Memoirs of a Geisha : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!!
Review: What a beautiful, touching book. I was expecting some racy, explicit sex novel, and it was not that at all. The imagery and metaphor used takes the reader so much into the story. I even had dreams about it! Sayuri, Hatsumomo, Pumpkin, Nobu and the rest of the characters will stay with me for a long time. This book has immeasurable educational and entertainment value. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Authentic
Review: I lived in Japan for ten years and was amazed at how well Arthur S. Golden captured the essence of the Japanese culture. Furthermore, it is a compelling, page turning story! A great read.

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Summary: "Memoirs" is Great...from an Asian female reader
Review: As an Asian woman I am often leery of books written about us by men and especially non-Asian men. But, this book was really enchanting. I enjoyed it not only because it's a beautifully written and told story, but, more so because it helps people understand Asian women better. So often Asian women are criticized for their demeaner; seen as weak. And yet, this book shows how truly strong we are. We are proud of our roles, whatever role that may be. And we have the dignity to do it the best we can.

Rating:
Summary: a wonderful novel
Review: I found this book fascinating from beginning to end. Never was there a dull moment.

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Summary: Lovely and enchanting, if somewhat unsubstantial...
Review: As an afficionado of all things Far Eastern, I was DYING to read this book, and I couldn't put it down. HOWEVER, after the first 100 pages, I became a bit bored with Sayuri's overly sacchrine-sweet descriptions, as well as her wretched yearning for the Chairman. I found myself desperately wanting to reach the predictable, neatly tied-up ending even before Sayuri became a geisha. Disappointingly, Arthur Golden writes most definitely as a male trying to get inside the mind and heart of a Japanese woman, and that point is not missed in his sections about sex, which seemed to present a 2-dimensional view of sex and male-female relationships without much depth. Did Sayuri even feel like a woman? The book is dazzling in its portrayals of the secondary characters, which I could relate to (Hatsumomo, for all of her fiery maliciousness, was such a delight to hate). However, I didn't think that Sayuri's character was allowed to fully breathe into her own as a WOMAN, which would have made me feel closer to her. I also felt that the language was very coarse in parts, and it didn't always ring accurate (did geishas really offend each other and act so NAUGHTY??). I'm sure this will be a great film, though, and I will be first in line to applaud Spielberg when it's done.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: The structure of this novel as a memoir, a story told to a translator, just gripped my interest from the first page. The author succeeded in finding the right voice for this story, which gave me the feeling that Sayuri was talking to me directly. Just enthralling!

Rating:
Summary: A must read!!!!!
Review: If you'r looking for a pleasant time - don't hasitate. One of the lovliest books i have ever read. Reachfull, enjoyable,fun and sad mixed toghter...

Rating:
Summary: Very exhilarating!
Review: I found Memoirs of a Geisha to be a book that is exhilarating and enchanting at every turn of the page. I'm not one to read fiction and this book could be an autobiography, the author kept me interested.

Rating:
Summary: This novel was beautifully written-I LOVED IT!!
Review: This novel always kept me wanting more. After completing Memoirs of a Geisha, I picked it up and read it again and again! I can't wait for Arthur S. Golden's next novel!!!

Rating:
Summary: Gives the illusion of being deep, but ultimately shallow
Review: I expected to be enthralled. But if you strip away all the cultural details and an occasionally lovely description, this becomes a book about a basically simple-minded woman who spends a lot of time talking about clothes, hair, makeup, and boys. I find it hard to believe that a real geisha, who is trained as an artist and conversationalist, would be this banal. The other characters were also nothing more than skin-deep depictions. Since the book was set in this century, the author had an opportunity to explore any number of interesting juxtapositions: the impact that modern Western culture and technology had on Japan, the way the Japanese were emotionally affected by WWII, ANYTHING that would have caused this book to operate on more than the most superficial level. The book screams "made-for-TV-movie."