Rating: 
Summary: Best Book This Year
Review: I loved this book! Right from the start it drew me in and held me spellbound as young Chiyo was sold to the Kyoto geisha. The meat of the novel is the early years--the time spent as a virtual slave to the mistress of the geisha house. Though she is beautiful, it is determined that Chiyo will never become a geisha. She is cunning, and her attempts to escape cost her "house" much. Chiyo will never be able to pay her debts.But the inspiration of a gracious businessman and the intervention of a mentor-geisha (bent on revenge toward a competitor)change Chiyo's bad fortune. The beautiful geisha, Mameha, proposes a business offer to Mother, Chiyo's housemother--a bet that Chiyo, under Mameha's tutorage will pay her debts by age 20. The greedy Mother accepts the bet and Chiyo becomes a geisha apprentice. There is a love story here as Sayuri, nee Chiyo, strives to win the affections of the kind businessman, the Chairman. The trials of war and the rebuilding of Japan nearly ruin the geisha trade, but Sayuri makes a come back, along with her country. In the beginning I feared the cultural differences would cause me to lose interest. Quite the opposite! I was fascinated with the geisha culture. I'd assumed that geisha were high-class call girls. While they did strive to be "kept women", geisha were so much more. They were trained entertainers, party hostesses, and escorts. They were welcomed in businesses for the clientele they'd attract. Very rarely did they sell themselves for sex--except to their danna (their benefactor). I loved the economics of geisha: who got paid by whom, who owned what, and oddest yet, the value of kimonos. The art of dressing the geisha, the training, the discipline and obedience--it was an enlightening look at a culture I'd know nothing of. So glad I do now.
Rating:
Summary: All time favorite
Review: With fiction, very little impresses me. Though that may mean precious little to you, it does shorten the list of literature I recommend. And I recommend, with all the enthusiasm I can muster, that everyone not only read, but own this masterpiece. Sure to take it's place among the classics, it was a delight to read. The detail was outstanding, emphasizing the thorough research that went into this book. But, what was most impressive was the way in which he weaved fact and fiction. After reading the book I was not only knowledgeable about the life a geisha led, I felt as if I had known one personally. A tome ripe with wisdom, this is a treasure to be passed from generation to generation.
Rating: 
Summary: Wait for Mineko Iwasaki's book; skip Golden's
Review: The reviews and hype on this book were so wonderful that I picked up a copy and made my way through about 1/3 of it, until it became a slog. After that, I was so bored, I picked through the rest of it to find out 2 things - if her cherry was ever picked (yes, eww), and where she ended up (NYC). Much of the praise is about a man writing a book that takes you inside the life of a woman. <sarcastic gasp> Background - Arthur Golden wrote one book then threw it out and rewrote the book after interviewing Mineko Iwasaki. He spent decades on his rewrites while living off his substantial trust fund -- the guy comes from old & big money -- and what for? So his hobby gets published? I ask you, why aren't we supporting a real woman writing her story? Aren't there real women out there with things to say who need publishing money to write more than he? More background - Mineko Iwasaki is in the process (Oct. 2000) of suing Arthur Golden for breach of promise. He said that he would keep her conversations with him confidential, but then entirely rewrote his book based on information she gave him, and credits her with being his inspiration. She claims people mistakenly believe that they are reading her life story, and is about to starting to work on her own book to tell the real story. I say skip the snooze Memoirs of a Geisha and wait for the real geisha to write her book, which will probably alot more interesting than Mr. Golden's.
Rating:
Summary: Masterly Written Historical Fiction
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha takes us through the amazing life of Nitta Sayuri. Born as Chiyo, Sayuri is taken from her family at an early age and moved to Gion, a Geisha district in Kyoto, Japan. After years of struggling as a simple maid, she realizes her destiny and is given the opportunity to become a Geisha. Sayuri must use all her assets to succeed as an artist and defeat her abusive rival, Hatsumomo. Memoirs makes for an amusing and sad read. All the while you'll find yourself rooting for Sayuri to blossom and overcome her hardships. Aurthor Golden shows us what life as a Geisha was like in the early part of last century. His intimate, deeply layered novel leaves me wondering wether this story was truly a work of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: It's all spelled out for you
Review: This book captivated me like no other. The language was beautiful and I really felt as though I had travelled to Kyoto. The smells, tastes, sights... But I guess Mr. Golden was behind on his deadline because the last pages were weak, vague, and unimpressive to this beautiful tale. Don't miss this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Great beginning, ending - what a let down!
