MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA

Boyd makes a prudent choice in this evocative novel that plumbs a facet of Japanese culture utterly unfamiliar to a Western readership. Wisely avoiding the mistake of aping an Oriental accent, her voice has an appealing exotic flavor that manages to evoke another time and place. The book is a remarkable journey into the education and existence of geishas, who represent a mysterious mixture of degradation and grandeur. Golden's novel, while always illuminating, is also encyclopedic, sometimes to a fault. Boyd's warmth adds a necessary charm that helps make Golden's erudition go down easier. M.O. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 00]