Lisa of Troy’s Comments (group member since Apr 16, 2022)

Lisa of Troy’s comments from the Memoirs of a Geisha Readalong group.

Welcome to Day 31/Chapter 35!

Thank you everyone for joining this Readalong! You made the experience wonderful, and I enjoyed all of the discussion!

If you are interested in another Readalong, we are reading Little Women for June. Here is the link if you are interested: https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...

Why do you think Mameha never told Sayuri that The Chairman asked her to take Sayuri on? When Nobu gave up on the mizuage, why wasn't The Chairman invited to bid?

I also wanted to understand more about being a mother and a geisha. Is there a stigma attached to being a child of a geisha? How would that make Sayuri feel? Did The Chairman take an active role in his son's life? Who cares for the child when Sayuri is at the tea house?

What does Sayuri think about The Chairman's wife?

Do you think Mother adopted Pumpkin after Sayuri left?

What happened to Sayuri's sister? Did she survive the war?

Welcome to Day 30/ Chapter 33-34!

Does anyone like this ending?

I was beginning to view The Chairman as uniqueness. When we are little, we might think that we are the smartest, the most unique, the most creative, the fastest, etc. But then we grow up. We might be talented, but are we really the greatest thing in the world? Sayuri clings to The Chairman irrationally, and I was starting to think that maybe she doesn't want to give up this idea that she truly is different or special.

Then, this ending comes in......

Did you find it interesting that the only decision that Sayuri ever made for herself she thought of over only a couple of days?

If she didn't want to have Nobu as her danna why did she agree to come back to Kyoto?

Sayuri believes that Pumpkin is just like Hatsumomo, but isn't Sayuri more like Hatsumomo, hurting someone who has been so kind to her for so many years?

Welcome to Day 29/Chapter 31-32!

Did you catch onto the parallels between Nobu and Sayuri? They both have been in love with someone who isn't in love with them for years.

Why is Sayuri so afraid to have Nobu as a danna when he has protected her several times over the years and especially as The Chairman has never expressed an interest?

As an aside, I started watching Memoirs of a Geisha on Netflix. The movie is very beautiful and has a lot of vibrant colors; however, it is vastly different from the book, and I think that I like the book better.....

Welcome to Day 28/Chapter 29-30

Why do you think that the author included World War II in this book?

Why do you think Sayuri didn't come back? She says she has to be invited by Mother, but Mameha seems to be living in a one-room apartment above a pharmacy.

Why doesn't Sayuri take control of her destiny instead of being subject to Mother's whims or The Chairman's interest?

Do you think that The Chairman will ever take an interest in Sayuri? Should she throw Nobu away for The Chairman even if the opportunity presents itself?

Welcome to Day 27/Chapter 27 and 28!

Hatsumomo finally meets her end. Even though she is horrible, did you feel a little sad about her end?

In Chapter 27, we learn just how precarious being a geisha really is. One bad day and you can be out.

Did you notice that even Mameha warned Hatsumomo but she didn't listen?

Chapter 28 -

Why is Sayuri even thinking about The Chairman?!? The Chairman has not helped her in anyway. Didn't she learn her lesson?

Hatsumomo always won short-term battles but lost the war. Is Sayuri doing the same thing?

What do you think about the geisha would rather work as geisha than in the factories?

Are geisha ever permitted to have children?

Did anyone else think that Sayuri's sister was going to save her?

Do you think Mother will care one bit about Sayuri? What do you think will happen to Pumpkin?

Welcome to Day 26/Chapter 26!

Is anyone else a little concerned that Sayuri believes that the only thing she has to live for is The Chairman? Should Sayuri start a gratitude practice?

Do you think that Nobu and Sayuri will patch things up?

Why does Sayuri obsess about The Chairman when he hasn't shown her any particular interest and doesn't seem to even remember initially meeting her?

Welcome to Day 25/Chapter 25!

Have you ever met a person who was so engaging that you would enjoy traveling anywhere with this person?

Were you surprised that Sayuri told the truth of the business arrangement? Did you think she was going to roll out the "I don't remember" line?

Why would Sayuri throw away her future for someone that hasn't yet expressed an interest in her?

