h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

by Arthur Golden...


I'm currently reading this book and I'm really enjoying it!

Has anyone else read it?

It seems to be very quiet in here! Are you all reading?

But of course! I'm currently very busy reading....a maths text book

I've read memoirs of a Geisha but it was about 4 years ago so I don't have THAT great a memory of it. I think at the time I enjoyed it but found it a bit...something in parts. I'm not sure what the "something" was but I found it that

Let us know what you think, what bits you particularly liked etc and of course if you would recommend it to someone! In fact, once you finish it...you could write a review of it and it can be put in <./>ThePost</.>!

Kat

That would be rather !

I was quite upset to find out yesterday that it is in fact a novel and not quite memoirs! I must have an old copy of the book (I picked it up at the farmers market in Bridport) and even the introduction from the author leads you to believe its a true story!


Never mind, I'm enjoying it all the same nearly finished now, been keeping myself up at night to finish it!

All copies, I believe, lead the reader to think that they really are memoirs. In fact I think it was partly that that made me uncomfy. How can a white middle-aged man write about being a Geisha? It's a bit like Yann Martel writing Life Of Pi when he's....Dutch? You just wonder why they know that and how accurate and feeling-y it is...or something

Kat

mmmmmmmm yes I agree. I finished the book today and there is an acknowledgement at the back which sums up his deceit!!

The swine!



I'm quite annoyed with myself that I was really sucked into the story and believing it was true. But I suppose credit where it's due, the way its written I still find it hard to believe that Sayuri didn't actually exist!

If you would like, I could have a go at throwing something together for the post? Not done anything like that before though so it might need a tidy up when I'm finished!

That would be great! It's a bit like writing a report for school about a book...only nicer because it's chatty and stuff, but include the same basic things. It doesn't have to be really long or anything.

It's definitely a sign of a good book when you can get drawn into and think it's real. I guess that's the whole point of the intro isn't it though? To add to the credibility and not give you a distanced feeling from the start.

A bit like writing for school? Have I turned into a stroppy teacher?

But yes, we'd love you to write a review. If you go to the club's main page and just follow the links you'll find out where to post it. Then I'll send it off for the column.

I remember seeing memoirs EVERYWHERE when it first came out. But I've never read it. Will try and get hold of a copy.

Memoirs is wonderful! I really love this book. It's one that I started on a Friday and didn't stop reading until it was finished.

I was so disappointed when I found out that it wasn't a real Memoirs. Though looking back I should have noticed it.

I've just read a factual book about the current state of the Geisha world and it's history 'Geshia Secret History of a Vanishing World' and it's amazing, it answers a lot of the questions that Memoirs put in my mind.

*waves at Z*

Where do you keep disappearing to?

He's bought a house!! And is busy being a doctor!! We're all so proud of him

HOw did I miss that? Well done Z

Really a great book. I bought it years ago because it sounded interesting, but never quite got around to reading it. Did get sucked into it. Every thing from the prologue right through the story did have me believing it was a true first person book. When I got to the end and read the final piece it was quite a shock to be pulled up and reminded that it wasn't a true story, Sayuri didn't exist. Surely this is testament to the thoroughness of his research?

When all the hype came out I made a resolve not to see the film until I'd read the book first, I didn't want my mental images to be tainted but someone else's impressions. Finished it a short while ago, but not before the film had left town, so that was no longer an issue.

I would recommend it to others, just make sure you have the time to sit down and dedicate to it, don't try to pick it up and put it down between other things. Turn off the music and mention to your family that you'd rather not be disturbed right now. Definitely a "can't put it down until you've finished it" type book.

I haven't read it myself, but a close friend of mine has and she really likes it.