongly given me the idea that Memoirs was not fictional had probably been misinterpreted by myself. I think he meant that the author's research and emphasis to recreate a credible authentic world was effective. Or perhaps that his portrayal of geisha had been more or less accurate. In the author's acknowledgements, he gave thanks to a real geisha and her family for providing him with valuable information on the habits and lives of being geisha. Additionally, even though my knowledge of such a lifestyle in the past of an equally faraway land may not be adequate to comment on how precise or accurate the author might have been, I think the author has done an amazing job of paying attention to scenic, emotional and physical details throughout the book. While I would be reluctant to say the book sounds as though a geisha had indeed recounted all of these, I can definitely feel the author's effort of being involved and immersed in the narration for I lose track, straight from the starting few pages, that here was an author from the West.

The story itself is beautifully narrated, with attention paid to fine details that allows me to be drawn into this mysterious world. I've always been a fan of the natural landscapes of Japan, the culture, and their appreciation for life.

On the whole, the storyline moves at a comfortable realistic pace, and the plot is enticing enough. I feel it has been a rather good read. And now for the movie...