Rating: 
Summary: What Insight!!
Review: This book really gave fascinating insight about a Japanese underground culture that modern people will not otherwise experience. Reading "Geisha" will uncover a world of women who are so much more than prostitutes, they are women of hardship and grace. I just hope others enjoy the book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: RIVETING!
Review: I could not put this book down and when I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. Arthur Golden is masterful in his description of a Geisha's life. He also has an uncanny ability to acurately capture the female psyche. Beautifully written.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: This book is a page-turner and I recommend it to everyone...I couldn't put it down. I noticed that Mrs. Soprano was reading this book in several scenes on the Sopranos at the same time I was reading it...This is the best book I have read this year, and I read a lot...HJK
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Inspiring
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is a very interesting book and I have learned quite a bit from it, Every word is so real and is so very mystical you don't want to put it down. It is a very inspiring book and is one of my favourites!
Rating:
Summary: Best book ever
Review: We read this book for my book club recently. I loved it. I could barely put it down. I just wanted to sneak away to read more. The author really draws you into the Geisha's life. It starts with her as a small child until she is older. There were so manu interesting and unexpected parts. You just have to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, entertaining & a fun story
Review: Enjoyed this book a lot. It kept my attention throughout and was highly entertaining. The end is a bit cliche and forced...almost as if he didn't know how to end it....but I fell for it anyway. I loved the character. This is a good book for vacations and lazy rainy afternoons.
Rating: 
Summary: Lyrical in it's writing style
Review: The writing style of this book is prose-like. Chiyo (soon to become Sayuri) speaks with humor and pathos as she tells her story. Her life story spans from 1929 until the 1960s, as she and her sister are sold to a Geisha house by their Father as their Mother lays near death. The girls are separated, however. The older sister is sold to a house of prostitution because she lacks Chiyo's delicate beauty. Chiyo's life is dismal and unhappy under Hatsumomo, the reigning geisha, a cruel young woman who sees a threat in Chiyo. She shares space with another orphan, nicknamed Pumpkin. They are eventually turned against each other by Hatsumomo's mischief. Soon, Chiyo loses her status as trainee due to Hatsumomo's maneuvering and she can now look forward to a life of drudgery as a maid. However, Chiyo is taken under wing by Hatsumomo's archenemy and main rival, the beautiful Mameha, who transforms her into a first rate geisha in which her name changes to Sayuri. In fact, events between Sayuri and Hatsumomo come to a head and a decision is made regarding them. This story tells about the life of Sayuri and her secret love, the Chairman, a man who shows her a kindness when she is a child. His kindness to her turns into love on Sayuri's part. The story is well written but has a rushed feel to the ending. There were some loose ends that could have been addressed, such as what happens to Hatsumomo once she and Sayuri have their final conflict; and a more in depth look at her relationship with the Chairman. Still, I recommend this book to anyone interested in a geisha's life.
Rating: 
Summary: As Beautiful as a Haiku...
Review: Memoirs in an outstanding work that allows readers a glimpse into a culture that is mysterious and fascinating. With touching characters and beautiful language, Arthur Golden creates a world that enchants the reader and keeps the pages turning. The most wonderful aspect of this book is the brilliant use of metaphors that incorporate Eastern philosophy to convey feelings and emotions of the main character, Sayuri. And the descriptions of Kimonos, landscapes and physical features were equally wonderful. However beautifully rendered and well researched this book is, it seems as though Mr. Golden often found himself searhing for a concrete story line. Rather than simply following the life of Sayuri, he turned it into her personal quest to obtain the love of a character that is never even developed and the reader can not feel. Constant references to the Chairman become extremely annoying by page 300. But since this book is told in first person, developing other characters with whom the main person has limited contact may be difficult. But then again, I found myself wanting to know more of Mameha, Hatsumomo and Pumpkin as well. And what happened to Satsu? Perhaps Mr. Golden was just more concerned about telling Sayuri's story, often at the expense of other characters who were just as interesting. And approaching the end of the book (the last 30 pages), I really could not see how the story would be wrapped up. Then, it came to a conclusion rather abruptly. The author found closure, but he found it quickly and without suspense. Not a particularly strong ending to a good book. Still, I recommend this book to all people, especially those who have always wondered about the life of a Geisha. It is truly outstanding in that capacity. 4 stars. This book is as beautifully written as a Japanese haiku, but doesn't quite hit the mark.
Rating:
Summary: an enchanting and facinating read
Review: "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Aurthur Golden is a thought-provoking novel, dealing with the themes of adversity, and in many cases, its resolution, was written to allow its readers an insight into the lives and depth of the Geisha culture. The book is written in such a convincing manner, in which an elderly retired Geisha reflects back on her life story. So convincing infact that as a reader, I felt as if I was standing in her shoes and experiencing the life and adventures of the Geisha first hand!"Memoirs of a Geisha", set during the period between the Depression (late 1920's) and the 2nd World War, leads us by the hand of the main character,Chiyo-Chan htroughout her enchanting tale of love, hope, hatred and happiness. Chiyo-chan's life begins in a smalll fishing village where at the time she is living with her impoverish family. However due to unfortunate circumstances, she and her sister are forced to begin a new life in the city of Kyoto. Chiyo is sold to a renowned Geisha house wherre she is forced to learn the arts of the Geisha culture, such as music, dancing, poaring sake and wearing Kimono. "Memoirs of a Geisha" to my mind, is an important novel on the theme of adversity and the Geisha culture which elaborates mainly on how the main character overcomes lifes barriers which she is faced with. Through the events and the main character, I found I learnt so much, not only about the themes incorporated in the novel, but also about the japanese traditional Japanese arts, which are dealt whith using the enchanting tale of one of the most celebrated Geisha in Japan.
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Summary: A FANTASTIC book....what more can I say
Review: A fantastic book ! I was so disappointed to learn that Arthur Golden didn't have any other books, but I'll just have to wait like the rest of ya' Don't miss this book
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