52W52B - Book 1 Memoirs of a Geisha

A bookworm is someone who has non-fictional feelings for fictional characters.

After long time I fell in love with a book. First time I fell in love with a fictional character: Sayuri. First time I started reading a book in the open. I can’t put a finger as to why reading in open air was more fun than inside a room, but it was. Again, for the first time I took a book on a trip. It was fun again.

The story is about a girl whose father sold her to a Geisha House. The book describes the struggle of that girl. The main Geisha of her Geisha House took a dislike for her which made her life hell. The situation was hopeless and there was no end to the tunnel when one day she met a man. That’s when the story started to change. He talked to her kindly and that gave her hope. From then on her every step was towards getting that man.

She was taken into the mentorship of another big-shot Geisha. She mentored Sayuri, and taught her the tricks of the trait – basically how to woo men, for instance:

“You cannot call yourself a true geisha until you can stop a man in his tracks with a single look.”

Over a period of time, she became successful. However, the reason that she struggled to become a geisha was not fulfilled – love of that man, the Chairman of Iwamura Electric. On the contrary, the Chairman’s friend, Nobu took a liking for her – which is a subtle way of telling that he started loving her. From then on her dilemma started, whether to agree to Nobu’s love or fight for the Chairman.

All through, the way the book has been written is amazing. The whole book brings out the emotional side of the protagonist. This book makes you feel exactly like you feel when you listen to an old melodious romantic song which forces you to sit alone and stare into nothingness, thinking about all that could or could not happen with the person you wanted it to happen.

It’s a fast and easy read. You might just end up being more aware of your own feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, post which I watched the movie as well. I found – what most of the readers find – that the book was way ahead of the movie.

A highly recommended book!

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