Rating: 
Summary: Breathtaking with lucid details
Review: Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha" is one of the best contemporary books I have read in a long time. It tells the story of a popular geisha during the early 20th century. While the end is lacking and disappointing, what precedes it is fascinating. Golden delves into the culture of Japan and how geisha fit into it. He writes the story richly and convincingly, a most excellent read.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful and enchanting
Review: Several of my friends recommended this novel to me, so I went out and bought it. I was enchanted with Sayuri's story from the first chapter. Golden somehow got into the mind of a geisha and is telling her story. I don't know how he did it, but I am in awe of his talent. When Sayuri longs for the Chairman to recognize her, and dreams of one day being with him, I felt the pangs in my heart. When she lived in fear of Hatsumomo, my own stomach clenched. This novel is full of emotion and so wonderfully written.
Rating:
Summary: Geisha, an artist!
Review: True that the author isn't a Jpanese women, living in Kyoto, Japan, in the year 1940 something. But I thought it was a great story about someone who may have lived back then. It's why we call it fiction that we are allowed to go into the minds of others if we please, and make up or own story of what it may have been life for real. It's not too far fetched to believe this may have been what a Japanese woman would have been subjected too. I have a Jpanese Grandmother, and I think this is pretty true to life, by what she told me. And I like that Aruthr Golden didn't make the Geisha seem like a whore, because she is not a whore, but an artist. Somone who endures many years of hard training, with sweat, blood and tears. I enjoyed this tale of Sayuri. I hope you will too!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This book was definitely not boring. It held my interest for the long run. However, the ending was slightly disappointing to me, as it seemed to end too abruptly, and I felt there was not enough closure. It was a good book, though, and I recommend it. But don't be disappointed when you find out it's really not a true memoir.
Rating:
Summary: A Modern Day Classic
Review: I have to be honest. The only reason I initially purchased this book is because I read that Madonna was playing the character Hatsumomo in her video "Nothing Really Matters" and that she loved the book. I figure, she has good taste, I'll pick it up. Well, despite what others may have said in the past, Madonna does indeed have good taste. The book follows the story of Sayuri, who becomes a 'geisha-in-training' if you will. She lives with some other girls in training along with some geishas. One of whom is Hatsumomo. She is one of the most evil characters I have ever read about! She is easy to loathe and the things she does to Sayuri (who you are rooting for throughout the whole book) are just terrible! But you know what generally happens to baddies in books, so I'll just leave that up to you. This book is so compelling, heart-wrenching, and so well-written, it's very hard to put it down. I recommended it to all of my friends, but they're not 'readers' so they are really missing out. Please, do not make that same mistake!
Rating: 
Summary: Save your money and wait for the movie.
Review: Truly one of the worst books ever written. For people who enjoy Top 40 music and bland situation comedies. Contrived and predictable, it will make a great block buster movie someday.
Rating:
Summary: A Reader from Toronto Canada
Review: WOW. Is all i can say at the moment. Took me a few days to finish it with my schedule but I was impressed. I heard a movie is in the making as well as another book following this one by a true Geisha. I was definately into the story and trying to picture what GION would really look like in person as well it being surrounded in Geisha;s. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Memoirs of a Geisha: An amazing book
Review: This book was absolutely fantastic. Not only does this book have an original, exciting plot, it is extremely informative and teaches about the process of being a geisha in Japan. I recommend this book to all my friends because it's an around fascinating book. It's interesting to me as well how Arthur Golden could write the book, being a man. I can't believe he can get inside the mind of a woman like he did. This book is great, read it!
Rating: 
Summary: Highly atmospheric novel, but ultimately shallow.
Review: There is a bit of voyeurism in the title of Golden's first novel.Told inthe voice of Sayuri, a girl bought from her parents at a young age and delivered into Dickensian misery, she is later trained to become a prominent geisha in pre-war Japan. The book hints at providing an intimate glimpse into a strange and somewhat tawdry profession devoted to ritualized sexual display. And while it can be refreshing to confront the Japanese images of sex and seduction; the bare wrist, elaborate costumes, and the "split peach" hairstyle, Golden is ultimately more of a curator than a voyeur. He does not go into the geisha dressing room, the entire book is more like a runway fashion show. In fact, much of the book is like a fairy tale. Sayuri is Cinderella, a naive country girl who achieves big city success and the love of the man she has long worshipped, despite the evil plotting of her enemies. Hatsumomo is the cruel stepsister who is constantly planning Sayuri's downfall; the Chairman is a delicate Price Charming who stays out of the action until the right moment. Nobu is the fairy tale beast, a noble, gruff, deformed and misunderstood, but ultimately more interesting suitor who actively pursues Sayuri; the Geisha who befriends Sayuri is her only ally in a cruel world. Like most fairytales, Sayur's desire for the Chairman is not demonstrated thru the logic of the story. Most of Golden characters fail to display any depth or complexity; they are but shallow fairy tale caricatures, right down to the gruesome Dr. Crab. Golden does seem more interested in desribing the rituals of being a geisha, and one does wonder if he might have served his cause better by writing a work of nonfiction. But in a work of fiction, he is not bound to tell the truth, he can construct his novel any way he chooses. It is rich with atmosphere, but ultimately has little substance. I was quite taken with the book initially, but the lack of self-reflection or observations by any of the characters about their life or circumstances never does come about, and I grew increasingly frustrated. Indeed the novel is much like a geisha, bautiful and captivating on the outside, but with no real inner beauty. It reads like the work of a scholar (Golden is one) not the memoirs of a flesh and blood woman, though the book's run on the bestseller lists indicates we can all be voyeurs too!
Rating:
Summary: best book I've ever read!!!
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is by far the best book I've ever read!! Now I'm having a really hard time finding anything that compares to it. I have read the book 5 times and could sit down and start reading it again tonight even knowing what it's about and how it ends.
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