Customer Reviews

Memoirs of a Geisha (Random House Large Print)

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I started reading this book because of the movie that was being made of it. I also became interested in it because in a small way, I was part of this whole phenomenon. I was hired as an extra in a scene of the movie adaptation. I started reading this novel and it was apparent from the first few pages how deep the story was going to be. I lived through the eyes of Chiyo who became Sayuri in the process of becoming a geisha in Gion. As I read through the pages, I felt all the emotions and went through all the experiences, mostly painful ones, of a young Chiyo and the turbulant years of the prominent geisha Sayuri. It's amazing how Golden, who is a Caucasian male, can submerge the reader as a Japanese Geisha in a very convincing way. As if Golden himself was Sayuri. Golden in fact puts us in Sayuri's shoes feeling all the emotions, good and bad of her world. When I was reading the last pages of the book, I felt so much sadness for Sayuri that a few tears fell from my eyes. The book covers her whole life, from her childhood life in Yoroido up to the end of her life in New York. The book was written in the manner that Sayuri was telling her life story. The story touched me and has given me the conclusion that our memories and the people we know or have known before have impacted us in some way and the memories of them and our experiences with them will become bitter sweet in our final days. I'm not sure how the movie is, upon writing this review, I have yet to see it. But I do know the book is an excellent read and will also burn in your memory with a bitter sweetness.

I started to read this book and by the first sentence it grabbed my attention right away. One thing and the only thing I disliked from this book was that in the beginning it was slow paced, but as I continued reading more I liked it more and more. Let me tell you, the ending is phenomenal. I fell in love with the ending. AWESOME BOOK!!!!! MUST READ! Trust me you won't regret it.

This novel will draw you in from the very first page. It is a love story between a young girl and an older, very successful businessman, but it is a fascinating window into a strange, exotic and enchanting world that no longer exists. There is just enough detail about the life of a geisha, her clothing and makeup, her lessons, instruments and dances to allow the reader to paint a vivid picture of the places and characters in the book. This is one of those novels that stays with you, long after you have put it away.

This book was brilliant, and beautifully written. I guess the main thing you should realize is that it is fiction, although Golden based some of it on his interviews with Mineko Iwasaki, one of the best-known Geisha of her time. When the book came out she sued him for breach of contract, he had named her when he said he would not and she said he misinterpreted Geisha -that they were not high class prostitutes as she felt they were portrayed in the novel.

Whatever the situation, this is a magnificent piece of writing, and highly recommended.

Sayuri's mother died when she was a child, and her father sold her into slavery -you get the impression this was done because he knew he would die soon too and wanted to make sure his daughters were looked after. They were sent to the Gion district in Kyoto and Sayuri taken in to an Okiyo (Geisha House) as a maid. Her sister was not so attractive and was sent to be a prostitute in a different district.

Sayuri nearly ruined her chances of becoming a Geisha by being rebellious and trying to run away. When she realized that 'outside' there were very few opportunities for her, she decided she wanted to become a Geisha and was taken under the wing by an older 'sister' -a well known Geisha.

From this she rose to become one of the most famous Geisha of all time. During this time she entertained many men -but not ina sexual way. The Geisha were entertainers but not prostitutes -they were kept women by a successful man who they would join with in a ceremony -although not marriage.

Through all this she is in love with a man who appears to not know she is alive.

The descriptions are wonderful, the writing colourful, I really felt I was there.

Highly recommended.

Memories of a Geisha is a beautiful story, gripping as well as entertaining. The best thing about this novel is the exploration of the life of the geisha. You fall in love with the main character and experience her pain as well as her joy. Wonderful and enthralling, I couldn't put it down. It will keep your attention till the end.

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! I read it because I knew the movie was coming out soon and I'm interested in Japanese culture, but I think anyone my age (twelve) and up would enjoy it. One of the best things in this book are the chracters. The only one I didn't really get anything out of was the chairman. Ironic huh?

I enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha because of the very catchy and likable story it told. As Sayuri grew up and lived in the Geisha house, I felt as if I was following her around and living her life with her. The beginning of the novel made me want to read on because of the sadness it shared. It's a very good novel, touching your heart, and makes you appreciate your family.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes entertainment, and enjoys his or her family. It's a very fast read, and once you get into the story, it's very difficult to put it down. Any readers ages 14 and up could enjoy this because it has a little something for everyone. During the story, you feel as if there is always something to relate to.

I thought this book was amazing it took me about 2 days to read it and when I did put it down I just wanted more. Arthur Golden did a great job making this fiction book sound like a autobiography. I was truly facinated by the Geisha culture and the hardships the character faced. I've read other Geisha books and by far this one is the best.

The book Memoirs of a Geisha was far superior to the movie with the same name. Mr. Golden transports the reader into the inner workings of the world of geishas and the relationships they develop among themselves and the men they entertain. Highly recommended.

I read this book in about three days as I couldn't put it down. I must admit, I'm quite amazed that this book is entirely fictitious (even though based on some interviews Golden had with a real geisha). The way it was told, I really felt as if he had transcribed these memoirs as told by a geisha, as the descriptions of events and people were so vivid - an astonishing amount of research must have gone into this.

The story really made me appreciate how lucky I am - here is a poor girl, orphaned and sold to become a geisha, where her life then consists of being a kept woman (not a prostitute, which many, including myself, thought geisha were until now - I'm sorry to say I was ignorant, but we know little of their hidden world). It shocked me that a young girls virginity could be bid for to these horrible old men - the one who wins the 'bidding' is too disgusting for words.

Although it is a culture I don't understand or agree with, it's something I have learnt to respect, and I honestly found myself moved to tears by the end of the book. I really appreciate the freedom that I, and other women have, and think Golden has done an excellent job of bringing the facts of geisha life into our consciousness.