Rating: 
Summary: Artistic Writing & Weak Ending
Review: The writing style is more beautiful than many writings in English language I have ever read (except Tennesee Williams). It's hard to find artistic writings with sense, especially because English is not my first language, but this is the one. The author researchs so much details of the specific Geisha world (Gion) in depth, which is amazingly wonderful- I couldn't believe the author is non-Japanese and, furthermore, "male" creature. It could be said a "well-done" writing. However, as a story, it's nothing more than ordinary one- especially the ending. Is it a fantasy of the author? It's far from sense of reality- at least to me. I was very disappointed with the ending; nevertheless, I give the credit for the writing style, the author's effort and enthusiasm. It's worth to read in any way.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful book with deep understanding of hidden Geishas
Review: I have recently read in the Far Eastern Economic Review, that Arthur Golden the author of Memoirs of a Geisha is being sued by Mineko Iwasaki. Iwasaki claimed that she welcomes Golden with open arms and explained to him about the world of Geisha off the records. However, Arthur published this book not long after. I have seriously and thoroughly enjoyed the book. It has thought me about the ways, hardships, and gave me understanding about the Geisha clan. Iwasaki also mentioned in the article that Golden had painted wrong pictures of Geishas to readers. I, however, found the book has thought me to think of Geisha in new light and also brighter light. Though the figures in the book are made up, the settings of the Geisha clan and the ways of Geisha are well carried across to readers. The main character, Nitta Sayuri aka Chiyo-san, was a strong character and with lots of quality that one can admire and develop respect for.
Rating: 
Summary: a great read
Review: Like many Amazon customers, I enjoy reading other reader's reviews, especially the reviews that give one or two stars to a book that most people give 4 or 5 to. I just finished reading Memoirs and I am limp from it- I found it beautiful and seductive, extrememly difficult to put down. And while most of the reviewers that pan it speak of what they deem to be a lame ending, I must confess that I personally liked the ending. What's wrong with a happy ending? While I'll agree that the character of the Chairman was somewhat narrowly developed, so what? The writing is extraordinary and the story fascinating and the fact that a man wrote it makes it even more wonderous. This goes up high on the list of my favorite books- a highly recommended read, especially to romantic types!
Rating: 
Summary: The love of her life just doesn't ring true
Review: I couldn't stop reading this book, the description of the Geisha lifestyle was fabulous (though we're not sure how much is true). But I really just couln't get the fact that she idolised the Chairman for 20 years, a man 35 years older than herself, and to be honest the 'happy' ending brought down the standard of the book. I know, I know, different cultures and all that, but still...
Rating:
Summary: Jane Eyre goes to Japan
Review: Little orphan girl is mistreated, has many mis-adventures and then ends up with the man of her dreams, of course, he is greatly diminished and they grow old together after finding and losing each other. And guess what, she bears him a child. She lives happily ever after taking care of him. Exuse me - the only thing missing is the insane wife. Hatsomomo will do for that. And the war will fill in the rest of the blanks. Blind - well that works too - remember it was only temporary in the original.
Rating:
Summary: Good Story, If Somewhat Contrived
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha's strengths are its story and the window it opens on the world of the geisha, which is fascinating. At times the story seems a little contrived and the use of language gratingly coarse. But still, the plot and first person narrative keeps you turning the pages.
Rating:
Summary: Involving story, disappointing end
Review: This is a wonderfully engaging novel, despite the fact that the ending falls a little flat. By the time World War II ends in the novel, the author has so drawn you into the world and life of the protagonist that you expect more from the rest of the story, but what follows seems to be half-hearted compared to the rest of the novel. Not that the end ruins the novel, it just seems to lose steam after a certain point, and the end seems contrived after so many struggles and hardships. This book is definitely worthwhile because it offers a unique glimpse into a world that is so exotic, foreign and archiac to most of us. Part of me still can't believe it was written by a western man instead of the geisha described in the beginning. His insights into the world of the geisha in Kyoto and involving prose make it a very good read.
Rating:
Summary: Plenty of Geisha, Not Much About the Woman
Review: The good: Fast reading, solid writing, impeccable rendering of geisha life. Pace is fast, plot never lets up. Characterization of Sayuri, the protagonist, is well defined; what stands out the most are her numerous metaphors, scattered all over the book. I never tired of these metaphors, which were equal counts moving, funny, and beautiful.The bad: Even though Sayuri was aptly realized, I did not learn anything about who she was as a woman. I learned everything there was to know about geisha life, but who was Sayuri, really? I guess I wanted something beyond the lovelorn girl, something more real, something that made her *really* seem human. The ugly: Nothing ugly here. Golden's faux-autobiographical novel, complete with a fake introduction, is a complete account of geisha life told through an entertaining and eye-opening story. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction! No way!
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha offered an incredible insight into a lifestyle that is now very rare. Having been to Japan recently, I easily pictured Sayuri, the main character, in her environment, but readers don't need any prior knowledge of Japanese culture to envision this. Just by reading about Sayuri, I learned a lot about Japan that I didn't know and gained an understanding of how the ancient geisha culture has affected modern women in Japan. The author makes every experience, every person, and every place in Sayuri's life impeccably clear, and she came alive under my eyes. I winced with pain when she was beaten, felt her sorrow when she and her family seperated, experienced her joys, screamed with outrage when she was treated unfairly; in short, I became a geisha with Sayuri. I was mesmerized by this novel and Sayuri's character and was surprised when I realized that not only was it fiction, it was written by a man! The only part of the book that did not ring true was her obsession with the empty, shallow character of the chairman. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind temporarily becoming a geisha and ignoring everything else until the book is finished.
Rating:
Summary: Thorough
Review: I was glad to get to the end of this book. It was too long, and I had the feeling that when the author got to WWII, he thought, "All right, I have to bring this to an end," and whisked through a few decades toward closure. It was depressing, and no doubt accurate. I do suspect, however, that since it was written by a man, that he did not fully understand or explain a woman's point of view, unless he meant that the geishas are so traumatized by their training that they become neutered emotionally. I am glad I read the book, but I don't feel compelled to read another one on the same subject. This was enough.
|
