A book that influenced my mother

A book that influenced my mother was “Memoirs of A Geisha” by Arthur Golden. The story is a novel about a geisha named Sayuri. Sayuri's story begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. But as World War II erupts and the geisha houses are forced to close, Sayuri, with little money and even less food, must reinvent herself all over again to find a rare kind of freedom on her own terms.

My mother’s feelings about the book

Compare to the geisha my children are much luckier, not needing to worry bout a single thing I life, even though they have to study very hard. They have no worries in life, other than school and homework which can be encountered with hard work, whereas the life of a geisha is uncertain and they do not know what their future holds. I hope my children have the courage and strength to fight for a better future. They should be fortunate to live such peaceful and happy lives. Just like my mothers always say, “Take a look at others around you and you would know how lucky you really are”. I hope my kids will also understand this.

This has been a meaningful interview with my mother and I personally feel very lucky that I do not need to live the life of a geisha. I must work hard for a better future and be thankful that have such a good life.