I had seen Memoirs of a Geisha described many times as the “Perfect Novel” and one of the 100 books you should read before you die, so perhaps my expectations were a little height for this one as I was expecting an emotional read and a novel that would transport me in time and enlighten me to mystery of the Japanese culture of the time but sadly this story while good and well written was too slow moving and an unemotional read for me

I had been wanting to read this novel for years and they say “what’s for you won’t pass you by” so when I found this one in a used book shop I felt it was time to finally take this one home. It has been loved by so many of my friends over the years and I really was intrigued by the the lives of Geisha.

TBH I actually thought this was a true story and only realised about 30% into the book that it was a fictional account. The novel tells the story of a fictional geisha working in Kyoto, Japan before, during and after World War II. I loved the first first 100 pages of this novel, the story starts out strong and the characters and culture is intriguing. I enjoyed the slow pace (to start with) but then the book just seemed to drag and become dreadfully descriptive and I found myself page counting and wishing the the novel was 100 pages shorter.
I enjoyed the characters to begin with and yet by the end I was very glad to part company with them.

The book does offer a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of the Geisha and this was an aspect of the novel that I really enjoyed and the reason I rated this one 3 stars (which means I liked it but didn't love it) but I am afraid this copy will make its way back to the used book shop and hopefully another reader will enjoy the experience more than me.

Very interesting,entertaining, and quick to read! Chiyo/Sayuri and her sister Satsu were sold into slavery at the age of 9 by their father, Sayuri tells of her traumatic arrival at the Nitta okiya (a geisha house), where she endures harsh treatment from everyone, In spite of the problems she had to face, Sayuri became the beautiful geisha accomplished in the art of entertaining men.







“He was like a song I'd heard once in fragments but had been singing in my mind ever since.”

“Can't you see? Every step I have taken, since I was that child on the bridge, has been to bring myself closer to you.”

(Book 93 From 1001 Books) -tMemoirs of A Geisha, Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha is a historical novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997.

The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, before and after World War II.

In 1929, nine year-old Chiyo Sakamoto and her 15 year-old sister, Satsu, are sold by their father to work within the entertainment districts of Kyoto.

They are taken from their home, the coastal fishing village of Yoroido along the Sea of Japan, and travel to Kyoto by train; upon arrival, Chiyo is taken to the Nitta okiya (geisha boarding house) in Gion, whereas Satsu - deemed less attractive and therefore a poor investment - is instead taken to a brothel within Kyoto's pleasure district.

Chiyo is taken inside, and is introduced to Auntie, Mother (Auntie's adoptive older sister and the matriarch of the house) and Granny, their elderly and poor-natured adoptive mother and the okiya's former "mother".

Both Auntie and Mother are strict, though Auntie is kinder to Chiyo, whereas Mother is driven by money and business.

Chiyo is also introduced to Hatsumomo - the premier geisha of the okiya, its primary earner, and one of the most famous, beautiful and ill-mannered geisha of Gion.

Hatsumomo takes an instant disliking to Chiyo, and goes out of her way to torment her. Auntie warns Chiyo against both angering and trusting Hatsumomo, knowing the ill-mannered geisha's true nature very well. ...

خاطرات یک گیشا - آرتور گلدن (سخن) ادبیات؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: در ماه مارس سال 2003میلادی

عنوان: خاطرات یک گیشا؛ نوشته: آرتور گلدن؛ مترجم: مریم بیات؛ تهران، سخن، 1380، در 640ص؛ شابک 9646961703؛ موضوع: داستان - ژاپن - تاریخ از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا- سده 20م

نمیدانم، یادم نمانده، کدامیک از سالهای بگذشته بود، که برای نخستین بار، یک پی.دی.اف از همین کتاب، با ترجمه ی بانو «مریم بیات»، برایم رسید، برنامه ای نوشتم، تا متن پی.دی.اف را به فارسی آفیس نسخه 2003میلادی برگردانم، بسیار سخت گذشت، بارها و بارها برنامه را مجبور شدم هوشمندتر کنم، تا اینکه کتاب را پس از تلاش بسیار، در 174733کلمه، و در 409صفحه ی 31سطری، و هر سطر میانگین 22واژه، و هر واژه میانگین بیش از چهار حرف، برای خویش آراستم، البته باز هم مجبور شدم، بیشتر صفحات را ویراستاری کنم

