The women that said that reading the book adds to it were correct. I read the book after I saw the trailer for the movie back in September. The book was very good, and far from a chick-flick.
Also, Geisha's were for sale, even after they sold their virginity, but it was similar to a marriage, where the man (the Dainya) paid for everything, clothing, schooling, medical, etc, and this "relationship" usually lasted for many years. They weren't allowed to choose who their lovers were, especially if they wanted to be respected as Geisha, and not whores. (If you recall near the beginning of the movie, Hatsumomo had a male lover, and when "Mother" found out, she, and the whole house, were punished severly.)
The book explains a lot of what the movie just vaguely implied. I highly recommend the book, even if you don't love the movie.
