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Memoirs of a Geisha
 

Memoirs of a Geisha (Vintage International)

by Arthur Golden

According to Arthur Golden's absorbing first novel, the word "geisha" does not mean "prostitute," as Westerners ignorantly assume--it means "artisan" or "artist." To capture the geisha experience in the art of fiction, Golden trained as long and hard as any geisha who must master the arts of music, dance, clever conversation, crafty battle with rival beauties, and cunning seduction of wealthy... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  historical fiction,  japan,  romance,  memoir (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Jocelyn B
  • Rated 5 stars

“One of those books where I was devastated that it had to come to an end. I just loved it. Read it, skip the movie.”

Jocelyn B’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

Arun Rafi
  • Rated 2 stars

“I enjoyed certain parts of the book.especially the culture and the customs.and the way geishas are seen in pre world war era.but then it was not my type of book at all.not fast moving but then i guess thats where the beauty of the book lies.in the detail.its a nice read for many people and i could read it once but would not actually like to have the book for a second glance.just an average book by my reading habits.”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.185179 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 0 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • tracey g

    tracey g said:

    “I have a great affection for this book. I find myself longing to go back and be with the characters. As far as the author having to go to court for taking liberties with the facts of geisha,whatever.
    That's why it is called fiction.”

    posted 11 days ago
  • Annette m

    annette m said:

    “WELL I READ THIS BOOK, AND ENJOYED IT SO MUCH, TRADIONAL WAYS NOTED IN THIS BOOK, NOT ALL WOMEN IN JAPAN CAN BECOME THESE TYPE, BUT I RECOMMEND THE FILM TOO OR DVD, BUY SOME KLEENEX TISSUES, COS I CRIED READING THIS BOOK, AS I DID WATCHING THE FILM”

    posted 2 weeks ago
  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    “...and lets give readers the freedom to say what they think. It's just an opinion. No one's forcing you to agree with me anyway.

    BTW the author went to court over this book. So obviously he got up a real geisha's nose by appropriating her story.”

    posted 4 weeks ago
  • Genevieve P

    genevieve p said:

    “it's just a book... let's give the author the freedom to write what he has in mind... if you know that it's not true well no one's forcing you to believe it anyway.”

    posted 4 weeks ago
  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    “I couldn't finish both book or movie. I think some of the descriptions were interesting to me as they are revealing of another culture but when I found they were made up I lost respect for the book. Its better to read a memoir written by a real geisha - one I would recommend is Sei Shonagon's 'the pillow book' about court life in Japan.”

    posted Monday, June 16 2008
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