Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful Read, Dissappointing End
Review: This book had me gripped up until the last 10 pages, one of the most crucial areas for any book to hold the reader. And it failed! Oh, Lord...But first. We begin with a beautiful story that is one part history, one part mystical exploration of Japan. The culture of the geisha is rich and beautiful, full of ritual and custom, and you learn so much fromt his one novel! From the concepts of karma, to superstition, to the roles of men and women and the adapation of Japan from backwater nation to powerful, modern entity. And it's a good read. It grips you and holds you; Chiyo -- who becomes Sayuri -- is a fascinating character with both virtues and flaws. However, he desires, in the end, damn the book to a rushed ending. I would get it for the read--but know you will probably be dissappointed in the end. It would be a five star book, easily, if the ending would have been less rushed and contrived.
Rating: 
Summary: Higly Recommended! Five Stars!
Review: Since I was interested in Japanese culture, I purchased this book because of the title and topic. However, I am not much of a reader, so I didn't have time to read it. I lived in Kyoto, Japan (the setting of the book) for a short time and recently returned. Since I had some free time now, I decided to read this book. I thought the story was very mesmerizing and I stayed up the whole night reading. I just couldn't put it down because I had to know what was going to become of the main character. Even though it was a fictional story, I felt as if I were reading a biography of someone's actual life. The descriptions of the setting, characters, and culture matched those of what I had actually saw and experienced during my stay in Kyoto. But, even if a reader didn't know anything about Japan or Japanese culture, you can still enjoy and understand the story. I highly recommend this novel!
Rating:
Summary: Great story spoiled by an unreal ending
Review: I enjoyed this book until the last twist. Up till that last part I still expected Sayuri to grow up from her girlish crush of a dream. I guess the author really wanted to give us a surprise ending, and therefore we saw Sayuri using her body as a last ditch effort to get the Chairman, and even though the chairman saw that she did "what first class geisha wouldn't do", he justified it for her. Furthermore, throughout the story, we felt all the feelings Nobu had for Sayuri, and really got to see him as a loyal, dependable, dignified person who can take care of Sayuri. In contrast, we never learned in depth about Chairman as a person, except that he was kind and affable. Consequently, I felt very cheated when he got the girl. In summary, I would say this story is "Scarlett O'Hara gets Ashley and never figured out Rhett was the one for her". If I were still a sentimental teenage girl, I might like this ending. But I didn't think the teens were the intended audience. On the other hand, until the last part, he story was unusual and intriguing. The life of a very little known group of that faraway time and place seemed to come to life. For that reason, it was still a worthwhile read.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: Well , usually I don't like books about Japan and such because I cant pronounce the names! I don't know if thats a problem for a lot of people, but it is for me. Anyways, this book was awesome. I had no problem with the names, and since Suyuri (Chiyo) gives little nicknames to people like Pumpkin its no trouble at all! YAY!
I got really thrown into this book, you dont want it to end, really.
Suspenseful, engrossing, 5 star worthy :) G'job Golden, baby!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and Dickensesque
Review: While interested in the topic I resisted reading this book for a long time because it seemed so hyped that I imagined it to be a mainstream appealing heart wrencher. Well, the kudos this novel has received are amply deserved; it is a fascinating and rivetting book. Before reading this I knew virtually nothing about geishas and their role in Japanese society. In telling his tale Golden introduces readers to both a distinct niche in antibellum World War II Japan as well as that culture's social mores. Besides providing an ethnography of sorts, this is a engrossing and satisfying novel, very reminiscent of works by Dickens such as "Great Expectations" and "Oliver Twist". Both men and women will find this an engrossing and satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional book
Review: This is an excellently well-written book about the Geisha called Sayuri, who was sold into the world of the Geisha at the age of nine. The author surprisingly gets into the emotions of this young woman without ever becoming maudlin. We have also World War II from the point of a Japanese woman without an attempt at over-sentimentality at the cruelty of war. I much enjoyed reading this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great book - you can really get into it
Review: This is one of those rare books that you can't put down after reading the 1st chapter. Lovely writing, flows very smoothly and Arthur Golden tells one great tale! I didn't even realize it was a fictional account until I had long finished the book.
Rating:
Summary: good read--don't pass it up
Review: Simply delicious! For those folks up in arms about the facts not being quite right (I can't speak to that)or for those people upset about women's roles--please remember to kick back and enjoy a magical book like this and leave your ideology at the door. I'm waiting for more from Golden.
Rating:
Summary: My new favorite book!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. I've read it twice so far, and plan to read it again when I go on vacation next month. It's one of those rare books where you get so caught up in the storyline that you find yourself trying to read faster to get the characters through difficult plot twists. Arthur Golden did a wonderful job writing the characters in a way that really makes them come alive. Although the setting is very much in another place and time I was amazed at how real it all felt. I've already recommended it to all my friends!
Rating:
Summary: Left me wanting more
Review: Wonderful job by this author to craft such a great story. Thoroughly enjoyable characters and situations. A refined novel that won't let you put it down. Don't overlook this fine piece of work.
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