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Memoirs of a Geisha

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'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden is a captivating historical fiction novel that follows the life of Sayuri, a young girl who is sold into the world of geishas in pre-WWII Japan. The book provides a detailed insight into the life of a geisha, from the elaborate ceremonies and dances to the personal struggles and triumphs of the main character. The writing style of the book is described as beautifully written, engaging, and almost lyrical, transporting readers to a different time and place with vivid descriptions and rich detail.

Characters:

The characters are richly developed, showcasing a range of emotions and motivations, from ambition and envy to love and courage.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and immersive, filled with beautiful descriptions and historical nuances that capture the reader's imagination.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot details the life of Sayuri, who is sold into a geisha house and navigates love and challenges while uncovering the realities of this world.

Setting:

Set against the backdrop of a changing Japan, the novel vividly portrays the life in Kyoto, particularly within the geisha community.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, beginning slowly to develop the narrative but picks up as the story progresses through emotional highs and lows.
Suppose that you and I were sitting in a quiet room overlooking a garden, chatting and sipping at our cups of green tea while we talked about something that had happened a long while ago, and I said t...

Notes:

The book is narrated in the first person by Sayuri, a fictional character.
Sayuri's story begins in a small fishing village called Yoroido.
Her father sells her and her sister, Satsu, to become servants due to financial difficulties.
Sayuri becomes a geisha and is trained in the art of entertainment, including dance and music.
Gion is depicted as the iconic home of many geishas, presenting a stark contrast to Sayuri's humble beginnings.
Hatsumomo is Sayuri's rival and a prominent character who makes her life difficult.
Mameha, another geisha, helps train Sayuri and becomes her mentor.
The story covers significant historical events including World War II and its impact on the geisha lifestyle.
The Chairman, a key figure in Sayuri's life, symbolizes her hope and aspiration throughout the story.
The book explores themes of love, tragedy, and the struggle for identity within the constraints of society.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and emotional trauma.

Has Romance?

The novel features a strong romantic subplot centered around Sayuri's feelings for the Chairman.

From The Publisher:

A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel tells with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.

Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read

Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it.

In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction-at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful-and completely unforgettable.

Ratings (227)

Incredible (50)
Loved It (105)
Liked It (43)
It Was OK (20)
Did Not Like (6)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (326):

Read It (231)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (52)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (40)

4 comment(s)

Liked It
3 months

I was torn reading this book. I can't deny that it wasn't interesting, because it was. But the overall subject matter is depressing. I'm not sure if Golden really believes that the geisha culture was a good one, or if he purposely creates characters that try desperately to rationalize their own miserable lives, but all I kept thinking while I was reading was that this book is an attempt to somehow justify what is nothing less than child sex slavery. The geisha life is not glamorous, beautiful, or special. If we're supposed to mourn the loss of Japanese aristocratic culture in the novel, I'm not celebrating its demise. Women have no rights or control over their own lives in this book. Children are basically kidnapped from their homes and sold into sex slavery. Young girls' have their virginity auctioned to the highest bidder and then for all purposes, are raped. We're supposed to believe that just because a married man is "nice" to the geisha when she's crying on the street that he is a good man and treats her well. He doesn't. One would think that the women in such terrible conditions would bond together to support each other, but instead they are portrayed as conniving, jealous, manipulative, and just plain evil in their attempts to sabotage each other to win the affection of men that are disgusting. I think Golden tries to rationalize the entire culture by throwing in some idea of Western romance or love, but it falls flat in my opinion. The main character is passive and weak and is placed in situations where she has no choice but to wait around for her man to save her. There are others saying that the book is not historically accurate, and I greatly hope that they are right, because I don't have any respect for Japanese men after reading this. I hated the movie too. That being said, it was well written and kept my attention and made me think about all these issues, so it worth reading for that.

 
Loved It
6 months

i read this so long ago, but i remember loving it - to the point that i think i will reread it again soon

 
Incredible
6 months

It’s so easy to get lost in this story. I come away with something new after every reading.

 
Incredible
1 year

ECSTATIC! It was a mind-blowing read. I was taken across time and space to the times of japanese women having to got through endless suffering - all in the name of patriarchy.

 

About the Author:

Arthur Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was educated at Harvard College, where he received a degree in art history, specializing in Japanese art. In 1980 he earned an M.A. in Japanese history from Columbia University, where he also…

 
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