Rating: 
Summary: Rebuttal
Review: To those readers who say that it is surprising that the "memoirs" were written by a man, I offer the following rebuttal:The author stereotypes women's emotions as the soap opera like manipulations of exaggerated characters like Hatsumomo (the conflicts are external rather than internal) ; he rationalizes his inability to imagine Sayuri's inner life by saying that a woman of her type wouldn't reveal herself too much (see Amazon's interview with Golden) in a memoir; he fails to imagine Sayuri's possible maternal instincts or fear of pregnancy; he suggests that female love is obsessive and idealized as in Sayuri's love for the Chairman, another stereotype; he suggests that Sayuri feels physical aversion towards Nobu but in general I think men (more so than women) want the object of love to be physically appealing. I think the book succeeds at the level of journalism but is seriously flawed as a novel. It tries to imitate Dickens in its depiction of a child being exploited by a heartless adult world, its use of nicknames and epithets for characters, and the revelation of mysterious benefactors. However, Dickens is an outmoded model for a contemporary novel. Another criticims I have is the conscious attempt to trick readers into believing that the work is nonfiction rather than fiction, a trend we have seen with "Bridges of Madison County"'s journals and the author placing himself at the scene in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" when he wasn't there. A novel should rely on being true to experience and not to try to deceive readers through gimmicks such as the phony translator's message at the beginning. The novel is worth reading in spite of its serious flaws if the reader maintains some critical judgment and doesn't accept it all as "truth."
Rating: 
Summary: Geisha wisedom
Review: I was moved with every line of this queit thriller. The wisedom and tenderness of Sayuri is displayed through out the story. I learned to appreciate the 'mysterious' world of Geisha and even searched for more information about Gion and Geisha culture. The story of Sayuri is fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining but simplistic and weak on character develop.
Review: Reading this was a bit like reading a good summer novel without much depth. It was interesting but too good vs. evil. Character development was quite weak with little understanding of the characters of the men that Sayuri was drawn to. In particular the feelings for the Chairman are not well developed.
Rating:
Summary: As satisfying a read as you will find.
Review: I kept thinking to myself: how can I be enjoying a novel abbout a Geisha? But Arthur Golden has done his homework. And the whole comes together, utlimately as a remarkable story about a character you will never forget. I love William Faulkner, and Arthur Golden is a story-teller in the tradition of Falukner.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. I couldn't put it down. It was one of those books where you can't wait to read more of it, yet you hate that your reading it so fast. I know so many reviewers have said this, but it really is amazing this book was written by a man. The detail he goes in to describing the way gisha apply their makeup, the details of their clothing, etc. This book is an exceptional read.
Rating:
Summary: A fast and fascinating read
Review: I couldn't put this book down. It was hard to beleive it is a fictional account, the voice and persona of the characters rings so true.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating story of a blue-eyed geisha.
Review: This book was devine. How a man could write this I'll never know. I could hardly believe it was a work of fiction it rang so utterly true. You'll read it in one sitting and be wishing for more.
Rating:
Summary: this book, though fiction, feels like it could be true
Review: and it gave me insight into a culture that i knew little about . . . what i find particularly amazing was that the book was written by a guy, in that it really "sounds" like the thoughts of a woman . . . for readers looking for a change of pace, this is something to check out.
Rating:
Summary: A transcendent trip into a magical and wonderous world.
Review: This was one of those books I couldn't put down but didn't want to end. Golden brings you completely into a closed world so that you feel as if you are walking alongside the characters, feeling both their pain and joy. The story covers a broad expanse in terms of time, geography, and emotions. Golden keeps it moving effortlessly.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, enlightening, but characters lack depth
Review: Overall, the novel was entertaining. We see the protagonist maturing into a very calculated character as her situation determines. In the end, she becomes more condemnable than the characters that she has combated throughout her life as a Geisha. The distinction is that she is willing to injure someone dear to her to obtain her goal, while the other characters that have throughout the novel been seen in an unfavorable light seem to have a certain element of honor in that they hurt the people that think have slighted them or threatened them in some way without before hand owing them a great debt or forming a strong bond with them. Some of the characters portrayed are very simplistic in that they were portrayed as either entirely good or positively bad. One of the main characters is portrayed as the knight in shining armor and another an admirer that is little more than a tool to serve the protagonist's ends. The only insight into their real lives is the events t! hat form the images in our minds about the individuals; thus we know that one character suffered a terrible accident explaining the condition of his skin, but all else is measured by levels of desire. The protagonist does not dwell on the hollowness of her existence but accepts it as if she was born into it when she truly was not and thus had more reason to question her fate. She, unlike other novel characters does not dwell upon counterfactuals. The novel is essentially a modern fairytale as nearly everyone that gets their just deserts does so and the others that have played a role in slighting the protagonist get their comeuppance in the end. Too many mysteries remain in the novel, we never know the true character of individuals, we only get the caricature of them. Indeed the ending is hollow, as we are not allowed to witness the awkwardness of certain situations between two principal characters when one has been slighted. I found it difficult to believe that the p! rotagonist, who is portrayed as an intelligent individual, ! does not question the morality of the men that she seems to care for. Her object of desire is seen as a grail, the quest/desire for whom has entirely guided her life. This man has a family of his own to which he is being unfaithful but is portrayed as having no faults. He is forever honorable in the eyes of the protagonist. What grounds does the protagonist have to believe that any character is interested I her for anything other than physical pleasure? Is this the ultimate relationship for which she has searched. The impact of Geisha on the families of the men that do frequent geisha houses is barely explored and this is a fault. Does our protagonist geisha who is so caring not consider the position of the wife? The book in no way compares to Wild Swans or any of the strong books based on Asian culture. It does, however enlighten the reader about the culture of Geisha, and provide some good entertainment.
| 
