Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic
Review: Thought this wasn't a 'guy book' because of the title/cover. Picked it up after my wife read it and loved it! A close competition between this book and Gates of Fire for the best book I've read this year.
Rating: 
Summary: A Curious Cultural Mix which Makes an Interesting Book
Review: To know what a geisha's life is like---or indeed the life of any person in a culture different from our own---there are four possible categories of writing one could choose to read. First, a book by a geisha herself. This would be translated from Japanese, but would be couched in purely Japanese terms; a view from within the experience and within the culture. I don't know if any such books are available in English. Secondly, a book about geisha life by a Japanese writer who lived within the culture, but did not experience geisha life first hand. Although such books may exist in English, most of them might be parts of wider novels translated from Japanese. Thirdly, you could choose to read Liza Dalby's 'Geisha'---the examined experience of an American anthropologist who became a geisha. Though she entered the world of geisha life, she did so as an American and as one who knew her position there was not permanent. And finally, you could select a novel about geishas by a non-Japanese, a novel like this one. These four varieties of writing each offer a certain truth and a certain flavor, each unique in its way. If you find intriguing a novel about a Japanese woman in a traditional occupation, set in the 1930s and 1940s (for the most part), written by an American man in the 1990s, be sure to read this book.MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA might not be the greatest novel I ever read. No. But I really enjoyed the feeling of 'an inside look', even though I knew that Golden had never been a geisha, nor was he writing from a Japanese point of view. It is his excellent effort to do so that captures me. A lot of the novel really portrays the feeling of a young girl's gradual transformation into a sophisticated geisha, her hopes, fears, and the catty rivalries that must have prevailed in such a life. The last 80-90 pages cannot sustain the steady revealing of customs and behavior that make most of the novel so interesting. We descend into a soap opera, albeit of a good class. I sympathised with the author in that he had to present a story along with his fascinating description of geisha life. Also, he was forced to choose between American dialogue that resonated with largely American readers and a more Japanese-based dialogue that would have reflected more realistically the tone of what geisha might have said. Though he decided in favor of the former, I think he made the right choice---witness the success of his novel. The story of the geisha, Sayuri, is not especially gripping; suspense is a minor element in this novel, and perhaps the ending is a little trite, but if you enjoy walking in other worlds, if you want to imagine what geisha life was really like, then I strongly recommend that you get this novel
Rating:
Summary: amazing
Review: This is the best book I've read this year. Golden has done a wonderful job describing everything in such intricate detail and emotion. A romantically tragic story of a poor japanese girl turned popular geisha. Though not a new concept, it was still intriguing and bittersweet.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the year!
Review: This book had me glued from the very first page. I didn't want this book to every end. Spent a weekend doing nothing except reading this wonderful book. I recommened to anyone interested in being totaly transported into another land. Best of the year!
Rating:
Summary: I'm so glad I finally picked this one up
Review: The story of Sayuri and the lifestyle she lived drew me in and kept me wanting more...just like the art of a Geisha. I feel newly energized to read again. What inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: A Gem by Golden
Review: This book was simply wonderful. What else can I say? It was realistic, captivating, and the writing was top-notch. Full of metaphors and a theme that will haunt you well after you've finished it. It is relaxing and yet you are an active reader at the same time. It's a must read and a gem of a book that is this promising writer's first!
Rating:
Summary: what i thought about this wonderful book.
Review: THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, THE AUTHOR DESCRIBED AND EXPRESSED HIMSELF COMPLETELY REALISTICLY.NOTHING COMPARES TO THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Breathtaking
Review: This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. Definitely a beautifully written piece of literature that captures you from the very first page. Most of the books that I have read, have at least one bland or uninteresting part to them. NOT THIS ONE! I was captivated by the beautiful words, marvelous imagery, and lovely tone from start to finish. The end fits all of the pieces of the puzzle to make a beautiful picture that leaves an imprint in your mind. -Read it!
Rating:
Summary: Meticulously Researched and Wonderfully Written
Review: I had my doubts and reservations, but Arthur Golden has made me a believer. His writing is beautifully crafted and truly felt genuine. He has treated the subject matter with class and came out remarkably interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Before I started reading this book, I was never really interested in the Japanesse culture. But once I started reading it, I was not able to put the book down. It simply introduced me to a world that is not common in Western Culture. I always thought a Geisha was japanesse for prostitute but they were more than that. Not only did they entertain men but they were hostesses, taught to be well-mannered ladies and educated in the arts. Not only did this book captivate me but introduced me into the world of Japanesse culture. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about this culture.
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