Even though this was written by a man and is written in the first person from a Japanese woman's point of view, I found it fascinating for the details of time (1930's and '40's to present day), place and emotions of a young girl who with her sister is sold into the life of a geisha. The author is an American who has extensively studied Japanese art,language, history and culture. Many of the details he describes about the life of a geisha were given to him by one of Japan's top geishas, who graciously gave him several interviews and corrected some of his misperceptions. It was, for me, continually interesting both for its story line and for the view of a culture so completely removed from ours.

Released on Sunday, March 16, 2003 at Healthy Living Store - cafe area in Burlington, Vermont USA.

on a table near the window