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Title: Memoirs of a Geisha. (Lernmaterialien) by Arthur Golden, Michael Dean ISBN: 3-526-42127-7 Publisher: Langensch.-Hachette, M Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 Format: Paperback

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Average Customer Rating: 4.34 (1922 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: A BEAUTIFUL STORY, BUT NOT 100 % JAPANESE!
Comment: A friend gave me this book a year ago, knowing that one of my most avid interests is learning of other people's cultures and traditions through reading and travel. "Memoirs of a Geisha" is filled with descriptive images revealed in charismatic tongue. However, like one other reviewer, I must agree the book is not one hundred percent accurate in Japanese culture. The origin of the dogwood tree in Japan, and the fact that in reality it actually does bloom in May, not autumn as one could determine from the book, are minor inaccuracies. However, many of the Japanese sayings do appear to be the words of one who is definitely not Japanese.

We should remember this is a work of fiction; the author can portray the characters, events and details any way he chooses and the story, itself, could very well be a reality. From a tiny fishing village to Kyoto, the book depicts the life of a young girl to geisha in vivid and expressive detail. The story is filled with beauty, passion, mystery and intrigue, and dispite it's minor flaws of Japanese detail, it is a still a captivating story and well worth reading.

Rating: 5
Summary: A book much deeper than it first appears
Comment: Memoirs of a Geisha is the skillfully narrated story of a sensitive girl forced into life as a pre-World War 2 Japanese geisha. Sayuri's (the novel's protagonist) early life is filled with simple conflicts as she struggles to survive in her cruel surroundings. As Sayuri enters her teen years and full-fledged geishadom, however, the situations in which she finds herself become increasingly complex. The book masterfully explores such themes as taking control of your own life, struggling with seemingly inescapable immorality, faith and perseverance, and, of course, love. Sayuri arguably doesn't always make the right decisions, but the reader will feel for her as she struggles to maintain her faith and innocence. Like a flower, the delicate story grows more nuanced and beautiful as it progresses.

The book is not completely 100% accurate in terms of Japanese culture, but I don't think the very few minor mistakes detract from the themes.

I've seen the book on reading lists for middle-school and young high-school children, but it is probably not appropriate for kids of that age as most of them likely won't be able to get past the simple sexual overtones to see the deeper undercurrents beneath (hey, but then again, I'm 18, so who knows?)

Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderful!
Comment: In a world dominated my superfluous writing styles, "Geisha" is written in wonderfully simple prose, which flows off the page as smoothly as if it were a tale being told to you by a good friend. There's a certain sincerity in the way Sayuri (as she comes to be called) tells the story. You instantly feel for her, and feel the weight of her sorrows. You are absorbed into the story. Through the eyes of a young girl with innocent thoughts and dreams, the environment comes to life: both the good and the horribly bad. You feel what its like to walk the streets of Gion at midnight, and smell the aroma of noodles and broth from the street vendors. A great read. A fast read. One of the best books I've ever read!