Recommended Read: Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Current read

It was in the middle of my college entrance exam, that I stumbled upon--at the time--the most beautiful words I have ever seen in writing. It was a about a poor Japanese family in a forsaken fishing village somewhere outside the city. Luck has never been in their favor, and one day, as another strike to their already scarred beings, the family's two little daughters were taken away. Nobody knew what was to become of anyone of them.

The short excerpt had such an effect on me that after, I went on searching for what novel those beguiling words belonged to. After some time I finally found out, and thus my discovery of Memoirs of a Geisha.

I guess the reason I was so enthralled by the story is because I was always a fan of Japanese culture. Among my favorite films are Memoirs of a Geisha and The Last Samurai, both of which are movies that showcase the rich culture and heritage of wonderful Japan.

I have had this book in my possession for about five years now--the pages have already turned yellow (all the more reason to love it)--but unfortunately am only getting the chance to read it now. The movie came out shortly after I got the book as a present on my birthday, and because I was impatient, I watched it. And I NEVER watch a movie adaptation first before reading the book. I spoiled the thrill already. But no matter. I'm reading it now, and it is beautiful. I am in love with it, just as I was the first time I read it.

"We human beings are only a part of something very much larger. When we walk along, we may crush a beetle or simply cause a change in the air so that a fly ends up where it might have never gone otherwise. And if we think of the same example but with ourselves in the role of the insect, and the larger universe in the role we've just played, it's perfectly clear that we're affected every day by forces over which we have no more control than the poor beetle has over our gigantic foot as it descends upon it. What are we to do? We must use whatever methods we can to understand the movement of the universe around us and time our actions so that we are not fighting the currents, but moving with them." 

- Chapter 6