A well written tale, this book shows the core elements of Japanese (Geisha) culture back in World War II time as well as a fascinating tale on one of Japan's most celebrated geisha, Sayuri Nitta. Even though Ms. Sayuri may or may not existed, Golden sure did a great job in describing the events that I could feel the pain, as well as the happiness that Sayuri undergo.This tale also reminds me of the original disney tale, Cinderella. From a poor girl in a small fishing village in the outskirt of Kyoto, Sayuri, with inspirations from her prince charming, became one of the greatest, most successful Geisha in Japan. So for a little twist from the old Cinderella, read this book and learn about the oriental culture!