An alluring tour de force: a brilliant debut novel told with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism as the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.
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. 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, always elusive, is scorned as illusion.
Sayuri's story begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. Through her eyes, we see the decadent heart of Gion--the geisha district of Kyoto--with its marvelous teahouses and theaters, narrow back alleys, ornate temples, and artists' streets. And 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. But as World War II erupts and the geisha houses are forced to close, Sayuri, with little money and even less food, must reinvent herself all over again to find a rare kind of freedom on her own terms.
Memoirs of a Geisha is a book of nuances and vivid metaphor, of memorable characters rendered with humor and pathos. And though the story is rich with detail and a vast knowledge of history, it is the transparent, seductive voice of Sayuri that the reader remembers.
A dazzling literary achievement of empathy and grace by an extraordinary new writer.
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)
Reading updates
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Started reading
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20 April, 2011:
Finished reading
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20 April, 2011:
Reviewed