Memoirs of a Geisha : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Insight
Review: Arthur Golden puts into perspective the the life of a geisha. This extraordinary story guides the reader into another, almost secretive, world of the geisha. It also takes away a lot of the assumptions of the life of a geisha and shows the reader that the geisha is an educated female in not only the old tea ceremony, but also the arts. I came to understand that the geisha was not a high priced call girl. This book also gave me a new perspective and respect for these women. What is so amazing is that Arthur Golden writes this book through the eyes of a girl from the time she is groomed to be a geisha through her success in finally becoming one. Wonderfully written. It will always be one of my favorites.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing book~and a great read!
Review: On numerous occasions it seems as though words cannot express the terrible suffering, pain, and confusion that are persistently required to achieve progression in life. Arthur Golden's remarkable novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, is a fascinating story that causes the readers to understand the depth of struggle that a particular geisha endured on her journey to success. This stunning and authentic biography shares the life of a Geisha working in Japan during the early 19th century, and it made me feel as though I was actually experiencing the narrative itself. Sayuri-san was a remarkable woman who experienced much adversity on her voyage to becoming a geisha, and many hardships after achieving her goals as well. As a young girl, Sayuri lived in the little fishing village of Yoroido, Japan. At a young age, Sayuri lost her mother, and in an act of desperation, her ill father sold her to a man who then brought Sayuri, although she was extremely reluctant, to a place far from her home where she would begin the training of a geisha. In the early 19th century, the position of a geisha received an extreme amount of respect. After facing many obstacles, Sayuri became successful by virtue of of her outstanding competence, her exceptional beauty, and her hard efforts. This book demonstrates how an incredible young girl develops bravery and courage while working to achieve the goals that have been set before her. I found Golden's novel to be fascinating and entertaining. I greatly enjoyed this book because it was interesting and well written, and any person who is of a mature age should take time to read this novel.

Rating:
Summary: Simply, an extraordinary book
Review: This one has been on my "to read" shelf for more than a year, and I wish now I hadn't waited so long. Sakamoto Chiyo is the daughter of a poor fisherman. Her mother is dying from cancer and neither Chiyo nor her sister have much of a future -- though, of course, it doesn't seem that way to her. But it's 1929 (she's nine years old), and things are about to get much, much harder. Partly for his own (unstated) reasons, partly to rescue his two daughters while he still can, their father sends both girls off to Kyoto to be apprenticed into the geisha trade. Actually, he sells them -- they "belong" to their new mistresses -- but it takes a little while for the reader to realize that. Satsu, the older sister, doesn't meet the requirements and becomes, for awhile, a prostitute, until she manages to run away and essentially disappears from the story, except in Chiyo's mind. But Chiyo herself becomes a maid -- sort of a pre-trainee -- in the okiya of Mother and Auntie, and though she loathes the life, and the loss of her home, and expects nothing good of her own future, she adapts rather quickly. Over the ensuing years, she becomes first an apprentice, then a full geisha, and the story of her training, her growing understanding of her world -- the limits of the geisha-world of the Gion district of Kyoto -- and her understanding and misunderstanding of men makes up the first three-quarters of the book. Golden, a Westerner, nevertheless has considerable experience in and understanding of Japan and the social institutions peculiar to its recent past. He puts you there, looking over Chiyo's shoulder as she attends lessons in flute, shamisen, dance, and tea ceremony, as her name changes to Nitta Sayuri when she becomes a geisha and is adopted as the "daughter" of the okiya, as she learns from her "older sister," Mameha, and suffers under the thumb of Hatsumomo, the senior geisha of her okiya, and as she forms her lifelong attachment to the Chairman and to the one-armed Nobu-san. Chiyo/Sayuri is a strange (to us) combination of worldliness and sophistication on the one hand and utter naivete and ignorance on the other, as was apparently typical for geisha. She has no idea whether a pound of tea costs more than a broom, but she shows astute knowledge of the history and art of every kimono among the thousands she wears in her young life. And, of course, just as she's nearing adulthood, World War II brings its full weight down upon the ordinary people of Japan, including the geisha. I can't recommend this novel too highly. It also proves once again that Knopf continues to be the premier publisher of high-quality fiction in this country.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating (yet slightly flawed) read
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha began as a masterpiece. Arthur Golden takes the reader on a spectacular journey through the world of a young Geisha. However, I must agree with another reviewer in that the book ends far too abrubtly. I does seem as though the author simply got tired of writing and decided to wrap things up - very disappointing. I would've like to have seen the book end with the same gripping storytelling as it began. Other than that, I really enjoyed reading this book and have recommended it to several friends.

Rating:
Summary: Memoirs...
Review: Oh wow. Fabulous fabulous book. I don't give 5 starts lightly. 4 stars means I love a book... Anyways, from the premise of the book, (its an 'autobiography') to the descriptions of the elaborate kimonos, the Sumo Wrestling, and ugly men, 'Memoirs of a Geisha' left my head spinning. I read it, and reread it, I loved it so much. Definatly not just a chick book either.

Rating:
Summary: The most amazing book I have read yet!
Review: First, to correct another review, you ARE privy to the Chairman's name, Iwamura Ken (Ken Iwamura to us not in Japan). This was the most amazingingly romatic and touching story I have ever read. I have owned it for a few months now and have read it three times already. Not only is it gripping (Many a night I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, even in my second and third readings) not getting sleep because I couldn't put it down. I, too, was amazed that this was not a true story and I do look forward to reading more from Arthur Golden, when he does write more!

Rating:
Summary: Powerful, passionate, unforgettable
Review: I just finished this book and I have to release some of the emotions it has inspired!! What an incredible perspective on life and where we all fit into the big picture, and a thrilling insight into the Geisha lifestyle. What struck me most about "Geisha" is that it was written by a man; Golden captures this woman's soul and mind deftly. In a way, I am sad the book is over!!!

Rating:
Summary: The first masterpiece I've read!
Review: This book is so amazing! Arther Golden steps into, not just the mind of Sayuri, but her soul! I've read it at least twice and I plan to read it over and over! Every time I pick it up, it's glued to my fingertips. This story is about a young girl named Chiyo. She is stolen from her family (really she was sold) and brought to the Nitta Okiya in Gion, Kyoto. She has her problems, but she becomes a wonderful Geisha with many stories to tell. This book is so amazing; it's a masterpiece! Don't believe me? Buy it and find out for yourself!

Rating:
Summary: All-time favorite
Review: This books blew me away by all the intricate details about the geisha lifestyle that it could have passed off as a biography. Arthur Golden spent ten long years to researched everything geisha so he could give us this excellent book. Because of this book I have been completely obsessed with learning a lot more about this mysterious tradition that most people don't have a clue about. People outside of Japan, including myself, have this idealized image of what a geisha is and that is as a prostitute. Truth is they aren't. Sex may be involved but that isn't the whole point of what a geisha is and that is what I have learned from Arthur's book. I hope some day we can stop stereotyping other people's cultures and actually attempt to learn and understand what they are truly like. Perhaps this book could be a good starting point in the right direction to ending cultural stereotyping.

Rating:
Summary: geisha
Review: this book is easy to read.and sounds like based on true story.but it is not. I just can't belive that author is not japanese.