Memoirs of a Geisha

Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: Through this whole story I thought it was non fiction, until the end when my fellow Lit. group members told me it was not. I couldn't believe it! The story was horrific in many ways, very demeaning to women I thought at first, but these women seem to enjoy the Geisha world, very different from our own. It is a society unto itself, with Geisha who have more power and men to provide well for them, and the underling Geisha in training, some of whom are treated as slaves while learning what it is to be a Geisha. There is much ritual involved and can have a good or horrid end for them. A fascinating read about something I knew nothing about, exept what is on TV. A glimpse into a culture not near my own.

Rating:
Summary: A cross-cultural experience
Review: Like most Westerners, I had lots of stereotypes and little real knowledge of the life of a geisha before reading this book. The author is a man, and yet he writes this book in the first person and succeeds in sounding like the voice of a Japanese woman. She is born with the name Chiyo in a small fishing village on the Sea of Japan. Unfortunate family circumstances cause her father to sell her and her sister to someone who will have them trained to become geishas. She and her sister are separated and she is put into a household of women, including another geisha who always seems to be at cross-purposes with Chiyo. When she tries to meet her sister and run away, she is caught and her training is interrupted. When things seem darkest for her, there is always a rescuer who appears on the scene. One of the most fascinating parts of the book is the training Chiyo goes through. Geishas consider themselves to be hostesses and entertainers and they spend years training in dance, singing, musical instruments, and the tea ceremony. Throughout her life Sayuri, as she is known after becoming a geisha, is at the mercy of other people, first the women in the place where she lives, and later the men who support her. This is a bittersweet tale of a young girl who first loses her family and then her closest friends in order to survive and attain her goals. It is a fascinating look at one aspect of another culture, but it has sad undercurrents throughout.

Rating:
Summary: compelling!
Review: WOW!
it's not often that i come across a book this long and of this genre that i can finish in a few days. This book, however, would not stay shut. it was very persistant; whenever i was doing any work it would call to me to read it.....and i would obey. written in beautiful, adolescent detail, this is a book so realistic it is almost impossible to believe that it is fiction.
i'm serious, this is one of the best books i have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Stellar!
Review: Like ANGELA'S ASHES or Jackson McCrae's BARK OF THE DOGWOOD, this book packs in all the emotions from A to Z. What a wonderful look at Japanese culture and customs this is, yet it brings to mind the fact that deep-down, we're all the same, that we all have the need for love. The telling of this tale is wonderful and the writing is excellent.

Would also recommend LIFE OF PI and EMPRESS ORCHID in addition to this book.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible book!
Review: Loved this book, so interesting and colorful. Would highly recommend!

Rating:
Summary: Raw and Inspirational
Review: This book is the best! Great for Sunday afternoon reading-considering you wont be able to put it down. It is the story of a scared and confused young girl ripped from all she has ever known and dropped headfirst into and okiya,only to learn she will be trained to become a geisha. Along her rocky path to a full fledged geisha, you get caught up in her emotion and feel sadness, desperation and sometimes regret for the girl. A book filled with secrets and questions,all mostly answered towards the end. I hope you enjoy it!

Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Gem
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is one of those books I just didn't want to finish. I fell so in love with the characters that they become dear friends. It will be hard for me to now let them go.

Arthur Golden has written a delightful tale of Japan and the Japanese culture during WWII. I travel a lot, but for some reason have never been tempted to visit Japan. After reading this book, my feelings have changed. His descriptions of this country and it's culture, using his easy to read style of prose which is almost poetic, has changed my mind. I now have a deep desire to visit Kyoto and "the land of Sayuri"!

I realize how ignorant I have been of geisha, and their role in society. I learned so much about their lifestyle, their country and this time period. I also was reminded of some important lessons in life. The hard times that we go through help to make us and our lives even more special, and the people we meet along the way stay with us long after we are seperated from the physically.

I highly recommend this book!!!

Rating:
Summary: couldn't stop reading
Review: This book gives a realistic and truly deep insight into the geishas' lives. Impressive and a thrilling read - you never know what will happen next. It's so inspiring to see her as a poor child growing up into this totally different class and adapting to all its customs. Read it - it's worth it!

Rating:
Summary: Deeper Into the Life of a Geisha
Review: I enjoyed reading Memoirs of a Geisha. It gave a peek of how it was during that time in Japan. It also showed what it was like to be a woman living through those times. I think what I liked the most about it was the fact that it was written by a man. When you are reading the book you don't even get a hint that it was a man writting the story. There was so much emotion through out the entire book that made it feel as if you were there watching this girl grow up. I definately recommend reading this book if you want to experience what it was like to be a geisha.

Rating:
Summary: A Real Eye Opener
Review: Amazingly written, Memoirs of a Geisha takes you into a world in which wealthy men pay for the services of Geisha and Geisha live not for themselves but for the financial means of their Okiya. The author, Arthur Golden, includes such exquisite detail and insight into the life of a Geisha that it is difficult to remember that the book was written by a man. This captivating story of a young Japanese girl, Chiyo, going through strict training and experiencing sexual and mental hardships that are difficult to imagine will keep you turning the pages. The details of her life seem to make you feel as though you know her and are right there with her, experiencing things as she experiences them. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether for the Japanese culture, the art of the Geisha, or just for pleasure.