نقل نمونه متن: (یادداشت «آرتور گلدن»: چهارده ساله بودم، که در غروبی در بهار سال 1936میلادی، پدرم مرا به تماشای یک برنامه ی رقص، در «کیوتو» برد؛ از آن برنامه، تنها دو چیز را به یاد دارم؛ نخست اینکه من و پدرم، تنها تماشاچی غربی در میان تماشاگران بودیم، تنها دو سه هفته بود که از کشورمان «هلند»، به آنجا سفر کرده بودیم، بنابراین هنوز نتوانسته بودم، خود را با انزوای فرهنگی تطبیق دهم، و تاثیر آن بر من هنوز فوق العاده زیاد بود؛ دوم اینکه خوشحال بودم، که پس از ماهها فراگیری زبان «ژاپنی»، آنهم به صورت فشرده، میتوانستم از حرفهایی که میشنیدم، جسته گریخته، چیزی سر دربیاورم؛ از زنهای جوان «ژاپنی»، که روی صحنه میرقصیدند، به جز اشکالی مبهم، از «کیمونو»های الوان درخشانی که، بر تن داشتند، چیزی به یاد ندارم؛ مسلم است که به هیچ راه، به ذهنم هم خطور نمیکرد، که در زمان و مکانی بسیار دور، یعنی تقریباً پنجاه سال بعد، و در مکانی به دوری «نیویورک»، یکی از همان زنان، نزدیکترین دوستم خواهد شد، و خاطرات استثنایی اش را برایم تقریر خواهد کرد؛ در جایگاه یک تاریخ نگار، همیشه خاطرات را به چشم منبعی از مواد نگاه میکنم؛ خاطرات، سوابقی را فراهم میآورد، که بیشتر به دنیای خاطره نویس، تا خود او مربوط است؛ خاطرات با «بیوگرافی» فرق دارد، چون در «بیوگرافی»، خاطره نویس نمیتواند، جنبه هایی را ببیند، که برای «بیوگراف» نویس، امری عادی و منطقی است؛ «اتوبیوگرافی»، البته اگر واقعاً چنین چیزی وجود داشته باشد، به این میماند، که از خرگوش بخواهیم برایمان بگوید: وقتی توی علفزار، بالا و پایین میپرد، به چه شکل درمیآید؟ از کجا بداند؟ از طرفی، اگر بخواهیم چیزی در مورد علفزار بدانیم، هیچ کس بهتر از او، نمیتواند برای ما آنرا توصیف کند، مگر آنکه در نظرمان باشد، که در جستجوی چیزهایی هستیم، که خرگوش، قادر به مشاهده ی آنها نیست؛ ....)؛ پایان نقل

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 28/05/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 09/05/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

This is not a memoir. Do your research people! Arthur Golden invented it all, and shamelessly used up Mineko (the retired geisha) who trusted him enough to tell him her life story. A real story and not the fiction printed on these pages. Mineko received death threats because of his lies. These are serious things. Many Asian women were sexually assaulted by Western man because of books like this one, books that paint them as promiscuous prostitutes.

This author was sued for breach of contract for mentioning Mineko in the acknowledgements and as they came to some kind of agreement in the court, I don't think the author still advertises this novel as a true story, but didn't he use to do in the past? At any rate, a lot of people think that was Golden wrote was based on a real life account and that is definitely not the case.

What do I think about his actions? Not only did the author trivialize and insult Japanese culture but he invented the whole thing. It is fiction, not memoir. Obviously nobody cares about that. What interest me is how readers be so stupid (or perhaps better to say culture ignorant) as to think this is a memoir? Haven't you noticed passages literally rewritten from Gone with the Wind? That episode when the heroine hides her hands after having to work during the war. Gone With the Wind rip off for sure. There are other Western movie references that I can think of but forgive me if I don't feel too inclined to overly analyze this excuse for a novel.

