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Title: For historical and anthropological interest only
Review: A fascinating insight into the Geisha lifestyle and ethos, this work fails as a novel through one dimensional charcterisation and weak narrative. The rise of the heroine, through the Geisha hierarchy is revealing about that system, but not its main protagonist. The reader simply never feels this is a real peson -merely a useful instrument in Golden's quest to enlighten. One also feels gets the feeling that the author wants us to share his ambiguity about a intriguing, but immoral system of oppression. Part of the general trend to worship everything different from the Western paradigm. For "culture" freaks everywhere
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