Rating: 
Summary: awesome
Review: i loved this book so much; my mom read it too and she canceled meetings and appointments to read it... definitely a must-read
Rating:
Summary: Not a very helpful review.
Review: Crushing. Swept me off my feet. Occupied my mind for weeks. Lots of exclamation marks.(I know this is not a very helpful review, but this is how I feel about the book, which is quite astonishing because when you read a lot, you tend to get a bit blasé about even the good stuff. Anyway, you can read the synopsis and the literary background from the editorial reviews.)
Rating: 
Summary: Less than what I expected
Review: I had heard great reviews about this book, so I bought it. My friend and I absorbed it within a weekend, and we each agreed it was neither satisfying nor believable. The beginning of the novel was promising -- it has some interesting metaphors and the girl's story was mesmerizing. Then there was the oh-so-promising conflict bwtween the two beautiful geishas. It began with a band, and just sizzled out by the end of the novel. But what destroyed this novel was the fact that it was way too obvious than the author, a man, was trying to write as a woman. He was clumsy and unrealistic when it came to the sex scenes; he probably should have consulted his wife at this point and asked her what it was like to lose her virginity. Anyway, it was an interesting book, but it did not live up to its expectations.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in a long time
Review: Arthur Golden captured the essence of this little girl trapped by circumstances beyond her control in such a way as if he had lived them himself. Very insightful into the thoughts and feelings of a woman. The imagery in this booked was captivating and I felt as if I had been transported to this time and was watching this story unfold. An excellent read that I could not put down.
Rating:
Summary: Looked real to a Japanese's eyes
Review: When I picked up this book, I thought that this must be another popular "geisha" feature by foreign writers which does not have much of a true ring to it to a Japanese's eyes. I am glad that I have misjudged that point. I could not put it down once I started reading. The description was very intense and detailed. It was hard for me to admit the fact that this book is a complete fiction by an American writer, rather than a translated real story told by a Japanese geisha as the story intended to look like. The Japanese tranlation (just released in Japan) tells how well the novel is written to surprise Japanese readers. I can't help admiring this well-researched, lovery Japanese geisha story, which must be very close to the old geisha world in Gion, Kyoto.
Rating:
Summary: SPECTACULAR
Review: Whoa! This book was absolutely amazing. I usually can't stand reading (I am a slow reader) and I could not put this book down. To all you befuzzled parents, this is a great book for teenagers. I want to read it again right now!
Rating:
Summary: Mysterious and Captivating
Review: This book swallowed me whole. I would have never guessed a man had written this book, it was written with such insight and thoughtful prose I was sure it was written by a geisha herself. You can't go wrong with this book, a wonderful summer read.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK ROCKS!
Review: What can I say bout this book but that it is amazing! Simply one of the best books I have read in my life- and I've read a lot! Compelling characters, intriguing plot, colorful people and places, not to mention the fact looking into the lives of Geisha- and all written by a man! I find it very insightful (a la Wally Lamb "She's COme Undone"). I could not put this book down, as the plot really draws you in. It encompasses so many human emotions- despair, jealousy, longing, triumph, betrayal, and love. I could go on...and on...Just read it and you'll see!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story!
Review: The most shocking part of this book was to find out in the very end that it was a work of fiction! I could not put this book down and took every spare moment to read it. As soon as the story was over, I felt so sad that I had come to the end and wished the story went on and on.
Rating:
Summary: Candy Coated History
Review: To get the most out of this book, it's best approached as a historical/cultural lesson wrapped in a fairy tale. With the narrator being a worldly woman, I expected more insightful prose. It often came across as juvenile. The metaphors were probably fresh in their original context; not now. The author would have been well served to update them a bit to reduce the cringe factor. That said, within this candy coating there is much substance. The wealth of detail from this hidden world makes the reader feel like a priveleged voyeur. I enjoyed it.
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