Rebecca Keogh

This book was incredible, is it so well written and Kathryn Stockett draws you into this world. Stockett writes thoughts and emotions so well and also has lots of good humour. It is such a page-turner and it is one of my comfort books and I love reading it each and every time. I would highly recommend this book.

Being a Japan enthusiast I was excited to read this book but was badly disappointed. The book was boring from start to finish, the writing style was difficult to follow and had a show-don't-tell problem. The only thing that kept me going was the half-decent, almost poetic, metaphors that made the book a little more bearable. But most of all, I was disappointed at how the author makes Geisha out to be like prostitutes. They are artisans and charming conversationalists, not sex workers, and the book ruined the reputation of Geisha. And it is a highly Westernised story. Also, the author misinforms the reader about danna. Danna are simply sponsors of the Geisha, but the book made them out to be that a danna could buy the Geisha and use them like a concubine. Not to mention the constant sexualising of women/girls/Geisha. The scenes were unconsented and uncomfortable. It is filtered out/toned down in the movie, but was overwhelming to read. And not to mention the men were mostly 20-30 years older than the girls/women, which just made it creepy. But the movie is better, it is much more interesting with a plot that actually flows and makes sense. Although it still makes the Geisha out to be like prostitutes.