Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: Completely Engrossing
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From page one, I was hypnotized with the life of this girl. I could not put the book down. It's been a long time since I have been so engrossed in a book.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: What more can I say. I have recommended it to all my reading friends

Rating:
Summary: MUST READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW - BUY IT, BORROW, JUST READ IT
Review: I didn't even know what a geisha was before I picked up this book - amazon.com reccomended it to me (thank you). It seems a skillfully drawn view of the life of a geisha in Japan during the 30s-40s. There is one serious flaw; the ending is too rushed! It deserved at least another hundred pages-Golden, what were you thinking? But I loved it just the same, and I've read it more than once... And for those of you that think Sayuri is a real person, and critisize her for revealing her secrets, look in the back of the book. Golden says she is a fictional character.

Rating:
Summary: A great summer read!
Review: While I don't normally enjoy romance novels, and didn't expect this book to be a romance, the story was very engaging and pulled me through to the end. The historical setting was fascinating and, while the characters were a bit cardboard in nature, the story was well-told and engaging.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing to the end!
Review: An excellent book for people who like detail in their reading. It guides the reader to paint their own picture using only limitations of their imagaination. Opens up a side of culture most of us are not familiar with!

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: This book combined information about a different culture (for me) and a compelling story. I found the writing beautiful and the suspense exciting. I highly recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book that truly touched the heart
Review: I truly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. It is an interesting and honest story about life as geisha. I went through a rollar coaster of emotions as I read about the lead characters worst moments and her best. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a piece of Japanese history.

Rating:
Summary: extraordinary, enlightening and engrossing, but I'm dubious
Review: This book deserves all of the wonderful reaction it has received. An enlightening yet engrossing look into the world of geisha and the Japanese culture. As a student of Oriental philosophy, I believe this book is written in language as simple as haiku and as image laden. The unique metaphors and the desciptions of the physical aspects of deep emotions were particularly poignant. As a lover of classical literature it is rare that I am so moved by anything written today. I believe this book is an instant classic ( and I do not say this lightly). As a woman however, I am dubious of its author's gender. Other reviewers have hinted at this, may I just come out and say that I don't believe this was written solely by a male. Perhaps the women Mr. Golden thanks had more than a little hand in this book? Otherwise, in my opinion Mr. Golden has achieved what all male writers before him have found impossible and that is to write a woman who is completely convincing to women. I can't wait for his next book.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha reads like the best biographies and rivals only Ann-Marie McDonald's "Fall on Your Knees" as the most enjoyable book i've read in recent years. It's astonishing how quickly you fall into Sayuri's life, moving through her experiences and feeling her every emotion. The author is never present. From the first page Sayuri's voice is distinct and it's maintained until the final word. What's even more unbelievable is that this is complete fiction written by a forty year old white male. Golden's mastery is on the brink of genius.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible imagery, unforgettable account of Geisha culture.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by how I was enraptured by the tale of how little Chiyo-san came to become a revered Geisha in Japan. The author's masterful grasp of our language and their culture combines to form a reading experience few others have been able to accomplish. I *highly* recommend this book.