If this book hadn\'t been a book club read, I probably would not have finished it. It seemed pedantic, a college prof. showing off his/her knowledge and his wide reading to his class. There were ideas that were interesting: movement of the earth (on many levels), the satisfaction and beauty that come with rituals, how we see others and they see us. I especially liked the description of the sliding doors and the movement of the Japanese women who entered through them. I was disappointed with the ending, and yet it made me think of the camellias, a life of beauty, giving joy to others, but very short lived themselves. The discussion questions that were provided from the Book Movement page were very good guides to reading and discussion this book.