Journal Entry 1 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Friday, September 19, 2003

This was one of the best books I have ever read. I just could not put it down. I loaned it to my Mom to read while we were in Europe, and she liked it so much that she said she only wanted to read, not see some silly old museum like the Louvre (she was only kidding, but it was close). The writing is beautiful and the setting is vivid. I loved the story, simple but fascinating. Like I said, one of my favorite books. As such, I am sending it out on my first bookray since it is certainly worthy of that honor.

From the Publisher:
Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. Sayuri's story begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. Through her eyes, we see the decadent heart of Gion - the geisha district of Kyoto - with its marvelous teahouses and theaters, narrow back alleys, ornate temples, and artists' streets. And we witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup and hair; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. But as World War II erupts and the geisha houses are forced to close, Sayuri, with little money and even less food, must reinvent herself all over again to find a rare kind of freedom on her own terms. Memoirs of a Geisha is a book of nuance and vivid metaphor, of memorable characters rendered with humor and pathos. And though the story is rich with detail and a vast knowledge of history, it is the transparent, seductive voice of Sayuri that the reader remembers. 

Journal Entry 2 by arugh48187 from Minneapolis, Minnesota USA on Friday, September 19, 2003

Sending this on a bookray. Participants in final shipping order are below. The person that currently has the book is written in blue.

kellyhp (Texas - US only)
geniedances (Texas - any)
vicki9170 (Florida - any)
dawnmomoffour (Canada - US preferred) (asked to be skipped)
qxflygirl (Idaho - any) (MIA)
Tuz (Brazil - any) (MIA)
fingerart (UK - Europe preferred)
Balham (UK - any)
hathyia (Malaysia - Asia/Australia preferred) (asked to be skipped)
Mundoo (Australia - any)
Neena11 (Canada - Canada/US preferred)
jazzy7112 (Ontario, Canada - US preferred)
MsBook (Oregon - US preferred)
christine-bpc (Texas - US preferred)
dianekos (Wisconsin - US only)
JesseBC (Illinois - US preferred)
melydia (Virginia - US preferred)
tsmith51632 (Iowa - any)
Cyberkedi (Georgia - end preferred)

When you receive the book, PM the next person in line for their address. If you don't get a response in a timely manner PM the person after that. Please journal it when you receive it and again when you mail it off to the next reader so I can keep track of where it is and send out friendly nags if need be. If you don't think you will be able to read it and pass it on in a reasonable amount of time, please ask the sender to go to the next person and PM me if you want to be moved further down the list. Thanks and happy reading! :) 

Journal Entry 3 by arugh48187 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota USA on Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Released on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 at Post Office at 153rd and Garrett in Apple Valley, Minnesota USA.

Sent off to kellyhp who is first on the list. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 4 by kellyhp from San Antonio, Texas USA on Saturday, October 04, 2003

I received the book today as part of a bookray. I am looking forward to it! I have heard a lot of great things about this book. To tell you the truth, I don't think I would have selected it to read had it not been for the rave reviews. I hope to finish it by the end of this week. 

Journal Entry 5 by kellyhp from San Antonio, Texas USA on Wednesday, October 22, 2003

I didn't end up getting to read this a quickly as I originally thought. I plan to finish it by the weeks end and will journal and send it off to geniedances. 

Journal Entry 6 by kellyhp at Postal Release in San Antonio, Texas USA on Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Released on Thursday, October 30, 2003 at Postal Release in San Antonio, Texas USA.

This book was released to the next person in line for the bookring.
******************
This was an amazing book. I am glad that I held onto it and made myself find the time to read it. it was a beautiful look into the unknown world of the Geisha. I found it truly fascinating and was unable to put it down. 

Journal Entry 7 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Wednesday, November 12, 2003

The book arrived today. I'm looking forward to reading it as I've heard excellent reviews from fellow BCers. 

Journal Entry 8 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Friday, January 02, 2004

I couldn't get to this book as soon as I had hoped. Five bookray books arrived at my doorstep at the same time during the beginning of the holiday season. Thankfully I had vacation time to catch up.

This is a wonderful book! I had wondered exactly what role the geisha played in tJapanese society. Like so many, I had only movies as an information source and we all know how much truth this source contains. "Memoirs of a Geisha" gives information about all aspects of the life of a Geisha from the selection of the girl, training required to the lifestyle and the social standing. This book is both entertaining and educational. Arugh, thank you for sharing this with us.

I have put the book in the mail this morning so it will reach Vicki in Florida very soon. 

Journal Entry 9 by vicki9170 from Saint Petersburg, Florida USA on Saturday, January 10, 2004

received this in the mail today. will start reading it probably monday and hopefully mail out by friday or saturday! 

Journal Entry 10 by vicki9170 from Saint Petersburg, Florida USA on Friday, April 30, 2004

mailed off today to Fingerart. Dawn asked to be skipped and i couldn't reach Tuz or Qx.

 

Journal Entry 11 by fingerart from Romsey, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 12, 2004

I've been looking forward to receiving this book. I'll read it in the next couple of weeks and pass it on. Thank you for setting up the bookring arugh48187 and thanks for sending it onto me vicki9170. 

Journal Entry 12 by fingerart from Romsey, Hampshire United Kingdom on Saturday, June 26, 2004

I've just finished reading this book. It was fantastic. One of those I told all my friends about and couldn't put down. I started reading it in the middle of my exams, which wasn't the best idea because I wanted to read it when I was meant to be revising.
I loved the descriptions. Beautiful. It makes me want to visit Japan.
I'll send the book on ASAP. 

Journal Entry 13 by Balham on Friday, July 02, 2004

Hi

I recieved the book yesterday - thankyou! Because I was expecting it I have managed to start it today on the tube!

Cheers
Balham 

Journal Entry 14 by Balham on Friday, July 16, 2004

Hi

I loved the book and read it straight through! It was obviously very well researched.. It is interestiong to read about societies with such different rules, but where human nature is the same.

I've posted this on to Mundoo in Australia yesterday as hathyia bailed out. 

Journal Entry 15 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, July 21, 2004

Book arrived today from the UK.
Wow only took 7 days to get here.
Next to be read. 

Journal Entry 16 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, August 04, 2004

Interesting story. Initially I couldn't really work out what a Geisha did, I thought they were prositutes and the early part of the story talked more of entertaining and tea and chatting and dancing. I came to realise that maybe Geisha'a are the equivilent of our 'Escorts' as the Geisha's were quite derogatory about prostitutes. I was disturbed that a family could sell their 2 daughters so easily into prostitution and never see them again. The book started to drag for me about half-way through and I did wonder where the story was going to go, but like all romances, good won out, she got the(Chair)man and appeared to live happy ever after. The last couple of chapters seemed rushed and didn't have the 'flesh' in them that earlier sections of the book had.
 

Journal Entry 17 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, August 04, 2004

neena11 asked to be skipped
jazzy7112 has a note on their bookshelf to skip them with any rings
Am waiting for an address from MsBook 

Journal Entry 18 by Mundoo at By Mail in Controlled Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, August 12, 2004

Released on Wednesday, August 11, 2004 at By Mail in Controlled Release, Given to a fellow bookcrosser Controlled Releases.

Got no response from MsBook.

Sent to christine-bpc in the mail. Will take approx 3 weeks to arrive surface mail.
 

Journal Entry 19 by Mundoo from Hindmarsh Island, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, June 14, 2005

It has now been 10 months since this book was posted to christine-bpc and it doesn't appear to have arrived. I have checked with christine-bpc several times over the months and still no book.

This book is lost in the mail.