So, what do I think about this novel? If the author wasn't so immoral in advertising it falsely, had he been clear it was all invention- it would still be a terrible and shameless book. I mean maybe I could give it two stars if it was placed in an imaginary land. The story isn't great as such, but apart from being wildly racist, it's somewhat readable. Nevertheless, it is a shameless and racist attack on Japanese culture. The author should be ashamed of himself.

کتاب فوق العاده ای بود حتما ��یشنهاد می کنم که بخونید

Absolutely beautiful! This story was so rich and vivid. With attention to personal details, you could almost think this is a real memoir.
from her childhood as Chiyo, her days as a maid and finally her transformation into Sayuri and her life as a geisha. It was a remarkable, heartfelt journey. She goes through so many hardships to obtain the best life possible and make her dream come true. It is a show of how life does not always go as we want. That others actions can affect our own.

The glimpse we get for the secrets of geisha are incredible to read about. Even just the lifestyle for the time period in general. From the make=up and dressing, to their training. How they entertain, what process they have to go through to get ready for an event, the different stages ans so much more.

***This review is not complete but these are my basic thoughts. More to come...***
I will admit the big downfall to me was the odd obsessive romance for a 12 year old girl toward a 45 year old man as it continues through the years. Admiration is one thing, but she really does go too far.

A great cultural eye-opener. I would love to read other historical novels by this author!

Very interesting book of the culture of the Geisha. I really thought this was going to be more like an actual memoir, but apparently it is not. The story was well written but developed very slowly.
I enjoyed very much about learning about the history of the Geisha, but the ending was very disappointing.

We can never flee the misery that is within us.

Sakamoto Chiyo was only 9 years old when in 1929, out of desperation her father sold her and her older sister to a man who took them to Kyoto to work as entertainers.

When in Kyoto, Chiyo is separated from her sister and is taken to a geisha boarding house to be trained and eventually become a geisha.

The story itself was beautifully told, but for me, it sounded too American if you know what I mean. It felt like the characters in the book were only playing at being Japanese.

Despite the elaborate language and rich description, something important was missing: Authenticity.

Imagine if a Chinese author were writing a book about a 20th century Armenian woman. It may convey the story, but no amount of ‘dolma’s and ‘manti’s would be enough to make it sound authentic.

And that brings me to the book not being able to choose if it was fiction or non fiction.

On one hand the author professes penning the memoirs of a real geisha, who by the way, categorically asked him not to mention her name in the book, which he very unprofessionally did and was sued for and paid the price eventually.

And on the other hand, the facts are changed to the extent that the story sounds completely fictional, in which case the author didn’t have to mention the geisha’s name at all, which would have saved her the distress.
In a word, I liked the movie better.

I loved the romantic parts but I just wished it was more and I also found this book to long and some parts were realy boring , but overall I realy enjoyed it and now I finally know what an geisha is

“Contándote mi vida, la he vuelto a vivir”; dice la protagonista. Y también nos ha permitido revivirla junto a ella como lectores gracias al particular estilo de narración que nos ofrece la voz de Sayuri, tan colorido como transparente.

Me parece increíble que este libro haya sido escrito por un hombre blanco occidental, pero me complace que, pese a las diferencias entre su cultura y la de Japón, haya sido capaz de retratar toda una vida ficcional con un realismo desconcertante a partir de eventos históricos y una rica documentación que viene de diversas fuentes: desde libros hasta entrevistas con mujeres que se dedicaban a prestar sus compañía en las casas de té entre los años 30 y los 60. Se nota la dedicación y el empeño que invirtió tanto a la historia de Sayuri como a la investigación que necesitaría para dar voz a las geishas, a su rol en la historia de Japón y del mundo, a sus conflictos propios y al desarrollo de su identidad, sin caer en estigmatizaciones ni clichés. Qué refrescante se siente conocer la historia a través de un personaje tan real, guiado por la pluma de un autor que sabe hacer justicia a las costumbres, la cultura y la perspectiva femenina en ese contexto, a la par que evidencia el impacto de la mirada masculina en el mundo de las geishas.

