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Summary: Reading through Japanese eyes
Review: I am half Japanese. I was born there and lived a good part of my early years in Japan and remember much of the small fishing village my grandmother lived in that we visited often. This book's imagery is so vivid, parts put me right back to that fishing village with the people that might have lived there. It was a truely amazing experience reading this book. It's been a year since I've read it. It's time for me to take another visit to pre-WWII Japan. If you decide to take that trip, take a box of tissues with you.
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Summary: Inside View
Review: This book gets an inside view of the old-fashioned trained geisha. I couldn't put it down!!! the way he describes the daily life of a geisha kept me always turning the next page. I reccommend this for every age. I loved it. it is clearly the best book ever written.
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Summary: There are not words worthy to describe this masterpiece.
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is one of the best books that I have ever read, it is beautiful, very well written and realistic. It intrigued me so much, that I do not think I could put the book down once until I had finished it! This is not one of those books which you have to read 100 pages to "get into the story" - it throws you into the tale of a country girl, who is sent off to become a geisha. It is so convincing, that it was hard for me to believe that it is not an auto-biography, but fictional. The descriptions of details amazed me; the clothing, the tea houses, the clients, the other geishas, the environment, the places... it was as if I was there. I wanted more as soon as I had finished the book, I could not get enough of it. There are not words worthy to describe this masterpiece! A recommendation for anyone with an interest for culture!
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Summary: Dont miss out on this magical tale
Review: Memoirs of Geisha is one of the best books I have ever read, if not the best. Its a story that you wish would go on for ever. You feel transported to the life of a charming and surprisingly innocent geisha. This book is a masterpiece and it describes every sentiment,every drop of water with such tenderness and vivacity that its as if you were there. It makes you want to hop into the next plane to Japan and see it all. You feel the story and you relate to the geisha lifestyle, as corny as this may sound I honestly felt like giving A.Golden a hug. The man is a genius. It is never boring, or monotonous, it is also surprising as to how a man can portray the feelings of a woman so sensitively. I fell in love with this book and encourage you all to read it, it is something you cannot miss. Love Gigi
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Summary: The next best thing would be going to Japan yourself!
Review: Arthur Golden writes Memoirs of a Geisha after spending ten years studying the geisha culture in Japan. His knowledge of their lifestyle shines through in this captivating story of a young girl taken away from her home and forced to grow up.Memoirs of a Geisha can best be described as a "Cinderella story with a splash of Japanese flavor." Golden has done a beautiful job in writing a tale about a Japanese girl's experiences before, during, and after she becomes a geisha. The novel deals with issues such as submissiveness, separation, suffering, and deception, but in the grand tradition of fairytales, the good guys win and the story ends happily. While Golden has successfully created an exciting story that is hard to put down, he also allows readers to become a part of the Japanese culture, clearing up any misconceptions they may have about geisha life. In addition, he manages to do this while successfully making us feel as if we are reading the true memoirs of a real geisha, and not the results of studies by an American man. Golden's use of metaphor throughout the book adds to the excitement and mystery of the young Geisha's life. Some major metaphors are played with throughout the extent of the novel adding flavor to the storyline. For example, the metaphor or water is mentioned several times, and is described as something that "changes shape and flows around things,""is the most versatile of the five elements", and that "even wood, which is its natural compliment, can survive without being nurtured by water."(125) All of these statements are meant to symbolize the main character of Sayuri, who is said to have "water in her personality." Smaller metaphors provide windows into the geisha's mind such as the "tipsy-house," which symbolizes the "lopsided life" Sayuri has led. Arthur Golden's storytelling is so convincing that one would swear it to be true. His novel draws you in by the time you turn the front page. You will fall in love with some of the characters and absolutely despise the others. Both men and women will find Memoirs of a Geisha a novel that is hard to place back on the bookshelf.
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Summary: 5 for accurate Japanese portrayal; 2 for the Technique
Review: Sorry to say BUT this book is a poor imitation of Jane Austen and MM Kaye -- a very poor imitation. I do not think that GOlden really understands why Austen/Kaye are such important writers nor their characters development within the book. Instead his attempt is lacking in so many respects that I found the book disappointing. BUT it's an accurate portrayal of Shintoist philosophy and the life of a geisha. It on this level that I found the book compelling; unfortunately our Memoirist is a poorly drawn character who never manages to be more than a caricuture. The book itself is better in the first part (prior to WWII) than the second. The last few (2) chapters should have been chopped.
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Summary: It's been a long time since I read a book this good.
Review: I am constantly searching for a good book to read, but I have not found one that I could not put down for a long time, and I found that with this book. I loved it!
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Summary: A brutally honest tale of a young geisha's struggle.
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is a brutally honest tale of a young geisha's struggle to stay true to her heart. She is sold to the Gion Geisha district, although the Geisha way of life is no where as glamouros as it seems. The author paints a startlingly vivid picture of Chiyo's life from her small fishing village until the river that is her life leads her finally to New York City.
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Summary: I didn't know writing could be this beautiful.
Review: I like reading books; the only problem is that I don't have a lot of time, with school, work and other activities. Needless to say there are more books unfinished than finished, so when I wanted to read something, I bought "Memoirs of a Geisha." I had heard a lot of great things about this book, so I went in with hopes held high. Never would I have imagined what I was in store for. I became entranced by the creative, clever and beautiful writing of Arthur Golden who paints a beautiful landscape with interesting and unique characters that you love, hate and love to hate. You follow the life of a young Japanese girl, Chiyo as she is ripped from her family and sold into a lifestyle where every glance, word spoken, piece of exposed flesh has meaning. Where their virginity is auctioned and their existence is nothing more than being a mistress to a wealthy businessman. You experience her love, her hate, her friendships, her broken heart and her transformation into Sayuri, one of the most notable geisha in Japan. You will find yourself reading for hours, only to look up with bleary eyes and wonder where the time went. The writing recreates Sayuri's world with such faith that it is difficult to remember that this is a work of fiction; the best fiction I have ever read. So much so that I often had to look at the back of the book to read the "Fiction/Literature" label in the upper left-hand corner of the back cover. "Memoirs of a Geisha" is one of few books that I never wanted to end. This important piece of literature should not go unnoticed and if I could give it 10 stars I would with ease.
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Summary: Take a peek into the lives and secrets of a geisha
Review: This is the ONLY review I will not go into detail with. I just want to say if you love the hidden secrets of geisha lifestyle, if you are interested in Japanese war or culture, or you are a woman...you MUST read this book. It is a modern classic. The words flow like poetry. The scenes fill your mind with landscapes and perfumed beauty. It will melt you. I adore this book...it is reavealing, almost shocking to the way I used to think of women who were Geisha. I thought they were sort of "party dolls" for married men. I was wrong. I now see them as one of the most interesting things in Japanese culture. The story is bittersweet. Think of a Japanese version of "Cassablanca" or "Out of Africa". If you must read intimate details of the book ...read other reviews. I strongly urge you not to. Once details are revealed this story is ruined. There is one thing about the book I will say. I, as an artist have always admired kimonos on display..they are works of art. Just the reavealing aspect of how important they really are to a geisha was new and shocking to me! I will never look at one the same way again. Please do not pass this book up...just listen to all the buzz about it!
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