In this moving and inspirational memoir set among the striking scenes of Japan, American filmmaker Iris Boisvert recounts her desperate post-graduation days and how they led her on one of the most enlightening, sensual, and profound journeys of her life.
Compiled from letters and diary entries, the narrative reflects the honest perspective of the characters as they were in the 1970s, unflinchingly exposing and examining their flaws. Unlike many memoirs told through the biased lens of time, Boisvert's recollections in White Orchid of Hokkaido are refreshingly unskewed by the desire to paint herself as a hero.
Exploring the sensual world of Turkish baths, Boisvert reveals the often harsh behind-the-scenes realities-from lessons in exotic ways to apply a condom to the skin-irritating full-body shampoos she had to learn to perform-all based on her experiences as an employee for Royal Orchid Co.'s Venus Turkish Bath.
Readers also obtain a glimpse into the sexy, empowering realm of burlesque dancing, where Boisvert further discovers her own sexuality-and her own self-worth. Coupled with a budding romance and a desire to remain in beautiful Hokkaido, Boisvert lays bare her most intimate experiences for the world to see.
About the Author: Iris Boisvert was born in Washington, DC, but has lived in a number of US states, including California, Hawaii, Florida, and Tennessee. She earned her MA from Austin Peay and enjoyed a twelve-year active career in the film industry, working with such talent as Dennis Hopper, Martin Sheen, and John Cassavetes as well as Academy Award-winning directors Lou Stoumen and Haskell Wexler. Boisvert worked as a substitute teacher and tutor in Florida and has spent the last thirteen years as a community college professor of English, film, and the humanities.
Challenges in Boisvert's personal life go beyond the pages of her memoir. An adopted child, she has never completely uncovered the identity of her biological parents, and she has overcome such obstacles as drug addiction and infertility. She and her husband have an adopted son and three dachshunds, and together they raise chickens and blueberries at their rural Tennessee home.
