Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

      "Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. 
      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 an illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable."

      While a startling reality of a geisha's life, this novel tells of some unfortunate truths of the trade. Containing a large amount of sexual content, many of these scenes would not be appropriate for a younger audience, or for anyone wanting to avoid such topics. There are also many accounts of drinking and smoking (as was acceptable at the time). However, the constant sexual content alone, while historically accurate, would make it very uncomfortable for those looking for a clean read.

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