Golden hizo un trabajo admirable y me ha hecho sentir partícipe de estas memorias. Es verdad que hay puntos en los que la cantidad de descripción puede ser algo agobiante, pero si ustedes aman las historias de este estilo, con un ritmo reposado y que se disfrutan más leyendo entre líneas, valdrá la pena, porque al final habrán experimentado una vida más: la de Sayuri, su historia con “el Presidente" y, en suma, el conjunto de grandes y pequeñas casualidades que la llevaron a convertirse en una geisha como pocas.

P.D.: Ahora por fin voy a ver la peli

I don't really know why I waited so long to read this book, and I most certainly never thought I would enjoy it as much as I did. Of course I realize this story is historical fiction and may not correctly depict the life of a geisha during the 1930s and 1940s in Japan in its entirety. I do feel, however, that I know quite a bit more about the geisha than I did before reading this book - both because of the book itself and of it inspiring me to research a little on my own.

My heart was absolutely broken for Sayuri (Chiyo) almost from the get-go. I cannot even begin to fathom how desperate a parent would have to be to sell his or her children into the life of slavery. You may argue that the geisha were not slaves, but when you have absolutely no other choice, you are a slave at least to your circumstances. The women of the okiya were so horrible to Sayuri. I understand they also led terrible lives, but that does not excuse cruelty toward a child.

I did have to confront my distaste of polygamy in this book. To my understanding, Japanese marriages, at least during this time period, were mostly arranged among the upper class. They didn't marry for love. I still couldn't help feeling sorry for the wives of the men who were patrons of the geisha. I can only imagine how hurt I would feel if my husband became the danna of another woman. I would feel betrayed at the very least. While I did very much want Sayuri and the Chairman to end up together, him being married was a hard pill to swallow.

My heart was also absolutely broken for Nobu. I felt that he did truly love Sayuri, and while she shouldn't have been with him if she didn't truly love him in return, I was simply saddened at the cruelty of life for him. He seemed to be a good man with good intentions. He deserved to be loved by someone with the same depth he was capable of loving.

Ce carte interesantă! Eu nu am avut tangențe cu cărți despre culturi asiatice până acum, iar pe aceasta am ajuns să o citesc ca propunere pentru un club de carte. Și pot spune că am rămas plăcut impresionată.

Povestea este despre gheișa Sayuri, care, ani mai târziu, alege să își spun�� povestea de viață unui prieten bun, scriitor. Își deapănă trecutul, încă din copilărie, când era o simplă fetiță ce locuia într-un sat de pescari. Din cauza problemelor financiare, dar și familiale, fata și sora sa vor ajunge în Kyoto. Dar, pentru că frumusețea le deosebește, una din fete va ajunge în zonele rău famate ale orașului, în vreme ce Chiyo va avea șansa să devină gheișă. O vom însoți pe parcursul acestei transformări, aflând câteva dintre secretele frumoaselor gheișe.

Primele 200 de pagini au mers incredibil de ușor, am fost fascinată de poveste, efectiv. Însă, încet, povestea a început să mi se pară problematică, judecând cu mintea unui european al secolului nostru. Îmi este greu să văd obiectiv unele aspecte și să trec peste faptul că fetele acelea ajungeau să întrețină bărbați care le puteau fi tați, ele fiind minore... A fost o bătălie morală pentru mine să trec peste niște pasaje.

Din păcate, am simțit că am fost dezamăgită de final. A fost surprinzător, dar grăbit și, aș îndrăzni să zic ca nedorit. Aș fi vrut un altul, mi se părea mai cinstit, după câte am îndurat timp de 500 de pagini. Totuși, cum spuneam, fiind prima carte despre obiceiurile asiatice pe care o citesc, a fost o surpriză cu adevărat plăcută. (Am devenit curioasă și de film acuma