Rating: 
Summary: wonderful wonderful wonderful
Review: 2 years ago, this was the book i took with me on my honeymoon in borneo. saying that it is still one of the most vivid memories i have from that time is not a criticism of the vacation (a night in the rainforest with 6 inch spiders takes some beating for memorability) but a measure of its brilliance. fascinating in its historic detail, deeply affecting in its humanity, relentless in its narrative, this is quite simply one of those books. the fact that it's totally fictional and written by a brit makes it all the more astounding. save it for a special occasion.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Golden is a man and he is not Japanese but if there was a female, Japanese pseudonym on the cover you would never question it. He demonstrates a deep understanding of Japanese thinking and tradition in the values and personalities he assigns to his characters.He writes as Sayuri - a woman from a small fishing village - recounting "his" life story. Shortly after the story opens, Sayuri starts training to become a geisha (geisha translates into English as "art-person" or "artisan" not as "prostitute" as many people believe). The geisha were women skilled in the social arts who entertained their clients with witty conversation, music and dance among other things. As with many things in Japanese culture, these arts are very ritualistic and require rigorous training of the type the West normally associates with the martial arts. Sayuri's story, as she undergoes hardships to become a geisha and later as she takes her place in the social hierarchy, will amaze and bewilder people unfamiliar with Japan. It may even strike some as unbelievable but, to steal the old adage, fact has always been stranger than fiction. I found the book an enjoyable, easy read. The characterization was good and, through the characters' actions, Golden does a reasonable job of showing us the existence of some Japanese social norms such as tatemae (public face) and gaman (tolerance and perseverance).
Rating:
Summary: Compelling!
Review: I seem to have stopped reading books that are just relaxing reads for some reason. I can't tell you that I just loved the book, but I was compelled by it, which is actually a higher compliment. When I put it down, I felt exhausted, so I know I was intent and processing much of the information the author put forth. It was a book that educated me and engaged me at the same time. Parts of it horrified me! For example, I can't imagine sleeping with my neck supported by a wooden rest so that my newly waxed and styled hair would not be crushed. I recommend this book. It's not an easy read, and in this case, that's what makes it good.
Rating:
Summary: Memoirs of a Geisha
Review: This is definitely my favorite book. My initial reaction to a friend's recommended of this book was that it would probably be boring. How interesting could a geisha's life be? After storing this book in my desk for over 2 months, I reluctantly picked it up and started reading. To my surprise every spare time I had was devoted to what was to occur next in the story. What I loved most was the way that I felt as if could relate to the main character's life. Although the book was written by a man, I thought that he really understood a women's heart. I cried, laughed, and truly enjoyed this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not my cup of saki
Review: I am just astonished at all the wonderful reviews for this book. I had to read Memoirs for my Book club and I say HAD because I'm sure I wouldn't've finished it otherwise. I just didn't find it beautifully written as others did; I guess I read too many really well written novels. The rivalry of women in Japan was hard to read about as was the control of the men. I suppose Golden did a good job conveying the culture of Japan but I like characters who have some redeeming qualities or that I can care about and I didn't find any here.
Rating:
Summary: A very good, hard to put down book!
Review: I didn't really think I'd be interested in this book but after reading the first page I was hooked! It's a fascinating glimpse into a world where women are treated like property to be sold to the highest bidder (the auctioning off of the characters virginity). It was just a beautifully written book. I read it in only 4 days!
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding book
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha is a captivating book that draws you in. Once you pick up this book you will not be able to put it down. I read this book from beginning to end with only a break to sleep! A beautiful novel that brings you into the spectacular life of a Geisha. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: Memoirs of a Geisha
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha was the best book I ever read. Watching the charecters develope and grow up made me feel as if I was talking to a Geisha. The author dosen't sped his time trying to find big discriptive words to discribe something breifly. Instead, he takes his time and uses common languege words. This book is a great read for anybody who has ever questioned the ways of another culture.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating material that did not fit well in a single book
Review: This book provided a fascinating account of a very unique part of the Japanese culture - that of the Geisha. It provided vivid detail about lives of Geishas that were hard, peculiar, manipulative (to the extreme), bazaar, exotic and stunningly beautiful at the same time. It certainly sparked a keen interest in me about the rich and contrived Japanese culture. I was partly intrigued and partly disappointed at the author's almost stereotypical treatment of some of the material. This characteristic is particularly apparent in the author's depiction of men. The men in this book were either God-like figures with heavenly appearances that spark affection or strange looking creatures whose peculiar physical treats and personalities invoked disgust. The portrayals of many of the geishas in this book were less apparent but equally simplistic. They were either stunningly exquisite or ugly in some ways to the extent of grotesque. To me, such drastic depiction of most of the characters in the book borders on exaggeration and compromises believability of the work. I cannot help but wondering whether there were hidden messages in such treatment that eluded me. The vast account of the details of the main character, Sayuri's life as a geisha revealed the extensive research behind the work. It is remarkable for a Western scholar to amass such rich and in-depth material about any aspect of a foreign culture, let along that of the highly secretive lives of geishas. But the construction of the characters in this book also was plagued by simplicity and stereotype. The author spent most effort to create the inner world of the Character Sayuri. But even this character felt, thought, and behaved almost the same when she was about nine or ten as when she became an adult. You cannot really tell how she progressed psychologically throughout the book. The rest of the characters turned out as contrived as puppet in a puppet show. Hustumomo was depicted as the master of menace, cruelty and manipulation. Mameha, a near saint with all the right connections. Mother, the Japanese version of a shrewd miser with all the typical heartlessness and gross looks. Every character carried a message without any depiction of a matching inner-world in this book. As a result, these characters turned out to be merely two-dimensional and had a hard time to convince me that they were actual real people that lived as geishas. Without constructing their complexity as human beings, the book failed to bring them alive. They appeared just like the geishas when they put on their mask. You cannot tell what they were, how they looked. They were fakes. Maybe that is exactly what the author tried to convey. Maybe that is the hidden message that I missed. But as a person who was raised in another Asian culture, I expect a lot more subtlety and complexity than the book was able to deliver.
Rating:
Summary: Love Story - Japanese style
Review: A fascinating insight into Japanese culture and Geishas. Bottom line - a young girl's development into womanhood and maturity, full of struggles and heartaches intertwined with a tender love story. Beautifully written. Hard to put down. I loved reading this book.
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