Shelf Control – September 16, 2015

Shelf Control is a brand new weekly feature from Bookshelf Fantasies!  The goal is to take a look at the books that are already released that you own but have not read yet.  I have MANY that can fall under that category so this feature is perfect for me.  Check out Lisa’s inaugural post for more details!

For my first week, I’m going to go with a book I have had forever and one that has been on my TBR for far too long!

Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Author: Arthur Golden
Published: Published November 22nd 2005 by Seal Books (first published 1997)
Length: 502 pages

Goodreads Summary: Memoirs of A Geisha is an epic drama about the remote and shimmeringly exotic world of Sayuri, one of Japan’s most celebrated geishas. The novel has been a beloved bestseller all over the world and is now set to become the major movie event of the year. The film stars Asia’s most celebrated movie stars including Zhang Ziyi (House of Flying Daggers; Hero), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai), Gong Li (Raise The Red Lantern), and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
In this literary tour de force, novelist Arthur Golden enters a remote and shimmeringly exotic world. For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan’s most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess.

We follow Sayuri from her childhood in an impoverished fishing village, where in 1929, she is sold to a representative of a geisha house, who is drawn by the child’s unusual blue-grey eyes. From there she is taken to Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto. She is nine years old. In the years that follow, as she works to pay back the price of her purchase, Sayuri will be schooled in music and dance, learn to apply the geisha’s elaborate makeup, wear elaborate kimono, and care for a coiffure so fragile that it requires a special pillow. She will also acquire a magnanimous tutor and a venomous rival. Surviving the intrigues of her trade and the upheavals of war, the resourceful Sayuri is a romantic heroine on the order of Jane Eyre and Scarlett O’Hara. And Memoirs of a Geisha is a triumphant work – suspenseful, and utterly persuasive.

How I Got It: I bought it but it was awhile back so I couldn’t tell you where from.  Either Half Price Books or my town’s annual hospital auxiliary book sale.

When I Got It: Probably at least 2-3 years ago.  Like I said, it was awhile ago so I don’t really remember when I got it.

Why I Want To Read It: I love, love, love the movie so of course the book has to be better, right?!  I added it to my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge this year but it’s the middle of September and I still haven’t gotten to it yet.  Hopefully soon!