Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel
by Arthur Golden
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.01 You Save: $14.94 (100%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Memoirs of a Geisha: A Novel
Book Review: Excellent Portrayal of Geisha Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Arthur Golden spent a fair amount of time researching this book, speaking to geishas whose stories in one form or another appear here. The book basically presents the biography of one geisha who through often very harsh events in her life transforms herself from the daughter of a fisherman into one of the most famous geishas of Japan. Both she and her sister are thrown into geisha houses to be taught this profession although her sister falls quickly into misfortune. Geisha houses demand strict discipline and service and have firm hierarchies that allow the use of power either purposefully or with cruelty. Jealousies and rivalries threaten the course of this woman. Once she achieves her goal, there remain tough decisions about whom she will serve. Economics and survival prevail over personal preferences and sentiment. The stability of her career is precarious as numerous events threaten to destroy it as they have for other geishas who are then often dragged into lives of prostitution. The intrusion of WWII presents other unexpected challenges and compromises to cope with shortages and lean times. A vivid and captivating book.Book Review: Definitely Worth Reading
Summary: 4 Stars
This book was easy to read and kept me turning the pages. I personally did not agree with the ending, and wished it would have ended differently but will not put any spoilers out there :)
Definitely worth reading :)
Book Review: Reminds me of Hollywood
Summary: 4 Stars
Not a bad book. It was very well written. I was surprised that a male author was able to tell the memoirs of a woman so well. I completely forgot it was written by a male and found myself seeing the author as the geisha herself. This story starts with Chiyo as a young girl and her parents ill health causing her and her sister to be sold. It follows Chiyo's trials and tribulations as she first struggles as a maid and endures a lot of cruelty and then her life of a geisha, which I found to be terribly frivolous and spoiled. Like American women in Hollywood, the geisha (the impression I got from this book anyway) just goes to party after party and sings and dances and entertains men, while dressing in expensive clothes. The only difference being that their virginity is sold to the highest bidder. When war arises in their country, banning the geisha trade as a result, these pampered women feel their lives are over and balk at doing hard physical labor. That attitude alone, made me lose sympathy with the life of the geisha, despite the degradations they face leading to their pampered existence. Again, it was well written but not being very familiar with Japanese customs and such, I would have liked a bit more detail about the architecture and surroundings. There was a lot of kneeling and door rolling and I had a hard time picturing where the characters were, besides on a floor.Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha
Summary: 5 Stars
This book arrived in perfect condition just when I was told it would. It is so well written and completely mesmerizing. I enjoyed every minute of reading about this woman's story of a culture so steeped in tradition.Amazing book. You'll love it.Book Review: Wonderful book.
Summary: 5 Stars
Very captivating. I couldn't put it down till I finish it.
Very easy to read, dynamic plot.
The movie was beautiful but it didn't show even half of what is in the book and why.
It has a very interesting ending (unlike the movie).