I was really interested in this book when I walked by it in a Barnes and Noble one day. Something about the cover caught my eye. I browsed through, and skimmed a few pages, but didnt have the money to spend at the time. I already had a few other books. So I had to pass. Less than a year later Im seeing previews on TV for the new movie, and I thought to myself "Dammit, I knew I should have picked that book up!" I hate reading books AFTER the movie comes out. It just makes me feel a little inadequate somehow. Like I cant find anything interesting to read until I see a good move about it first. I've found in all my twenty some years of reading, that a book is soo much more Lively than ANY movie. This one was no exception. The book was incredible and went through the entire like of Sayuri, the main character. Which would have been nice in the movie. Also they always change so many things. It was still a good movie, but like many others compared to its origin, it doesn't compare.