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Memoirs of a Geisha Random House Large Print Arthur Golden Books

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Memoirs of a Geisha Random House Large Print Arthur Golden Books

I think the greatest charm of this novel is its intimate and richly detailed look into the life of a geisha and that of Chiyo's journey of becoming one. From the first page you get sucked in completely. But as detailed and well written the story is, I couldn't help but feel a lack of interest towards the characters. The character development of all the characters are so black and white. They are portrayed as either good or bad. For instance, the Hutsumomo character is depicted as simply evil (with no insight into her past or any exceptional reason to why she hates Chiyo), so much to the point that she seems more like a cartoonish imaginary figure than a real character. Mameha seems nothing more than just the good Samaritan, and Chiyo is of course all good. In other words, the characters are just simplistic. You won't get much out of these characters, they are what they are. As for the ending, I found it disappointing because it was abrupt (an anti-climax perhaps?) and just too Hollywood. I thought Chiyo's sole mission in life to reunite with Chairman because of his simple little act of kindness (all he did was notice her and buy her a snow cone..) was a bit naive, and at the end, lackluster and pointless. That's not love, just a silly and ridiculous admiration. I thought majority of the men in the novel, including Chairman, were more like pawns than real characters. There's nothing to love or to hate about them. There's no depth or insight into their characters. They are just, well, there.

Overall, the book is more about rich detail of a different culture (from the author spending years of research), and wonderful narration, which I feel is the main thing that made this book such a success and inevitably attractive. But the story and plot is simple and highly predictable. Sure it takes place in an exotic setting, but it doesn't necessarily make it any more less or different than if it took place in a brothel in Paris or a strip club in New York City. There is no surprises, cliff hangers, or anything that will make you gasp with disbelief. But it will immerse you into a beautiful, if not harsh, culture that makes this book truly worth reading.


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Memoirs of a Geisha Random House Large Print Arthur Golden Books Reviews

This was the first book selected by the book club I was invited to join at the start of the year. From the first page I was hooked on the beautiful evocative descriptions of people, places and situations. The story is essential the life story of a little girl from a poor fishing village in Japan who finds herself taken to the Trisha district known as Gion , where she overcomes loss of family and the loss of the life of her childhood, and learns the art of being a geisha. We hear the story from Sayuri at the age of 80 years or so, remembering her life and how she came to be where she is today.
As I said the descriptions alone are enough to make this a worthwhile read. But the story itself is also full of schemes and intrigue, and shadowy unknown benefactors that influence the course of the protagonist's life with small actions that have tremendous impact. It is also a story of true love, as well as a story about the strength and struggles of women in Japan . It allows the reader to become part of a different culture and way of being...and of appreciating that the two layers of Japanese culture the surface story as illustrated by the beauty and grace of the geishas versus the broken, harsh, and grimy circumstances that produce the geishas. All of this combines to give a thoroughly absorbing reading experience that leaves one feeling a little richer inside for having completed the book.
It was a great book to start off my year and I would recommend it to anyone interested in appreciating gender and culture issues from a different perspective., and to any reader who appreciates a well written tale.
Recently I watched the movie again, and then read about it, and was intrigued to read a man had written it AND it was his first book. So of course I had to Edward the book. It was even better than the movie. Interesting to me that the geishas voice changed, matured, even as she added years to her life. I was richly blessed by the reading of this book. Thank you, Mr. Golden, for writing it.
Unfortunately, I admit I haven't read this book in twenty or so years and I imagined it reading the same. I couldn't have been more wrong! It's so much more heartbreaking, intriguing and entertaining than when I was younger. There was so much I thought I understood back then that now I appreciate.
No, really, it is. I will read this book nearly every year for the rest of my life.
The story of Saiyuri is a very detailed one, and how she came to be a geisha. The (fictional) biographical novel of a geisha is definitely a wonderful read. I love all things Japanese, and this book is a great insight into the world, as it is well researched and well written. In some places it is like a story, and in others it is like reading an encyclopedia of Japanese culture, and the two mix so well together that it is almost unnoticeable. The characters are believable, and each ones follows their path in life and you know where most of them land. That is definitely good story-telling.
Moreover, the book is also going to draw you into a life story you will want to know about, even if you saw the movie first (like me). believe me, the movie has nothing on the book. It only gives you a visual for what the world looks like. The true depth of the book is much deeper, stronger and more drawn out in a way that the reader will find most enjoyable.
I think the greatest charm of this novel is its intimate and richly detailed look into the life of a geisha and that of Chiyo's journey of becoming one. From the first page you get sucked in completely. But as detailed and well written the story is, I couldn't help but feel a lack of interest towards the characters. The character development of all the characters are so black and white. They are portrayed as either good or bad. For instance, the Hutsumomo character is depicted as simply evil (with no insight into her past or any exceptional reason to why she hates Chiyo), so much to the point that she seems more like a cartoonish imaginary figure than a real character. Mameha seems nothing more than just the good Samaritan, and Chiyo is of course all good. In other words, the characters are just simplistic. You won't get much out of these characters, they are what they are. As for the ending, I found it disappointing because it was abrupt (an anti-climax perhaps?) and just too Hollywood. I thought Chiyo's sole mission in life to reunite with Chairman because of his simple little act of kindness (all he did was notice her and buy her a snow cone..) was a bit naive, and at the end, lackluster and pointless. That's not love, just a silly and ridiculous admiration. I thought majority of the men in the novel, including Chairman, were more like pawns than real characters. There's nothing to love or to hate about them. There's no depth or insight into their characters. They are just, well, there.

Overall, the book is more about rich detail of a different culture (from the author spending years of research), and wonderful narration, which I feel is the main thing that made this book such a success and inevitably attractive. But the story and plot is simple and highly predictable. Sure it takes place in an exotic setting, but it doesn't necessarily make it any more less or different than if it took place in a brothel in Paris or a strip club in New York City. There is no surprises, cliff hangers, or anything that will make you gasp with disbelief. But it will immerse you into a beautiful, if not harsh, culture that makes this book truly worth reading.