Rating: 
Summary: A rather enjoyable, 'easy' read, but ultimately unsatisfying
Review: A resounding, unanimous...3 Stars. A rather enjoyable, easy read that imparted a wealth of interesting cultural information. One learns the details and history of a Japanese sub-culture that shed some light, to the Western eye, on the Japanese mind. But does it really? Golden effortlessly takes the reader to Kyoto and we willingly go along. It's like a free vacation (of the virtual variety) that passes the time pleasantly enough but in the end is unsatisfying, forgettable and leaves us curiously ...unfulfilled. Did we see all the "must see" spots, and missed the "real" Japan? This is a book that we begin to resent, having asked too much of it. Things like, why this book? Why now? The deficiencies in plot and character development (and their disappearance), the 'Romance' ending, lead us to ask: Why did we come here in the first place? Thanks for the tour but - time to get back to the "real" world.
Rating: 
Summary: ABSOULUTELY BRILLIANT!!!
Review: This book is a MUST. Totally transports you into another time and culture. Unputdownable.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't believe it's not an autobiography!
Review: I couldn't put this book down, and read it in only 3 days. I can't believe the way a male author realistically captures the universal feelings of a young woman, such as unrequited love and insecurity about the future. The fact the setting is earlier this century in Japan makes the novel even more fascinating.
Rating: 
Summary: contrived, sexist, and totally western
Review: The writing and imagery were undisputably well-polished, but in every other aspect of good writing, this novel failed miserably. The characters are two-dimentional and predictable--even the main character never comes to any realization about the degrading position she has been put in all these year. Her self-retribution lies solely in a man's love, not something a feminist or any logical person would argue, I'm sure. I get sick just thinking about the way the main character throws herself at this man she reveres almost as a god. In addition, the author writes in a style that he believes to be "eastern." I've never heard worse "eartern" writing in my life. Overall, this book was a very UNpleasent read, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: This is quite literally, the best book I have read for ages
Review: the characters are a written with realism and sympathy, and you get a real insight into the way that poeples minds work. The plot is convincing, and even the "translator's note" at the beginning seemed real. Tons of research muist have gone into this book, and it is a really beautiful read. The author gives the reader a look at a foreign, lovely world fluently...Sayuri is a thoroughly likeable, yet human character, and every sentence gives your imagination something to wonder at. This is a book for everyone !
Rating:
Summary: Compelling!
Review: So compelling in fact that I missed my stop at the train station! I finished all 400 plus pages in barely a week; I found time to read that I never knew I had! Golden has done an amazing job describing a life that most of us would never know about otherwise. My only problem is, what can I read next!?
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully researched and written
Review: This book was a pure delight to read. Well written and researched, and so interesting! I would highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Research 5 stars, plot line 1 star.
Review: As far as I can discern with my admittedly very limited knowledge of the subject, Mr. Golden did an admirable job of describing what it takes to be a geisha of the 1930's-1940's era. It is intriguing to read about the geisha lifestyle.However, the plot is REALLY contrived and difficult to believe. Perhaps this story-line perspective is what is required to make such a book a "best seller," but it took a lot of the pleasure of reading away for me. One would think that a poor girl from rural Japan, particularly in a time period prior to ours, would appreciate the lifestyle of the geisha and all of the fringe benefits, but this is not the case. The heroine, Sayuri, does not appreciate her options, but chooses to disregard them so that she can have the possibility of being united with her "true love," The Chairman. I agree with previous reviews that this book gives an "Americanized" view to the geisha life. It is difficult for most of us to understand what it is like to be truly poor but we should be able to read about the time period and the way women were treated then and extrapolate from there. Come on!!!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!
Review: I must agree the title is not appealing to me at all. But when i sat down and read, i slowly drift into the story itself. I felt as if I am Suriya's friend, seeing her through her life. I simply cant leave the book alone. Very well-written!
Rating:
Summary: Plain Story Telling
Review: Credits to Golden as a westerner to portrait a geisha's life and thinking. I would give a B+ to that respect. Good attempt at portraiting life of Japanese at war, but not in-depth enough. Good job in the creation of Chiyo and Sayuri - From the book I can feel the transformation of the child into a woman through her conversation. I do enjoy the first part of the book better. As to storyline, it's a bit to long winded after Chiyo becomes Sayuri, the real Geisha. I am having a hard time finishing the last part of the book (still have 20 pages to go) As a book I expect more depth and literature touch. Reading the book gives me the feeling of watching a Japanese soap opera.
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