December 2003 Archives

Having read a couple of other Geisha novels-masquerading-as-autobiographies, I was pleased to find a genuine autobiography of one of Japan's greatest geisha, and Mineko Iwasaki's book provides plenty of detail on the Willow World in the second half of the 20th century.

At times her narrative takes on an air of irritating superiority, particularly the sections where she berates clients who have unwittingly damaged her fine (and fabulously expensive) attire and accessories, well after the actual events have taken place. However, she is not one to hide her own shortcomings or those of the system in which she became one of the most successful geisha of all time; and that is not necessarily to have been expected given her upbringing in an almost entirely female environment, and an education that focussed on dance, the Arts and conversational skill to the exclusion of more academic subjects.

Buy it: Amazon link

This is the other roving reporter autobiography that I took to Chile with me, and reading it after Kate Adie's provided some interesting contrasts, and I enjoyed it just as much, although for different reasons. I'm not sure I'd enjoy meeting John Simpson, as he comes across as rather too despotic for my tastes, but then again, determination and self-assurance are two traits which I suspect are essential to success as a reporter, particularly one who frequently reports on wars and unrest around the world.

The subject matter of this third volume of John Simpson's autobiography is the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and the fall of Kabul. It's a fascinating read, taking you into the mechanics of journalism, and the workings of the BBC as well as giving you the political long view so often lacking in TV news reporting.

Buy it: Amazon link