Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: Japanese Culture With Depth
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is an amazingly wonderful book. The well developed plot and fascinating story keep the reader interested. Authur Golden brings forward a side of Japanese culture that has always seemed proper and prim, but in depth we learn that "what goes on during the morning in the office and what goes on in the evening behind closed doors bear no relationship to one another, and must always remain compartmentalized and seperate." The way Golden weaves both the morning and evening details of a geisha's life is done well. The style of writing was easy to fallow. The vivid description he uses throughout provides for lovely inagery. "The radient smile she'd worn now faded, just as the darkness fades from a valley when the sun rises on it," is one of the many examples of how Golden displays his talents in writing. He also uses cultural terms and explains them for the benefit of the reader. For example, when he talks about zori, there is no definition in the dictionary, but he explains that they are wooden sandals with tapering soles that make it hard to balance. These cultural terms bring the reader further into the culture and the story. In all I would give this story a 9. It was a very good read, but I found myself wanting to find out what would happen faster then the author would allow. Gloden has written an excellent piece and it has met my expectations. I would recommend that anyone with an interest in Japanese culture read it, for it gives more depth to an interesting culture.

Rating:
Summary: An Eloquent Account of a Fascinating Culture
Review: I have always been deeply interested in the unique and mysterious culture of the geisha of Japan. The experiences of Sayuri, a geisha living in Gion, are both informative and exceptionally enthralling. I found myself glued to the pages of this wonderfully personal and touching novel.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely one to read, but...it lacks something.
Review: This is a great book and it certainly shows the life of a Geisha, but I think that the romance lacks a little feeling. Otherwise, it's perfect. Too bad Sayuri herself does not exist. If anyone can tell me what the "five-crested kimono of black" means on the third paragraph of chapter 35, I'd be much obliged.

Rating:
Summary: A forgetable book
Review: My book group chose this book and I was quite excited as I usually enjoy books that focus on cultures other than my own. I am not quite finished and probably wouldn't choose to finish if not for my group. I care very little for any of the characters, the conflicts are not well developed, and the description of Japanese culture is weak. There is so much more I would like to know about this culture and these lives - the depression, the war, the social structure. It all seems so "surface" and generally unsatifying.

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Summary: I could not put this book down - entirely captivating
Review: I was recommended this book by a work colleague and I cannot thank him enough. I hestitate to write that "it is a wonderful story" as I was so convinced that it was her own personal history to the very end. The descriptions of the lives of these women and the environements they worked in is wonderful. I know a lot of people who will be getting this book in their Christmas stockings .....

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Summary: Completely invented???..Have my doubts..!!
Review: Wonderful..even that does not express my real view of the book!! How astonishing..I lived the whole story as if I was a guest, that has been invited to sit and watch the whole story running like a stream of smooth running water!! Sayuri..is a women within each one of us...may seem helpless..but would do anything to get to her dream..!! She breathed, ate, and slept the way others wanted, but also kept living knowing that all comes to a rewarding end! The way it was written, made me think that no matter what I would never read such an extraordinary book written in this way.. Congradulations, in giving birth to such a magnificint piece of art...that will always be treasured and kept safe!!!

Rating:
Summary: Intruiging, Captivating, Beautifully written
Review: I read this book because a teacher recommended it. So I read it and found that Golden has a real talent. I couldn't stop reading. Mameha's character was great. Can't wait until I read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to believe it is a fiction!
Review: The word Giesha and the accompanying curiosity led to the impulsive buying of the title. With very little knowledge of Geisha culture and a lot of ignorance I embarked on reading the novel on my recent holiday. To sum it up I was very disappointed when I read in the acknowledgement that Sayuri and her story were completely invented. Such a beautiful work, which weaved a real life like story, it was difficult to believe that this was a fiction written very well. A very strong and stimulating work, well researched and written. It evokes the curiosity to find more about this culture called "Geishas"

Rating:
Summary: beautiful language usage
Review: This is one of the most beautiful books I have heard in a long time (audio book version). The use of language among the characters caused me to think about the way things are said in the US .... so often in your face, when the same thing could be expressed so eloquently with a bit of consideration. The philosophies of facing difficulties in life are also beautifully expressed. I strongly recommend an audio version, as it reinforces the impression that one is being told a story. This book is wonderful story.

Rating:
Summary: A captivating read!
Review: I just finished flying through Memoirs of a Geisha. I was captivated from the first few sentences. I found the story, the imagery in the writing and the well developed characters to be overwhelming. I couldn't put the book down. I was sad to learn halfway through the book that it was fiction. I had never read the book jacket and I assumed it was a non-fiction memoir. I'm glad that Chiyo didn't live that life, but am also sad that this didn't really happen.