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Summary: Memoirs of a Geisha
Review: This story is set in Japan in the 19th century during a period in time when young girls' futures were based on their ability to serve, and their appearance. A young girl's life changes at the age of 8, when she's forced to grow up. Seperated from the ones she loves she strugles to experience things that were of another world. This author, Arthur Golden, portrays the life of a geisha through stories that a dear friend of his tells him on her deathbed.He was inspired by the stories of these young girls that had experienced similar incidents. Although Mr. Golden is a Caucasian male that has only visited Japan a few times, he has a way of telling the story as if he were there in the first person. I've never been fortunate enough to read his other books, but if they're as good as Memoirs of a Geisha they're next on my list. This book is encouraging in a way that you would least expect, and one that everyone should read.
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Summary: penetralia mentis
Review: I bought this book after seeing a middle-aged businessman devour the book on a flight to Chicago. He was so completely engrossed in the novel that he didn't acknowledge the stewardess prompting him for his meal. By the end of the flight, he had finished the novel. The constrast between the concinnity of subject matter and the bulky stature of the businessman in an awkward airplane set made me curious. What made him so enthralled?After I read it, I knew why. The novel was an absolute delight! I read it in a single sitting despite my attempts to put it down so I could savor it. Mr. Golden delves deep into the character of a credulous child maturing into a woman jaded by the Machiavelistic ways of her lifestyle. He has an exquisite manner of depicting stirring detail and feeling so that you actually feel the high sash of the kimona digging into your ribcage. The book is sprinkled with jewel-like analogies such as as describing love as a stone dropping into a well. If you like to be educated while you are entertained with elegant (yet concise) prose, this is the book for you. It reminds of "Under the Tuscan Sun" in a way, because you learn the culture of a society, while you befriend (or at least emphatize with) the main character. At the same time, you learn tasty bits of trivia (whether it be ribolitta or waxed hair). After reading the book, the character names ring familiar as if they were your own friends. Gobbled up by me and a random American male businessman.
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Summary: Princess of Sea
Review: I simply love this book..This books gives me feelings that Geishia's are princess of sea, sea of tears, sea of feelings..sea of nothingness.. All credit goes to the writer...
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Summary: One Of My Favourite Books Ever! A Definete Must-Read!
Review: This is truly one of the best written books I have read in a long time. With beautiful detail and exquisite characters and storyline, I re-read the entire book after I finished, not wanting the story to end. The reader will immediatley appreciate the time and effort Golden put into the book itself; researching the Japanese and geisha culture for close to 10 years. I recommend this book for all. You will not be able to put it down and will remember it forever!
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Summary: Memoirs of a Geisha
Review: This was one of those books you just could not put down. I have allready recommended it to three friends and they also loved it. The history that was in this book of the life of a geisha and the work that went into researching this book was all worthwhile. Read this book.
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Summary: Beach Reading
Review: I want to make this clear-this is NOT literature, it is something to read on the beach. I rank this right down there with the Bridges of Madison County-written by a man, that for some reason sends certain women into paroxysms of gushing. It has the usual villainous rival, the Daddy Long Legs benefactor, the male fantasy of old man/young girl(oh sure, every pubescent teenage girl falls in love with a middle aged man on first sight and pines for him for years), mean mistress, etc. etc. There's too many good books out there to waste your time if you are looking for quality prose. it's fine for escapist summer reading.
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Summary: An Unforgettable Tale
Review: Author Golden's, "Memoirs of a Geisha" is an unforgetable tale in which you find yourself breathing in the pages as if they were air! A truly facinating book!
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Summary: Great book
Review: I had to remind myself several times that this book is fiction and is written by a man. It was a great book to read to get away in my head.
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Summary: Superlative writing
Review: I love great historical fiction and Arthur Golden's novel, although not as action-packed as other contemporary best-selling novels like the Civil War's "The Killer Angels" or WWII's "The Triumph and the Glory", captures Japanese culture in magnificent fashion. But no matter what type of fiction you like you should read the Memoirs of a Geisha, it is a wonderful, finely-crafted example of what a novel should be.
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Summary: Unforgettable
Review: This is one of those rare novels that has altered the world as I see it. I agree with many of the reviewers that the author treats his heroine with unbelievable empathy, and captures perfectly those quiet qualities we might assume of a geisha- loyalty, fragility, grace, submissiveness, pride, humility...at the same time hinting at the complexity of her thoughts, and understanding (and acceptance) of her place in the world. I would have wanted the story to end differently, but I'm glad that it didn't- this was not an epic romance, and a bittersweet end (an unsatisfying end at that) is consistent with the overall thread of the story. There are passages in this book that are pure poetry- uncontrived and unforgettable. Absolutely one of the best reads I've had in years.
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