Do you think that being a kept woman is the same as a geisha? Is a geisha better off because she has her okiya and other connections to fall back on?

Welcome to Day 24/Chapter 24!

Dr. Crab is especially creepy. He has all of these specimens which he takes without permission, cementing just how he views these women.

What do you think of the geisha wearing different clothing post-mizuage?

What do you think happened to the "cancelled party"?

Why was The Baron permitted to bid (as he was not invited)?

Why do you think that Sayuri clarifies that she really didn't break the record when you account for inflation?

Welcome to Day 23/Chapter 23!

How sad for Pumpkin! And Sayuri! Sayuri is getting a position that she doesn't really want. It must be odd to be adopted by a woman that you don't like.

I also liked how Sayuri had a great answer when asked by Mother about when she was told of the adoption. She was able to stay neutral.

As for Pumpkin, she is suffering because of Hatsumomo. Hatsumomo spent all of her time chasing Mameha instead of focusing on Pumpkin. Her short-term gains lost her the war. But Pumpkin is her casualty. And Pumpkin has to share a room with Hatsumomo, someone that she says that she hates more than anyone in the world. Yikes! I hope that Sayuri can share her large room with Pumpkin.

Why doesn't Mother just kick Hatsumomo out?

Welcome to Day 22/Chapter 22!

"That's fine, then." Um no.

Is anyone else concerned that no one did anything to help Sayuri other than give her vague warnings? Why didn't Mameha tell Sayuri how to politely excuse herself from the house? Why didn't The Chairman offer to take Sayuri home or wait to see her to the car?

How does Mameha and The Chairman know that The Baron is dangerous? Has he done this before and boasted about it? Does Sayuri now have to worry about this getting out?

Now when Sayuri looks at her new kimono, I bet she hates it.

Welcome to Day 21/Chapter 21!

It seems that Nobu has real feelings for Sayuri. Wouldn't it be weird and sad if Dr. Crab ends up with Sayuri's mizuage and then Nobu ends up as her danna?

Why do you think that Mameha is giving Sayuri a warning? Do you think that she knows there is going to be upcoming trouble?

Welcome to Day 20/Chapter 20!

We learn that Hatsumomo told Dr. Crab that Sayuri has a boyfriend.

"She does things for no reason at all except to hurt people. And the worst part is she thinks I admire her and want to be just like her. But I hate her! I've never hated anyone so much before."

Pumpkin is also in a miserable situation thanks to Hatsumomo, and now karma is catching up to Hatsumomo because her own little sister is trying to undo her damage. I'm happy that Pumpkin is being adopted, and Mother saw Pumpkin for herself and not an extension of Hatsumomo. Have you ever been friends with someone and their bad reputation rubbed off on you?

We learn that the mizuage bidding process is by invite only. Do you think that this empowers the geisha because they have some control over the process?

Welcome to Day 19/Chapter 19!

Now that we know the plan between Dr. Crab and Nobu, what role do you think Uchida will play?

Welcome to Day 18/Chapter 18!

Sayuri does some research on the Chairman by reading some magazines.

I guess this chapter gives new meaning to blood, sweat, and tears to win. How do you think that Dr. Crab and Uchida fit into the over all picture?

What is the difference between helpless and dead?

Mameha says that an apprentice geisha is supposed to impress other geisha and not worry what the men think. Can you think of any modern day examples where it is better to impress people within the organization rather than achieving results?

Welcome to Day 18/Chapter 18!

Did you catch the contrast between President Nobu's injuries and Granny's injuries? When President Nobu is injured, he is considered brave. If he wasn't paraded about, he would be "forgotten as a war hero". However, when Granny is poisoned by her cosmetics, she isn't described as brave.

Hatsumomo finds her way into the sold out sumo match!

Nobu says, "I don't make jokes about the three things that matter most in life. Sumo, business, and war." What three things do you think matter most in life?

What do you think Mamehe is planning?

Welcome to Day 16/Chapter 16!

Hatsumomo is back to her old tricks, winning short-term battles but forgetting the war. Pumpkin is the highest earning apprentice geisha, but she does so by essentially gaming the system. She attends lots of parties for only a few minutes.

