Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: Ex-geisha takes objection to "Memoirs of a Geisha"
Review: Just thought that readers will find it interesting to see what a JAPANESE person thinks about the authenticity of this book. Who would have thought? All those reviewers on the back of this book are caucasian. Not one is Japanese. Oh, yes, and the JAPANESE person with her opinion below is the woman that this book is written about. If YOU REALLY want to find out about the world of the GEISHA from a GEISHA, why don't you read her book? "Geish, A LIFE" by Mineko Iwasaki.

In Mainichi Daily News
By Keisuke Hirano
Mainichi Shimbun
"Ex-geisha takes objection to "Memoirs of a Geisha" "

November 30, 2001
"Geishas are professionals who make a living by using their artistic skills, but many people have a mistaken image of the world of mystery and shadows," says Mineko Iwasaki. Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha" (translated in Japan as "Sayuri") was published in 1997 and has sold 4 million copies in the United States.

Iwasaki agreed to an interview by the author because she thought she could help dispel "the Fujiyama-geisha image of a woman who sells herself to her customers." She was shocked when Golden's novel turned out to be a narrative that contradicted her very intentions.

"I want people to have a true understanding of the Karyukai ("the flower and willow world" of the geisha) of Kyoto's Gion quarter." This is why Iwasaki published her own memoirs, "Iwasaki Mineko no hana ikusa - honma no koi wa ippen dosu" (The flower wars of geiko Mineko -- True love happens only once). In the book, Iwasaki writes without reservations about the personal relationships and complex give-and-take that go on between the women behind the ornate scenery of the "flower and willow world." She also writes about the pride these women take in their artistic skills.



Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is a fantastic exploration into the lives of these women during the last century. Arthur Golden tells a story like no other. The life of Sayuri is told in such vivid detail that the reader can actually sense and feel the drama, tragedy, and successes of this woman as she travels down the paths that were chosen for her. I was captivated by the beauty of the land, the refinement of the culture, and the heart of the people. This is a work of historical fiction that will truly brings the past to life. This is one of my favorite books.


Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: Whether you know anything about japanese culture or not, this book is enthralling not simply because the characters are relatable and real, but because the culture is a wonder to behold. By the end, I think every reader felt a little japanese, understanding motives and circumstances as someone japanese of that time period would have understood them.
I actually stopped reading this book in the middle because I was looking for a more intense, nail biting book. But when more aptly in the mood, I picked it up again and read the rest of it in one sitting. It's nail biting in it's own way, I discovered, especially as you begin to not only sympathise with our main character but grow with her. The latter half of the book is even more engaging than the first.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful read
Review: I loved reading this book and have passed it on to many of my friends and family to with my highest recommendations. It takes you to other time and another place and is such an enjoyable read.

The ending felt a little rushed but that was probably because I never wanted it to end.



Rating:
Summary: Well-written, informative but without the emotion of fiction
Review: This was a very informative and presumably accurate depiction of the life of a geisha, circa 1920-1950. It is told entirely from the viewpoint of the memoirist, of course. She unfortunately maintains complete equanimity and betrays no personal faults despite the extreme hardship after the death of her mother and the almost uniform cruelty and desperation of almost everyone with whom she interacts. I felt the story lacked emotion and depth. It could have been a fable or a children's story but I don't think it qualifies as fiction. For a better version of a similar story, I recommend Theodore Dreiser's classic novel, Sister Carrie, about an 18-year-old country girl who moves to Chicago at the turn of the 20th century, where she becomes a kept woman.

Rating:
Summary: The most wonderful book of all
Review: It is an unbelievable book. An absolute must read.