Arthur Golden

A Novel

Memoirs of a Geisha

This book is highly controversial and does not accurately portray the lives of Geisha in the 1930s. The book was written by Arthur Golden and published in 1998 following a series of interviews with Geisha, primarily Mineko Iwasaki, who wish to remain anonymous. Golden went on to publish Memoirs of a Geisha naming Iwasaki as a primary source and inspiration. Golden does preface the book saying that the story of Sayuri is fictional and parts may be dramatized for the entertainment value of the story. 

I went into my read of the book with all of this information in mind and still throughly enjoyed the process. Sayuri has a strong voice and the prose is truly a work of art. My only real complaint regarding the story is how make focused and driven Sayuri is. I understand that Geisha, especially in the early 20th century, primary job was to entertain wealthy men. However, every older man in the story that isn’t ugly or misshapen, Sayuri becomes infatuated with. 

The story begins in Sayuri’s childhood when she is known as Chiyo. Chiyo meets a man named Mr. Tanaka whom she because instantly infatuated with even as a 9 year old girl. Later her view on Mr. Tanaka changes and these same feeling are then transferred to the Chairman. She is still a small child when she meets him and instantly falls in love with him. Keep in mind Mr. Tanaka and the Chairman are both grown adult men who are already married with children Sayuri’s age. 

Sayuri’s love for the chairman is what drives all of her decision making and ambition. He is driving force behind the whole narrative. Sayuri is a smart woman who is well spoken, well read, and excels in social situations even as a child. So having the entire driving force of her life be in pursuit of a man at least 20 years her senior can be odd at times. 

I will admit the story between the Chairman and Sayuri is romantic and full of yearning for one another. However it’s hard to ignore the controversy of the relationship even though the age gap is not acknowledged at all. The age in their relationship would also be less of an issue if the chairman and Sayuri met once she was a grown woman, but that was not the case. 

Even with all of the issue I listed above I still love this story and Sayuri as a character. She is strong willed, intelligent, and persevered through hardship many of us could not survive. 

Erin Lovato

This book is highly controversial and does not accurately portray the lives of Geisha in the 1930s. The book was written by Arthur Golden and published in 1998 following a series of interviews with Geisha, primarily Mineko Iwasaki, who wish to remain anonymous. Golden went on to publish Memoirs of a Geisha naming Iwasaki as a primary source and inspiration. Golden does preface the book saying that the story of Sayuri is fictional and parts may be dramatized for the entertainment value of the story. 

I went into my read of the book with all of this information in mind and still throughly enjoyed the process. Sayuri has a strong voice and the prose is truly a work of art. My only real complaint regarding the story is how make focused and driven Sayuri is. I understand that Geisha, especially in the early 20th century, primary job was to entertain wealthy men. However, every older man in the story that isn’t ugly or misshapen, Sayuri becomes infatuated with. 

The story begins in Sayuri’s childhood when she is known as Chiyo. Chiyo meets a man named Mr. Tanaka whom she because instantly infatuated with even as a 9 year old girl. Later her view on Mr. Tanaka changes and these same feeling are then transferred to the Chairman. She is still a small child when she meets him and instantly falls in love with him. Keep in mind Mr. Tanaka and the Chairman are both grown adult men who are already married with children Sayuri’s age. 

Sayuri’s love for the chairman is what drives all of her decision making and ambition. He is driving force behind the whole narrative. Sayuri is a smart woman who is well spoken, well read, and excels in social situations even as a child. So having the entire driving force of her life be in pursuit of a man at least 20 years her senior can be odd at times. 

I will admit the story between the Chairman and Sayuri is romantic and full of yearning for one another. However it’s hard to ignore the controversy of the relationship even though the age gap is not acknowledged at all. The age in their relationship would also be less of an issue if the chairman and Sayuri met once she was a grown woman, but that was not the case. 

Even with all of the issue I listed above I still love this story and Sayuri as a character. She is strong willed, intelligent, and persevered through hardship many of us could not survive. 



Phenomenal I want to read her book as well though cause apparently she sued him tea 

Angeleeka

I wanted to read this book for months, simply cause it caught my eye, even though it’s not my usual read. And I’m so glad I did. I felt I learned a lot as well immensely enjoyed the story and the characters. It’s one of those books that changes the way you look at things.

Memoirs of a Geisha A Novel

Reviews

Highlights