Memoirs of a Geisha: The Literary Sensation and Runaway Bestseller (Little Read S.)

by Arthur Golden

'An epic tale and a brutal evocation of a disappearing world' The Times

A young peasant girl is sold as servant and apprentice to a renowned geisha house. Many years later she tells her story from a hotel in New York, opening a window into an extraordinary half-hidden world of eroticism and enchantment, exploitation and degradation and summoning up a quarter of a century of Japan's dramatic history.

'Intimate and brutal, written in cool, lucid prose it is a novel whose psychological empathy and historical truths are outstanding' Mail on Sunday

• ISBN10: 0099771519
• ISBN13: 9780099771517
• Publish Date: 4 June 1998 (first published 23 September 1997)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Vintage
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 512
• Language: English

Reviews

[readingwithwrin]

18 hr and 10 min's of audio time
Whew I think this has been the longest audiobook I have ever listened to.
Full review coming soon

[angelarenea9]

Most sickening book ever, just saying. But I really liked it, and I liked how it was from Chiyo's point of view even though I usually don't like first person perspective. Not a fan of Nobu, it seemed like for a while they were trying to make him out to be this nice guy who had a tortured soul or whatever, but I'm not buying it. He was a horny old man who wanted to get with a 15 year old (and continued to want her till she was old) and then just sorta threw a temper tantrum when she behaved how she was trained: high end prostitute. Not that I liked Chairman any better. He just backed of with the child molesting for his molester buddy. I liked Granny. And the dog. And the crazy artist. I wasn't fooled by all these pedophiles, that poor girl had such a hard life.
That poor girl her only bright spot was that an even creepier old man would love her... How miserable.
I loved the way they explained them getting ready! I saw that in the movie before I read it and it was my favorite scene, and I think that it was my favorite part of book too. It was really cool being able to see the way they lived.
Also I found it sad the way America came in a ruined her society, not that it was like the best situation for people, but it had an elegance that got polluted when America came in.
One more thing! I completely loved Chiyo's original name (Chiyo ha ha) and refused to think of her by her new name. (even though I know that's who she was now, I just liked Chiyo better)

[violetpeanut]

Wonderfully written, completely enjoyable. This was a very quick read for me. The movie was surprisingly true to the book. Of course, the book offers much more detail and it's definitely worth the read!

[inlibrisveritas]

I had already seen the movie so I knew that the storyline was interesting and that the main character wasn't annoying so I didn't mind stealing my mom's copy. Sayuri has a very likable personality and she helps to give the mysterious and goddess like geisha a more human feel to them. Overall I really enjoyed this book and it's characters

[Eve1972]

Fabulous Read!!

[ibeforem]

I was expecting a lot from this book, and it delivered. I’m now looking forward to seeing the movie, and I hope they didn’t screw it up.