Memoirs of a Geisha

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Summary: A MASTERPIECE
Review: I saw the book in an ad and knew at once I had to get it. I finally did and read half the book in one day. The Asian culture is a subject that interests me and Memoirs of a Geisha is a perfect example. I was caught up in Sayuri's life, and I kept wanting to turn the pages just to see how it would unravel. I think that Arthur Golden has accomplished a great feat in creating this masterpiece...a portrait of a geisha.

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Summary: Wonderful! Could not put it down.
Review: Interesting characters and a memorable love story. Very informative as to culture and life of geisha.

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Summary: Touching, witty, insightful
Review: This is the first book I have thoroughly enjoyed in a long time. As soon as I finished the last page, I started it all over again and enjoyed every word of it just as if I were reading it for the first time. Arthur Golden writes a beautiful, poetic sentence that touches you to the core. His research of the art of the geisha gave me an insight to the life of a geisha which I had never before ever been curious about. This book has me rummaging through all my old copies of National Geographic for mention of geisha. I've also been burning all the search engines of the Internet to find out all I can about geisha and their lives. I've never read Authur Golden before, but you can bet I'll be looking out for more of his books.

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Summary: I kept thinking about the characters!
Review: I not only consider myself a femanist, but I also consider myself to be fiercly independent. I was not sure how I could enjoy a book about a woman whose role in life is to entertain men. I LOVED it. Its one of the few books that when my eyes became too weary to read and was forced to put the book down, my mind wandered back to the characters. I can't think of the last time I thought about any character unless I was actually reading the pages. I also learned many things from this book. The most important lesson was about the role of the Geisha. I now belive they were not necessarily submissive/subservent to men. Sayuri was often in control - not controlled. Best book I've read in a long time!!!!

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Summary: Transported me to another time and place
Review: A real page turner. As an old timer living in Japan who thought he knew everything, I was surprised to be enlighted about so many facets of Japanese culture that I had never taken note of. Absolutely lyrical in its prose, it takes you away to another time and place every time you open it. Must read!

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Summary: A great book.
Review: I found this book to be totally engrossing. I cared about the characters, and was fascinated by the life of the geisha. But most importantly, to me anyway, was how the author did not take the low road, or sputter out in the end, as so many authors do.

How many times have I read a book, to become involved with the story, the character, the events taking place only to have the author seemingly run out of energy or ideas and simply end the story the easiest way out? I appreciated the way the Mr. Golden followed through with his ideas, thoughts and characters, and allowed them to find a satisfying conclusion.

Also, I had to keep reminding myself that a man wrote this book....so few seem to be able to portray women in any kind of realistic way.

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Summary: The most touching book . I loved it
Review: I was greatly moved by how well the author put into words how I feel about people I love who have gone on or are not near me anymore. I love growing older. I feel so much fuller. I also was touched to the core by his description of how Sayuri felt when the chairman finally proffesed his true affection for her. I enjoyed the analogy of the incident of the little boy hanging on for dear life to a tree limb,terrified and about to fall and finally losing his grip, to find that unbeknownst to him, his father had come and calmly stepped underneath him to catch him, just in time. In the mount of the Lord ,it shall be provided. God may it be true for all of us.

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Summary: Best written fiction I have read in years
Review: Did not want book to end. Loved the story and the history of geishas, but then I love historical fiction.

Golden put a lot of love into his writing of Geisha. His passion for the Japenese culture was evident throughout the book.

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Summary: A touching, educational story
Review: What strikes me about this novel is the vast amount of information it contains. Western readers often have difficulty unterstanding the intricacies of Japanese culture, and Golden has wonderfully revealed the beauty, and reality, of a Geisha's life in an interesting and lyrical story. It's a must-read for anyone ready for a different type of fairy tale.

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Summary: Better than Proust!
Review: Fiction does not appeal to me as much as non-fiction; but Memoirs of a Geisha manages to evoke non-fiction while weaving a novel about women, women and men, managing one's destiny and loyalty to one's pure spirit and intuition. The positioning of Sayuri's coming of age as a Geisha by Mameha is as cunning and imaginative as any corporate marketing strategic plan! How many of us have had Hatsumomo's in our lives? Aren't Mother, Auntie, and Pumpkin archetypes we could recognize in our boss, mother-in-law, or cousin and colleague? I learned a new way to be and think about the relationship between the geisha and her "danna". In Western culture, the feminist movement has obliterated the more powerful feminism evoked by the Geisha when she thinks of managing the way "he" feels at all times. The irony of this realization is profound and liberating! The man who quit his job so that he would be free to be hired, and the Chairman's devotion to Nobu's contribution are occurrences which form the foundation of Japan's culture and its patience. This is the best work of fiction I have read in years. You will grow and learn as a result of reading it. I highly recommend it--just make sure you have enough time to read it because you might not want to be interrupted.