Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: Loved it, loved it... did I mention I loved it?
Review: A fascinating look at Japanese culture in the 20th century and a wonderful story of a woman's life. I felt her fears, her excitements, her sadness. Want to read it again to pick up any details I may have missed. Couldn't believe it was written by a man.

Rating:
Summary: This year's favorite
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha was a wonderful historical fiction. I was so enthralled with the customs and rituals that a geisha had to go through. The book is well written and very powerful as it tells of the worst of times and the best of times of a geisha. I can't wait to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating: Leaving you wanting to read more.
Review: Arthur Golden has captured the beauty and elegance of theJapanese Geisha culture. He writes with such fluidity and claritythat you picture yourself in the room in which he writes. The character development and interaction left me wanting more. The real life situation makes the reader feel the emotions of Chiyo from a young girl to her womanhood.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting - a fascinating portrayal of Japanese life
Review: I couldn't put this book down! It's an intimate portrait of a way of life that is often closed off from Western view. Imaginative writing and strong characters keep you reading, dying to know more. As I read the other reviews, I notice that some people don't like the book because of the "non-feminist" geishas. They're missing the point. The book isn't judging geishas; it's simply giving us an in-depth look at how they lived. The fact that the geishas sometimes hated each other and used men just makes it realistic. In fact, the author was able to take a woman from that strange world and make her likeable and knowable. Yes, it would have been perfect if the ending were more fleshed out, but all in all, it's a very interesting study of a fascinating people.

Rating:
Summary: ranks right up there with amy tan (maybe even higher)
Review: The second I heard the *title* of this book, I knew I was going to love it. I have a weakness for fiction regarding Asian women (Kitchen God's Wife!), but even if I didn't, I would find this book amazing. Arthur Golden can write a woman's voice as well as any woman author I've read, and his attention to visual detail is near-perfect. I read this book on a 24-hour train ride, and I ignored most of the gorgeous Pennsylvania scenery in favor of Sayuri's world. I don't care who calls this book a treacly romance novel, I don't care if Sayuri's obsession with the Chairman is "shallow", this is quite simply the best book I've read this year. I wish I could gather my words together and say exactly what I feel about _Geisha_, maybe I'll write another review when I can, I don't know. All I can say is that this story enchanted me and rooted itself so deeply in my mind that I was left disoriented upon finishing the book, thinking I could turn around, go back to New York, and find some way to meet Sayuri!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I read this book in a course of a week (usually longer than normal) but I enjoyed it thoroughly. I just wish it wasn't such a hectic week or I'd have read it in hours. It is an incredible book with lush words and imagery. It is surprising to note that this book is written by a man, when the women characters seem so real. I admit this book is probably not for everyone, but at first I wasn't sure if it was for me, but after a few chapters I was completely transformed into a different world. I think this book will become a classic someday.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: This is a wonderful story. I was totally drawn into the world of Sayuri. The ending is not quite up to par with the rest of the novel, but I still give it 5 stars!

Rating:
Summary: I found it enjoyable!
Review: Unlike a lot of other reviews, I found the book facinating. Yes, it focused on these women and their interactions with men, that being all they thought about, were occupied with. That's the POINT, they are geishas, men WERE their lives! I liked the author's writing style, I prefer to read first person, and I thought Golden's words were very readable. The ending was a little disappointing, but true to life, things don't always work out perfectly.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece authors only wish to publish as their own!
Review: At my age, which is 15, most people the same age as myself do not prefere to read books this many pages in length. To me, all those pages are like a candy bar beckoning me to have a taste of it's sweetness. With this book, I had a "taste" of the harsh cruel reality of what a Geisha's life must have been like, and it wasn't at all sweet. I can honestly say up until now I didn't have a clue to what a geisha was, only that they were very elegant and refined women. Golden's book made me get up and research this topic and I now have vast knowledge of this subject that I hope all of you will want to share the same passion I was so honored with. I want to thank Mr. Golden for writing this book and making me more interested in the cultures of these mysterious woman in Japan. Again, I think you Mr. Golden.

Rating:
Summary: Flat, boring, predictable
Review: Im sorry, I couldnt even finish this book. It was just extremely bland. I thought there would be more in it than just a bunch of bitchy women trying to impress a group of sleazy men. What was even worse than the simple plot was the characters. They just didnt seem real or very interesting to me. And all they did was bicker. Over men.Constantly. Throughout the whole book.Its not that the women in this book want to impress the men, they really just use them on the pathway to gain fame for themselves. I still dont quite understand much about what geisha do. I mean, in this book it seemed like all they did was go to drinking parties. I was hoping they would be more artistic. I also dont think that the authors writing style was very original, beautiful, or interesting.It was kind of flat and what is really annoying is when he keeps throwing in "deep thoughts" for Sayuri to have but she seems like an airhead to me. Like always going on about that slimey chairman guy.I never did see why she was so obsessed with him. He seemed really boring to me but then maybe thats because she is also extremely dull. I dont see how such an supposedly accomplished woman could be such a boring ninnie. Anyway, this is defiantly one of the worst books Ive ever encountered and im glad I quit it to read Anne Rices The Queen of the Damned. Now theres a good book