Review: This was a much celebrated book, just about everyone I know has a copy of it on their shelves. (note how many reviews were written) And I do not deny that I enjoyed it. The writing gets into you into the head of a Geisha, her hopes fears, wishes, dreams (blah blah blah). And also does not do a bad job of writing as a woman. (Not a terrific job, but not a bad job). Portraying what I would imagine to be a very realistic world of Geishas (past). And then the ending undoes all of the sympathy and warmth I felt for the character. She becomes very shallow and munipulative. Almost as if the writer got bored, gave up and wanted to end the book. I, like many other readers, would have liked to see a different ending. If I were to just rate the first 2/3rds of the book I would give it SIX stars. I still recommend the book, but warn against the end, what a let down.
Rating:
Summary: Unable to stay shut!
Review: The book starts out with Chiyo living in her childhood town. Before a disturbing death occurs, she and her sister are sold to a geisha district. They are seperated basically for the rest of their lives with the exception of one minor meeting. The majority of this book is about her experiences in Gion. She comes face to face with what I could call a devil. She somehow manages to live her life through the many encounters of this person. It's definitely worth reading just to find out what happens to the devilgirl! Although I'd like to write a full review on what my favorite parts are, I will not do that. If you are reading this review before you read this book, I can only tell you that I highly recommend that you DO read this book! It's my current favorite. There's one disappointment with this book, however. It took me a while to completely understand the ending. I agree with some reviewers when they say that the author was simply tired of writing, and ended the book in a nice, little package. The second to last chapter was still, in my opinion, in the peak of the book. Even with that disappointment, I would still recommend this book to any older reader. It has a combination of sadness, happiness, and excitement, and you can't forget the unability of keeping this novel shut.
Rating:
Summary: Unable to dislike!
Review: Through the twists and turns of excitement that Memoirs of a Geisha holds, I must say that it is beyond one of the best books that I have ever read. Personally, I've never became so emotionally attached to a book; I'd often find myself crying at certain points; I'd also laugh sometimes. There are many ups and downs in life that this book couldn't explain better. Unfortunately, there was one disappointment, for me. I was hoping that she would end up with another person, but that's only because I wasn't aware of someone elses feelings -- which you'll see if you read it -- but after the book was finished, I was a little more relieved. I should tell you that this is the first book that I've read for pleasure in over eight years. I wanted the book to be longer. I wasn't okay with it ending where it did - I wanted more. I would recommend this book to anyone that's looking for: sadness, happiness, excitement, laughter, and many other things.
Rating: 
Summary: Can't forget this book
Review: A year ago, I was given this book to read while I was away for a long weekend at the shore. I've since bought it for five people, and I know several more that will love me for presenting them with this book. I read it in 2 days, put it down for a day, and then read it again. It's evocative, delightful, and poignant. The reader feels for the protagonist, from small joys to large life-shattering upheavals. Mr. Golden has a delicate touch, and paints the delicate silk canvas of the geisha life with broad swaths and intricate characters. Do I recommend this book? Yes, and heartily. Let the title be your guide.
Rating:
Summary: Impossible to put down!
Review: I don't think I could say enough positive things about this book in the space allotted! I decided to read it because I was curious what a geisha really was. I know most Westerners think them to be prostitutes but to me that didn't seem to be the whole of it. Indeed it's not. They are very skilled and cultured women who for the most part entertain men with stories, dances, and games. But that's not to say there isn't a little of the other involved in the job description. Namely in the ritual known as mizuage, the selling of their virginity. We learn about the life of geishas through a young Japanese girl named Chiyo. She was born to a poor family who painfully sale her and her older sister in hopes they'll have a better life. Chiyo is bought by a geisha house in real-life geisha district, Gion. We witness her struggle from maid to an apprentice and finally an actual geisha named Sayuri. The only problem that I could have with the book is the ending. I can understand why she ended up where she did... how else would she feel free to tell her story? But the build up was so great with wonderful tales and exquisite detail that the end seemed a little abrupt. On a whole the book is still good enough to make up for it. Read this book because it tells an amazing story filled with splendid characters, remarkable descriptions that make you see the story in your mind, and because you can't help but pick up some of the Japanese culture.
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