Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: An astonishing, compelling read.
Review: Not only did the plot have enough twists and turns to keep me intrigued, the richly detailed account of geisha life had me spellbound. While I agree with one reviewer's opinion that the final third might have been better, it did not diminish the immense pleasure I got from this book.

Rating:
Summary: Read This Book!
Review: I did not want to put this book down and did not want it to end. Well written and a gripping story.

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Summary: Overslept and was late to work because of this book.....!
Review: I couldn't believe I read the whole novel in one night...Compelling and detailed when it comes to describing the process of becoming a full fledged geisha, I found the book most fascinating in the first half...The monstrous Hatsumomo, the guardian figure of Mameha....the callow Sayuri caught in their power play...it is not just obvious that the author meticulously researched the lifestyle of Japan but also had the talent to bring these characters to life. Why not a ten? I felt that the final third of the novel was a major letdown....true, I was interested in what would happen to Sayuri, but it seems as if the author lost sight of what made the story so interesting to begin with...a look into a subculture so fine-tuned that we feel as if we were a part of it. As the novel progresses to its "sort of" contrived fairytale ending, it lost its charm and became a typical girl-pining-for-an-impossible-love story instead. But nevertheless, it is still an amazing first novel from an author who I hope to hear more from....if he doesn't skimp on the endings, that is!!! *grin* By the way, am I the only one who was shocked at the "surprise" that one of the minor characters sprung on all of us?

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, delicate writing - aptly reflecting the subject
Review: I was enchanted by the delicacy of the writing: I BELIEVED it was written by a Japanese woman, reflecting on her past. My favourite books teach me something about a different place, or time, or lifestyle - within the context of a good plot and well-written prose. Memoirs of a Geisha is a wonderful example of this kind of literature.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT NOVEL
Review: This was an excellent book! It has been a while since I've not been able to put a book down! This beautifully written novel contains a story which is touching to the heart as well as gives the audience a great perspective of the Japanese geisha culture. Definitely worth reading!!!

Rating:
Summary: A Beautifully written, lyrical book!
Review: One of the best, hard to put down books I have read in a long time. It is beautifully written, lyrical and stays with you long after you have put the book to rest on your book shelf.

Rating:
Summary: Set aside a quiet weekend; you won't want to leave it.
Review: Sit back and immerse yourself in another time and place like slipping into a silky hot bath. Close your eyes and let the sights, sounds, and smells of pre-war Japan surround you. An amazingly detailed and enjoyable read -- the kind of book I always look for but seldom find. Many thanks to the author for one of the most enjoyable books I have read in months.

Rating:
Summary: "Geisha" is an entertaining tale of an era gone by.
Review: Wonderfully told tale of a girl who grows up in a fishing village to become a successful geisha in Gion, a geisha district in Kyoto. The story has been told before of a young, poor girl rising to success through perseverance and luck; but the setting and time period is unique. Entertaining read.

Rating:
Summary: Read it and Weep!
Review: I would compare this to Amy Tan's books, although not quite as good. Arthur Golden gives terrific details into the life of Sayuri a Geisha living in Gion, the Geisha capital of Japan in the early/mid 1900's. The reader gets and inside view of a Geisha's life. Pretty it isn't. His details on a Geisha's clothing, etiquette, and day-to-day lives are quite vivid and the reader has no problem visualizing Sayuri's cruel lot in life. The book is quite sentimental and has moments of triteness, but I would recommend it for it's desriptive details of a Geisha's life. However, if you are interested in Japanese historical fiction I would also recommend James Clavell's Shogun - one of my alltime favorites!!

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Beautifully written. Transports the reader into the world of the GEISHA. Many American readers will be surprised to learn of our misconceptions about Geisha living and loving.