Kell Posted April 27, 2006 Share Posted April 27, 2006 Memoirs of a Geisha Author: Arthur Golden ISBN # 0099771519 Publisher: Vintage First Published: 1997 428 pages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 A friend of mine just lent me this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louiseog Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 I really enjoyed it, easy to read but with lots of information about what it must have been like. Fascinating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted September 17, 2006 Share Posted September 17, 2006 Absolutely loved it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Great book. Here's another Out - Natsuo Kirino (check the spelling) great book that really lays out the mysoginistic Japanese culture. Plus it's got murder and boxed lunches! Read it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted December 8, 2006 Share Posted December 8, 2006 Read this one whilst bouncing around the English Channel yesterday, we were stuck on the ferry for over 4 hours waiting to dock . Absolutley loved it, very easy to read and very informative of that way of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted December 8, 2006 Author Share Posted December 8, 2006 Jue - if you loved this one, you must read Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. She was the Geisha with whom Golden collaborated on Memoirs & then she turned her back on it because she was so furious at the way he'd twisted things. Her own autobiography is wonderful & even more moving that Memoirs - I think you'll love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted December 9, 2006 Share Posted December 9, 2006 Jue - if you loved this one, you must read Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. She was the Geisha with whom Golden collaborated on Memoirs & then she turned her back on it because she was so furious at the way he'd twisted things. Her own autobiography is wonderful & even more moving that Memoirs - I think you'll love it! Thanks Kell, i've added it to the 'TBR' mountain! It sounds really good, can't wait to get hold of a copy now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 have started this one today - I like what I read so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 I picked this one up at a library book sale...looking forward to it:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuttymum303 Posted January 1, 2007 Share Posted January 1, 2007 Have this on my TBR pile for this year if possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 I read this book quite some time ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. The Geisha lifestyle was so interesting. A real eye opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emi226 Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 i really enjoyed this book and it also made me want to learn about their world. Although its non- fiction geisha by lisa dalby is another good book as she was the first non-japanese woman to become a geisha. She also goes into more detail about the history of them. I think she was a consultant on the movie as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow_reader Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 Read this ages ago but as I recall it's a great book and a fascinating insight into Geisha-Japanese culture. Enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted January 2, 2007 Share Posted January 2, 2007 One of my favourite books of last year. Brilliantly written and totally engrossing, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I finished this yesterday. I must say I really enjoyed it, and realised some how wrong I was about very basic things which I had pre-conceptions about. It's not an easy life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 You might be surprised, Mau - I believe the hardness of life is true-to-form, but if you read various Geisha autobiographies, they have varying tales. Mineko Iwasaki denies that mizuage is the auctioning off of a Geisha's virginity or that Geisha are basically prostitutes, whereas from some other accounts of Geisha working at the lower end of the scale who are in reality working in the equivalent of brothels. Memoirs is a good book though - I really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maureen Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 To tell you the truth I was thinking that I should pick up another Geisha book, to see if the story holds. BTW a particular description (having to do with saliva) towards the end of the book is going to be terribly difficult to erase from my mind unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I read this book quite some time ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. The Geisha lifestyle was so interesting. A real eye opener. Let me recommend Autobiography of a Geisha by Sayo Masuda translated by G.G. Rowley. Talk about an eye opener. Well written, heart wrenching story that is from what I've heard much grittier than Memoirs was, I have Memoirs in my stack too, unread so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 I denjoyed Autobiography of a Geisha, but I preferred Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. Autobiography felt more stilted (as you'd expect, as the author was almost illiterate when she wrote it), although still beautiful for its simplicity, but Geisha of Gion made a much stronger impact on me - I really felt I'd been introduced to Mineko's world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontalba Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I denjoyed Autobiography of a Geisha, but I preferred Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki. Autobiography felt more stilted (as you'd expect, as the author was almost illiterate when she wrote it), although still beautiful for its simplicity, but Geisha of Gion made a much stronger impact on me - I really felt I'd been introduced to Mineko's world. I'll look for it. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princessponti Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 I loved Memoirs of a Geisha, really, really loved it! I couldn't read anything for weeks after I read it as I didn't want to spoil the memory of it; I kept flicking back through it and re-reading parts. I found it amazing how the book dealt with some heartbreaking issues, some awful situations and really unappealing environments; and yet I still walk away from the book feeling it's beautiful essence. Such a moving story of hope and determination! I've actually bought a second copy to lend out to people!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Poppy Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Its on my TBR list, but I haven't been that enthusiastic thus far, basically for the reasons you cite, Prinpont...oops! Princessponti. The content is possibly a bit too harrowing for me. But maybe, if it left such a mark on you, and the beautiful essence, I should not be so afraid of trying it. PP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madcow Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Go for it PP, I loved it too. It left a lasting impression on me to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Poppy Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Jules said; Go for it PP, I loved it too. It left a lasting impression on me to. Ok. I'll bump it up the TBR pile and give it two stars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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