Reading 1001 discussion

2 stars

Although the book is beautifully written and the author did an incredible job creating a believable female protagonist, I still found myself checking often for how close I was to the finish. I was really engaged with the characters or the story. I didn't really care which man she would end up with -- or even if she ended up alone. I didn't really care about anything except [the reuniting of the sisters... the one thing that never happened! The most I can say is that I am glad to say I have read it, and I will not read it again.

Read 2009
This memoir is told from the point of view of a retired Geisha to an author. It is a Cinderella story with a nice ending. The selling of girls to servitude in a Geisha house when parents can no longer care for them. The work and hope of being able to become a Geisha in training and the fear of being sent to house of prostitution.

5 stars. Read in 2013
Historical fiction is my favorite genre of books and I enjoyed being transported back to 1930s Japan. I often look for stories that include strong female characters and this book was full of them. Many of the women were highly flawed but strong in their own way. Most all of the characters came full circle for me by the end of the book and I understood why certain defenses were developed. I certainly had some teary-eyed moments because the women and girls were victimized. Arthur Golden is a new author for me and I thought he was a beautiful writer.

This book had some tough aspects, but it is also a wonderful historical fiction story. I enjoyed reading about an aspect of Japanese culture I knew nothing about and also did some other informational reading to compare with the novel. It was also interesting to me to compare the lives of the geisha culture with some aspects from The Tale of Genji that seemed similar to me even though they take place in such different times in Japanese history. I liked that this was a story very much centered on the women it was about and their choices or decisions based on the lack of choice.

The writing is well crafted in a rather classic way with few chronological jumps and a rather straight forward presentation. I loved the historical background and the insights into a world that has, no doubt, completely changed since before WWII. Also, how the geisha went to work in the factories to serve the war effort during the war, and the power of the American soldiers after the war because although they were crass, they had money. The framing device of our main character narrating her story to the "author" works because other than in the introduction, the "author" stays out of it.
I thought Golden did a good job of presenting the small positives of being a Geisha when most of the geisha girls had little to no choice and, in fact, the other option was to be a prostitute. The women are well described and well considered in their working so hard to get some very small control over their lives.
I felt that the primary love story that drives the plot was too simplistic and contrived but it never really got in the way and I was pleasantly surprised that our Main Character escapes or leaves Gion.
I gave it 4 stars when I read it long ago and I think I would give it 4 stars today for being such intriguing and enjoyable reading.