Liza Dalby is an anthropologist who went to Japan and became a geisha. This is about her time there, plus information about geisha and related things.
If you want fiction, I recommend Memoirs of a Geisha instead.

Yet another book I want to re-read later so am sending out as a ring.

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Participants:
Hawkette
LennyB (uk)
aava (fi, international)
reddragonlady (us, international)
AsianWaterfall (us (jp), international)
marriedfairy (us) <--
LisaGriffith (us, international)
Luintaurien (us, international)

Oh yeah, Dalby also wrote The Tale of Murasaki, which I'm also ringing.

Started at last! Went on its way to Hawkette on Monday.

A BIG parcel arrived for me today, increasing TBR to mountainous proportions!! This one of the books inside! Thanks a million, nut!

Wow, this retelling of her time as a geisha, as the only non-Japanese geisha, is amazing! I so enjoyed it, and loved learning about this exotic and mysterious existance!

When I visited Japan earlier this year, I had begun to believe that the whole geisha world was a bit of a lyth (http://jouljet.blogspot.com/2005/02/kyoto.html), but Liza's recount is facinating.

I am still not convinced, however, that it is an endeavour that is good for women, that it is not oppressive, and does not pander to men. But I guess I will just have to remain bemused at this Japanese custom. I certainly enjoyed the anecdotal evidence that these girls and women enjoy what they do.

I would love to have read a follow-up chapter about what this world is like today though, given that this is set in the mid-70s. I wonder what it is like these days...

I loved learning of some of the traditional Japanese customs. Loved the idea of the three sips of sake three times as a bonding, for geisha and for a marriage. Might have to borrow that if I ever get to marriage!! And was fasinated in the traditional de-flowering ceremony for a young geisha.

I will be sending this on out shortly to the next reader.

Received in the post this morning. Have two TBR's before this one, but will get on to it as soon as possible.

Just finished this and I found it a very interesting read.
I don't read a lot of non fiction, but as I'd read Memoirs of a Geisha I thought I'd enjoy this.
It is a little slow in places, but the background information puts into context the anecdotal memoirs, that I enjoyed reading the most.
Have pm'd Helly for her address so should be moving again shortly

Helly77 asked to be skipped, so posted to Aava in Finland this morning.
Should take 7 - 10 days to arrive

The book came this morning. Thanks!

It was really nice to read this book after the more fictive books I´ve read so far about this subject. Geisha is such a captive image and it was nice to know more about the realities behind the perfect make up and gorgeous kimonos they wear.I just think that all(?) the prejudices and misconceptions about geishas and Japanese culture tell as much about us Westerners than it does about Japan, Japanese and geishas (why is it that most of us seem to think geishas are prostitutes and not for example artits as they seem to concider themselves?)I just wish that geishas won´t dissappear altogether although it´s good to know that more oppressive and exploitative aspects of geisha lives have vanished.
I also think that in general women of Japan have more options and possibilities than they used to have in 1970´ although what I glimpsed in my visit a few years ago Japan is still very masculine country.

Thank you nut for sharing this one.

edit 10.11.2005: So sorry for the delay, I have been having a terrible flu. I will mail the book tomorrow to reddragonlady.

Arrived in the mail today. Will finish the book I'm reading, and then start this one...probably Monday.

For the most part, quite interesting. I'm sure that the parts that bored me were just a matter of personal taste. What kimono colors to wear during what season...snore! lol However, everytime I would start to get bored, it would move on to a subject that interested me.
After reading this book, I can also understand the Western vision of Geisha as prostitutes. After all, their beginings were side by side with them. Many Geisha of the countryside are viewed even today as little more than prostitutes. To me, all this talk of "patrons" is little more than a sugar daddy.
However, true Geisha are so much more than what most Westerners focus on. It takes a lot of focus and love of their gei to want to live this type of life. Considering the role of Japanese wives, while I'm sure that over there it's fine to most wives, I can understand why some women prefer Geishahood.

I mailed this book out yesterday.

This book arrived in the mail during the holidays. I'll do my best to get this read in a timely manner. Thanks so much for sharing this book, nut. :)

I got it in the mail today. I can't wait to start reading it tonight.

What a great book!

Ok so I am done with the book. WOW It was great. I am sending it to LisaGriffith and will be mailing it out tomorrow afternoon. Thanks again

RELEASE NOTES:

I mailed the book to Lisa today. Hope you enjoy.

Got it! Thank you. I'll read and pass on as quickly as possible.

What an amazing adventure Liza Dalby had in the Geisha world. We should all be able to enjoy our jobs that much. I studied Japanese language and culture back in my undergraduate days and this book really brought back to me a lot of the amazing differences between Western and Japanese tradition. If you think about Geisha in a Western context they don't make much sense but I really appreciated the care that Dalby took to frame the tradition within the Japanese cultural context. I especially liked learning about the ideal of "iki" which I've been trying to name for years and haven't been able to find the correct term.

Got this today. Thank you very much. Will read and pass on ASAP.

Sending on when I get the address.