Intresting but not Brilliant. (Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden)

Member Name: Ghareth

Product:	Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Date:	08/03/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Culture, Good story.

Disadvantages: Slightly boring, just didnt really engage with story.

Arthur Golden - Memoirs of a Geisha
Another book that has been made into a film, not 100% on the film but i did like this book. Most of the books i have reviewed so far have usually gotten 5 stars but i dont feel this book was as good. First published in 1997 it is a interesting book providing insight into the Japanese Culture.

The main character is Chiyo Sakamoto, the youngest daughter of a poor fisherman and a dying mother in a fishing village called Yoroido in Japan. Mameha, her mentor and a geisha. Hutsumomo, a mean selfish geisha who lives in the same Okiya as Chiyo, and Pumpkin, a girl Chiyo's age.

Chiyo Sakamoto and her sister Satsu get sold by their father, both to different places. Chiyo is sold to an Okiya in Gion where she begins with Pumpkin to train and be a Geisha. Eventually through many trials, Chiyo becomes a Geisha with the help of her Mentor and 'older sister' Mameha and changes her name to Sayuri. The first half of the story is how she becomes a geisha and the rest is how she survived WW2 and the American invasion of Japan.

Its written as if Chiyo/Sayuri is telling her story to you, Memoirs of a Geisha tells tells you a lot about the culture of Geisha and other aspects of Japanese Culture in the time that this book is set.

Although i do recommend this book as a good read and it does have many good aspects, i didn't find the book as interesting as i thought i would; and as for the film i only watched it because i wanted to see it in comparison to the book but i must say i wasn't completely satifised with either.

Summary: An OK read, you'll have to try it for yourself.