Do you think Korin will cause trouble for Sayuri? Do you think that Sayuri and The Chairman will cross paths again? Do you think that Hatsumomo will somehow get into the sumo event?

Welcome to Day 15/Chapter 15!

Well, it wasn't coincidence that Hatsumomo and Pumpkin made an appearance. Why does Hatsumomo insist on bringing low a 14 year-old girl, someone who is just starting out? Do you think people will think less of Hatsumomo for saying all of these dreadful things?

What did you think of the Baron? Were you surprised that he hasn't seen Mameha in months?

I was very impressed at Mameha's mastery of conversation, the way that she can excuse herself. How many times have you been stuck talking to someone where you wanted to escape but just endured because you didn't know how to escape the conversation?

Welcome to Day 14/Chapter 14!

At the beginning of the chapter, Chiyo is preparing for her debut. She talks about the process of crafting her hair into the split peach style. To keep the hair in perfect condition, the geisha need to sleep on a takamakura. All I kept thinking of is the book, Why We Sleep, and how much this must interfere with sleeping! I can't imagine waking up and not feeling extremely stiff and cramped.

As part of the clothing, Chiyo talks about the darari-obi. She describes it as a knot, but it looks to me more like an extremely colorful cape. They are absolutely stunning!
http://thekimonolady.blogspot.com/201...

However, as beautiful as the darari-obi are, I do understand that it would be difficult to sit without wrinkling the fabric.

Did you love the attention to detail with pouring the tea? Have you ever received this level of high quality service?

Chiyo now becomes Sayuri. I really wanted to know more about the name changing process. Did Chiyo get to pick her name? How and who selected the name Sayuri?

Another topic that I am really interested to know more about: Sayuri talked about the traditional hairstyle, dress, and shoes of a geisha, but (based on my ignorant American understanding) no two geisha look alike. There are hair ornaments and the kimono are unique. Did Sayuri have special hair ornaments? Who picks her first kimono? I wanted to more how the geisha personalize their experience and how they differentiate themselves, forming their own identity in this culture.

Sayuri and Mameha also walk around quite a bit. It reminds me of advertising. If someone saw a beautiful set of geisha walking on the street, it would be a good reminder to set up an appointment for a night of dancing, singing, and tea.

Do you think it is a coincidence that Pumpkin and Hatsumomo just happen to show up?

Welcome to Day 13/Chapter 13!

At the beginning of the chapter, Pumpkin makes her debut as a geisha. Chiyo talks about the hairstyle, momoware, and the shoes, okobo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okobo

The okobo are very tall shoes with a slant in the front to where if the wearer tries to stand on their toes, they will faceplant. Although I understand wearing clothing as ceremonial or special, why can't clothing also be functional, comfortable, and safe?

When spending time with Mameha, "she understood well that she owed her exalted position to the people who thought highly of her." Isn't this true still today? Have you ever seen anyone who works themselves tirelessly but doesn't have a strong working relationship with his/her boss and never gets promoted? Have you seen someone with almost no talent/knowledge get promoted for just being friends with the boss?

"Put some thought into the sorts of statements you make with your eyes." Do you think this is still possible when so many people are busy looking at their smartphones or computer screens?

Welcome to Day 12/Chapter 12!

This was an interesting chapter in not only what it says, but what it does not say.

Chiyo starts geisha training; however, she doesn't talk about the emotions of attending the school or if she feels victorious. She also loses her only friend Pumpkin. Why does Hatsumomo keep Pumpkin from Chiyo? It seems that Pumpkin probably stands more to gain from the friendship than Chiyo.

"But Kabuki is a relatively young art form; it didn't exist before the 1700s." And yet the Declaration on Independence was not signed until 1776......Does this change your view of your own history/culture?

Is anyone else loving that things finally seem to be catching up to Hatsumomo? Despite playing the game so well she seems to be losing. She can't get a danna because she angered the mistress of Muzuki, her principal teahouse. And Teacher Rump dislikes Hatsumomo so much that she ends up helping Chiyo at the end of the day. Do you think that this is a case of Hatsumomo might win battles but she can't win the war? Why doesn't Hatsumomo amend her ways?