Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 1-5

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I knew within the first few chapters that I would like it. Chiyo is very relatable and I love the way her eyes are described. She sounds beautiful from the beginning of the book. She's a very carefree girl and I love that about her. She is also responsible, though, and can take care of herself and her family well. I suppose that is part of their culture, though. Children seem to learn responsibilty much earlier. Her mom having bone cancer made me sad. I've never really heard of bone cancer very often. It seems you can get cancer in almost anything. Chiyo's father didn't seem able to support his two daughters. I was a little surprised that he sold them so easily, though. He must not have been very confident in his fathering. I'm sure that if Chiyo's mother wasn't too sick she would not have allowed for her children to be sick at all. I think its very strange if Tanaka to just stick his nose in Chiyo's business. It seemed like as soon as he saw her he knew that she would have a future as a geisha. I'm not quite so sure why he had to act upon that, though. Did he think that they would thank him for that? Chiyo's sister, Satsu, was sold as a whore. I have no idea why Tanaka would think that he was helping them. He kept telling them that he was an orphan once, too, just like them, but they weren't orphans. They still had a father even if he wasn't in good health. As if taking them away from their home wasn't bad enough he had them "examined" which would scare the living daylights out of any girl of any age. I don't understand why Satsu couldn't have been a geisha. They said later in the book that some of the geisha were very plain looking. I think its sad that Satsu's only option was to be a whore. Also they separate them as soon as they arrive in the city. Chiyo's eyes are probably the only reason auntie kept her. I'm not sure I understand the elements thing. Its crafty and all, but for someone who has too much fire in their system, how in the world can you tell? If I was Chiyo I would not have been able to stand their infront of mother and grandmother without crying. She stayed strangely calm and did what auntie told her. I would have no idea how to react or answer their questions. Its such a difference in times and cultures. Hatsumomo is terrifying. I think she's the worse bully I've ever read about. I knew as soon as they introduced her that she would be trouble. Its obvious also that Hatsumomo is jealous of Chiyo. There's no way that someone could think her eyes were boring and ugly. Also I don't actually think its possible to smell that much like fish. I'm not exactly sure if that part is in these chapters, but still. Hatsumomo kept yelling at Chiyo not to touch her things because she would make them smell like fish because Chiyo came from a fishing village but there is no way. I bet she wouldn't want me touching her things because I would make them smell like red meat. I wonder what Hatsumomo would have done if Chiyo would have just refused to paint Mameha's kimono. Would it really have been that bad? I know that Hatsumomo said that if Chiyo disobeyed her she would make Chiyo's life miserable, but what would be much worse than be a bazillion yen in debt to your okiya. I was surprised that Mameha never really punished Chiyo. I kind of got the idea then and there that she wasn't nearly as stupid or mean as Hatsumomo made her sound.