i am currently reading the novel memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden. for the past two years i’ve taken it out of the library at least five times thinking “this time, i’ll actually be able to finish the whole damned novel.” and every time, i’ll return it a month later, three days overdue, having only gotten past the first four chapters. the problem with reading leisurely for personal interest is finding the time to do so.

reading a book like memoirs of a geisha demands a great openness which most readers cannot wholly give a piece of culturally diverse literature. not many people would understand how a little girl growing up in any country would want to become something as ambiguously renowned as a geisha. when one reads novels about british colonialism in africa or the japanese rape of nanking or even hitler’s rise of power in germany, it may be hard to understand just why and how these events came about. sometimes when one is reading about such complex subjects, the cultural motive behind actions may seem difficult to comprehend or empathize with.

it’s alright to feel this way. being puzzled about a certain culture’s characteristics and traditions is a step towards being immersed in that culture and coming to terms with your initial uneasiness. certain cultural traditions that may seem odd at first may become clear once you allow yourself to work through the confusion. in overcoming this obstacle, you at once become immersed in that culture through literature, and you then understand it better.

perhaps, if we take this situation out of the literary context, we begin to see the problem with society today. we see racism and stereotypes; there is reluctance to empathize with certain groups and certain people. hardly anyone is willing to take that step in understanding another culture, the step that will ultimately open your eyes to a world you might just like.

the problem with this utopian idea, though, is that almost no one is ever willing to take that risk. unless, of course, there is some sort of personal gain or interest that is achieved… as we see in reading. perhaps reading about different cultures is that first step in understanding them.