Last night we finally saw “Memoirs of a Geisha.” (First part: excellent. Second part: Bleh.) Afterwards, I wanted the book to check that the movie really had diverged that much in the second half, because it’s been a really long time since I read Memoirs of a Geisha–I believe I read it the year it came out, in 1997.)

It’s not here.

I looked on every bookshelf. Michael looked on every bookshelf. I went back and looked again.

Then I noticed that I didn’t see my copy of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. So we both looked for that.

It’s not here.

It this point I was somewhat distraught. Because I’d re-read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in October, so I knew I wasn’t imagining that I owned it.

Then I went to pick up the next book I wanted to read. I decided I wanted to finally read China Mieville’s Perdido Street Station.

Not here.

Now, it’s possible that I borrowed “Memoirs” from my mother. Possible. And it’s possible that Perdido Street Station ended up at the used bookstore the last time we culled the books. And it’s also possible that “Midnight” is in Baltimore with my grandmother.

It’s possible.

However, it was very disconcerting to look for three different books, and find that they were no longer there. I mean, I know precisely on the bookshelf where Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil should be. (Living room. Bookshelf by the entertainment center. Middle shelf. Far left. Beside Midnight in Sicily and The Madman and the Professor.) I may have a lot of books, but if it’s a book I really liked, I can to tell you precisely where that book is. So to look for three books in a row and find them all missing is rather upsetting. (I decided not to check on my favorite books, on the off chance that looking for these books was causing them to disappear.)

So I won’t be re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha immediately. But I’m going to find a copy soon, because I really loved the book, I don’t want the second part of the movie to get stuck in my mind, displacing the book I enjoyed so much.

ADDENDUM the First:
If you’d like my recommendation on the movie: Rent it. When the planes and WWII intrude on the story, turn the movie off and return it. Then go get the book.