Rating: 
Summary: I LOVED my trip to the Orient!
Review: OODLES of KUDOS to Arthur Golden for this jewel! I was intrigued from the intro and felt as if I walked around in my own kimono and lived amongst cherry blossoms until I finished the book. I am amazed that a man owned such insight into the mysterious culture of the geisha and women in general. I have always been curious about Japanese beliefs and way of life, but until I read the book I thought a geisha was just a high-priced call girl who wore a bit too much makeup. Instead, I now understand the sacrifices, skill, and mental fortitude it took to endure this hard lifestyle. I learned that instead of choosing this as a glamourous "career" that most are either born into it or sold as slaves. I am all for women's lib and against oppression of women, but I did find myself having the utmost respect for the tradition of these artisans and the devotion they showed in every aspect of their lives. The spirit of the geisha was fascinating, and I will carry the lessons I learned from this book with me throughout my life. It will make you want to get out of your sweats and order a kimono!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Year's Best
Review: Memoirs of a Geisha captivates and transports the reader from his/her own space and place in time to the historic Geisha district of Kyoto, Japan within a chapter. The characters are touchable. The settings are as real as if one were seated alongside the guests of the famous tea houses. Arthur Golden is masterful at setting the scene and drawing the reader in, not as an observer --but as a participant. This is a terrific story told by a very talented storyteller. If I were giving out awards, this book would receive top honors!
Rating:
Summary: A Treasured Book
Review: What a wonderful book! I could not put it down. Living in Japan I have come to appreciate and understand the culture. My book has been passed around to many people and everyone loved it. A very intiguing and educational glimpse into Japans history and culture.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, wonderful, magnificent...
Review: ...those are just a few words that I would use to describe Memoirs of a Geisha. The narration is stunning, and the character of Sakamoto Chiyo/Sayuri Nitta completely believable. I couldn't believe that this was a work of fiction written by an American man. The writing draws you in; once you pick up the book, you literally cannot put it down. But when you're done, it feels like everything was over too quickly; the last few chapters and the ending definitely could have been longer; it also wasn't the way I would have liked it to end, but that's life, I guess. Besides, critics of the book have made that a major point, and I won't go into it. If you want criticism, read another review; this one gives only praise for Memoirs. The plot is engaging and interesting, and the details more so; it interested me enough in geisha to buy Liza Dalby's book, Geisha, and to recommend the book to all of my friends. Sayuri's life is interesting; characterization is good. The writing is also excellent, and very descriptive; by the time you're done, it feels as if you've met Sayuri. The novel is now one of my favorites, and I heartily recommend it. Buy it now! Also recommended: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: An amazing book, I couldn't put it down- all my friends enjoyed it. A must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Touching
Review: It was so real, I could hardly believe it was written by a Caucasian man. I felt I was living in the Nitta okiya and going to parties along with Sayuri. Very impressive.
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Summary: This Might be helpful for those who love it and who don't
Review: I have seen this book for a long time with its conspicuous cover (the geisha with pale blue-gray eyes), but I didn't buy it until a few weeks ago. One reason was that I felt AMerican novels (in English) generally project a narrow perspective on ethnical stories. Whenever you heard of Japan, it is always the kimono or the anime that everyone is familar with. But it is not only it... That's why most of the times novels dealing with ethnic related topics are often shallow or sentimental in a small area that loses the main focus (or often from a limited view) However, this book is great in dealing with every aspect of the traditional life of a geisha. It seems to me like a translation text of a original Japanese novel. ALthough there are still slight descriptions that show the author is not completely immersed in conventional Japanese culture, such as the way he described things that Saturi saw... which is apt to American sense of analogies instead of oriental. For those who consider this book as a porn book that reveals the disgusting scenes between the characters--Sorry, it is very true for a male-dominant traditional society in Japan, especially during that time. So the author is merely conveying this part of history in front of the readers. As I should say, this book is pretty exquisite in various aspects. It is colorful in literary technqiues and also faithful to the history. SOme of the true qualitites hidden behind the words cannot be fully comprehended under American values.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: A book you can't put down. I have passed this book around now to 3 other people who can't put it down! Well told, captures your interest from the beginning.
Rating: 
Summary: Memoirs
Review: This book has both good and bad parts. The bad: it's little more than a Cinderella tale, the ending is weak and boring, and it does not explore the complexities of a human being existing only as an object of beauty. It also set up characters or situations, but doesn't follow through: Example, her sister. Why have her sister at all? Nobu has such a wonderful role in Sayuri's life, then he just disappears without hardly a word. The book just doesn't connect well. The good: It has wonderful characterization. Hard to believe it was written by a man. Sayuri, if a little more calculating than a lot of women, is realistic as a female. Other dynamic characters: Nobu and Hatsumoto. And it is very educational. I knew nothing about Geishas before reading this. This book shows enough of Japan to be educational, yet is not as disorienting as some books about Asian cultures. Still, I couldn't help feeling that I was being spoon-fed Japanese culture.. but it was enough to wet my appetite. Also, it has beautiful imagery: Example: The part where the ruby was compared to a splotch of blood. Interesting read over all.. very fast read ..
Rating:
Summary: beautiful
Review: It's the first time in 6 years that I'm trying to read a book in English that I am actually capable of doing so.... Why? Maybe because the others were not woth it my doing an effort ; but certainly because this book is captivant, breathtaking,etc..
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