A beautiful story of an unknown world (Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden)

Member Name: michelleleatham

Product:	Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Date:	09/09/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Really well written and an imaginative read

Disadvantages: None

I picked this book up cheap in a charity shop whilst on holiday as I had forgotten to take any reading material with me. I didn't really know anything about this book before I bought it but simply picked it up as I had heard of the name. Having never been to Japan or known anything of geisha before reading this book, I found the book fascinating as it was like entering into another world. I have to admit that whilst reading this book I struggled to work out whether or not it was ficton or non ficton as the book transports you to Gion in Japan and into the world of geisha as you're reading it.

The story is based on a geisha called Sayuri Nitta and starts when she was a young girl living in a small fishing village in Japan. During a difficult time when her mother was dying her father sold her and her older sister to a local business man. The business man transported her to Gion and sold her to a giesha house where she was bullied by the main giesha of the house and used as a servant. However, Sayuri soon started to get the attention of men and encountered the "Chairman" who would change her live forever by showing her a little kindness. Sayuri's live ambition became to see and get to know the Chairman better. As she grew older to became an apprentice geisha and send to a little school to learn about entertaining men in teahouses. During this part of the book, the reader is fully informed about the life of geisha and the training they encounter to become of popular geisha.

Whilst still being bullied by the main geisha in her household, Sayuri is getting a lot fo attention by the men of Gion and many wish to become her "danna" - for her to become their mistress. The giesha house "mother" realises that she can make a lot of money from Sayuri's dealings and adopts Sayuri as her daughter. Mother would take a large percentage of Sayuri's earnings now that she had adopted her, therefore it is clear to see that Mother sees Sayuri purely as a business venture.

After Sayuri meets a businessman called Nobu, he becomes extremely interested in her and shows much kindness. However, even though Sayuri appreciates the kindness shown by Nobu she doesn't wish him to become her danna as he is a close contact of the Chairman. If a geisha takes a danna she cannot be friendly with his contacts or hope for any of her dannas contacts to become her danna later in life. Therefore, she realises that Nobu were to become her danna she would be losing her sole ambition in life.

I won't ruin the end for anyone who hasn't yet read this book and wishes to, therefore I will omit the ending of this story from my review.

I would greatly recommend anyone to read this book as it is a fascinating story of a world many know little about. I can imagine that this would be a great read for anyone about the visit Japan or whilst in Japan. The author has really captured the memoirs beautifully and it stirs the imagination of the reader.

Happy reading!

Summary: A great read