If this book were called Memoirs of a Barista or Memoirs of a Cubicle Worker it wouldn't have been quite the sensation that it was. One of the reasons Memoirs of a Geisha was so popular when it came out is because it opened a window into the super-secret world of the geisha. Geisha weren't on AOL back then (1997 was a simpler time) revealing all their secrets, so for many people, this book served as an introduction to their unique customs.
Questions About Tradition and Customs
- What are the most interesting geisha traditions to you? What rituals do you find the most strange or unusual?
- What makes the geisha stand out in Japanese culture?
- Do geisha remind you of any other sort of society, secret or otherwise?
- Why are readers so fascinated with the secretive world of the geisha?