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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I am unsure why I have been so drawn to novels that take place in 20th century Asia lately, but I am glad for it since I was finally able to read this novel. I swear, it has been sitting on my shelf since the movie came out and it was about time I got to it. For the depression that raged across the world in the 1930's failed to mark the splendor and beauty of Japan that was described by Sayuri, a Kyoto geisha.
Upon being sold into a geisha house shortly before her parent's death, Chiyo enters a world very different than the small fishing village she was born in. It is one filled with honest girls, like Pumpkin who is not much older than Chiyo, and it is also filled with horrid women, like Hatsumomo who attempts to make Chiyo miserable. All live under the house of Mother and Aunt who mold them into proper geisha, as teahouse entertainers and beautiful dancing women. The historical realism in this novel was simply amazing. The details provided so much, I mean just down to the dressing a kimono was so incredible that I had a hard time imagining doing the ceremony every day simply because so much went into it. What I found most interesting though were the interactions between the characters. Obviously, with a character such as she, Hatsumomo created a lot of friction. It was her job, her purpose, simply because she herself did not have much of a purpose in life. Such is the reason why she probably drank, slept around, and made everyone around her miserable. Those who are miserable bring others down, simple as that, but Chiyo needed Hatsumomo to do this in order to be renamed as Sayuri upon becoming a geisha. Sayuri also needed others like Pumpkin to ground her and Aunt to instill reality in her.
What made little sense to me though was what the Chairman provided for her. Or what any man did in fact. It seemed that she kept chasing after the Chairman, falling in love with him when he was nice to her when she was just a child, yet I could not figure out for what purpose. Yes, attraction, but there seemed to be little beyond the Chairman's kindness that offered any explanation of Sayuri wanting to be with him beyond a childish fantasy. It seemed that a great many things about being a geisha were childish though and it was not until WWII that Sayuri actually learned some measure of hardship that went beyond the rumors told in teahouses. Perhaps I will simply never understand the need to revolve my life around a man whom I barely know, for that it all it seemed to be for Sayuri and the Chairman.
Honestly, I greatly enjoyed reading a book set in Japan before and during WWII. Not only was the realm of the geisha entirely fascinating, but so was the tragedy that befell Japan during the war. It was the fall of the geisha during this time and to hear it through the voice of one was charming.
Upon being sold into a geisha house shortly before her parent's death, Chiyo enters a world very different than the small fishing village she was born in. It is one filled with honest girls, like Pumpkin who is not much older than Chiyo, and it is also filled with horrid women, like Hatsumomo who attempts to make Chiyo miserable. All live under the house of Mother and Aunt who mold them into proper geisha, as teahouse entertainers and beautiful dancing women. The historical realism in this novel was simply amazing. The details provided so much, I mean just down to the dressing a kimono was so incredible that I had a hard time imagining doing the ceremony every day simply because so much went into it. What I found most interesting though were the interactions between the characters. Obviously, with a character such as she, Hatsumomo created a lot of friction. It was her job, her purpose, simply because she herself did not have much of a purpose in life. Such is the reason why she probably drank, slept around, and made everyone around her miserable. Those who are miserable bring others down, simple as that, but Chiyo needed Hatsumomo to do this in order to be renamed as Sayuri upon becoming a geisha. Sayuri also needed others like Pumpkin to ground her and Aunt to instill reality in her.
What made little sense to me though was what the Chairman provided for her. Or what any man did in fact. It seemed that she kept chasing after the Chairman, falling in love with him when he was nice to her when she was just a child, yet I could not figure out for what purpose. Yes, attraction, but there seemed to be little beyond the Chairman's kindness that offered any explanation of Sayuri wanting to be with him beyond a childish fantasy. It seemed that a great many things about being a geisha were childish though and it was not until WWII that Sayuri actually learned some measure of hardship that went beyond the rumors told in teahouses. Perhaps I will simply never understand the need to revolve my life around a man whom I barely know, for that it all it seemed to be for Sayuri and the Chairman.
Honestly, I greatly enjoyed reading a book set in Japan before and during WWII. Not only was the realm of the geisha entirely fascinating, but so was the tragedy that befell Japan during the war. It was the fall of the geisha during this time and to hear it through the voice of one was charming.
Such a beautiful story about a young girl who becomes a geisha
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You know it's going to be a good one when you put it down and pick it back up a week later to read almost 100 pages all at once.
Something about this book really hooked me in. I'm not generally a fan of memoirs, and having read AutoBiography of an Ex-Colored Man not long ago didn't really excite me for the thought of another one. I had no expectations, which I think is the best way to enjoy this book.
That said, POOR NOBU. I hated his character from the moment he appeared until the moment he disappeared, but once he did I felt SO BAD for him. He really was never able to catch a break!
All in all, I loved it! I have to give it back to my friend now, but I'll definitely be on the watch for a copy of this at a Goodwill somewhere!
Something about this book really hooked me in. I'm not generally a fan of memoirs, and having read AutoBiography of an Ex-Colored Man not long ago didn't really excite me for the thought of another one. I had no expectations, which I think is the best way to enjoy this book.
That said, POOR NOBU. I hated his character from the moment he appeared until the moment he disappeared, but once he did I felt SO BAD for him. He really was never able to catch a break!
All in all, I loved it! I have to give it back to my friend now, but I'll definitely be on the watch for a copy of this at a Goodwill somewhere!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
reread.
i was obsessed with this book and the movie when i was in middle school/ highchool due to my fascination with culture.
but now rereading it, im sensing how problematic it was for a male author to romancize Sayuri's relationship with Ken when she was literally a child groomed to please older men.
i still enjoyed the story about her life, how she was brought up, the side characters, the historical side, but the main plot with Sayuri and Ken made me ill
i was obsessed with this book and the movie when i was in middle school/ highchool due to my fascination with culture.
but now rereading it, im sensing how problematic it was for a male author to romancize Sayuri's relationship with Ken when she was literally a child groomed to please older men.
i still enjoyed the story about her life, how she was brought up, the side characters, the historical side, but the main plot with Sayuri and Ken made me ill
En esta historia nos sentamos a tomar el té con Sayuri, una mujer ya entrada en años que nos cuenta su vida como Geisha. Sus secretos, sus ilusiones, sus confesiones y decepciones. Nos abre su corazón tan honestamente que te sientes cómplice y vives con ella lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo de ese mundo lleno de tradiciones y ceremonias conectadas a las apariencias, a las pasiones, ambiciones y belleza.
Es fascinante conocer desde dentro la cultura japonesa. Respeto y admiro sus tradiciones, su disciplina, su honorabilidad.
Sucede en las década de los 30-40-50, cuando las geishas estaban en todo su esplendor. El autor hace un maravilloso trabajo de documentación y narración. Lectura ágil, absorbente, muy interesante y humana.
Te traslada y vives la ilusión de Sayuri niña. Creces con ella y sufres las injusticias y te aferras igual a una ilusión.
Amor, lealtad, amistad, decepción, ambición, frustración… cuánto me ha transmitido!
Casi llegando al final cerré el libro de golpe. Mi corazón latía a mil! No quería ver lo que estaba por pasar! … que libro!
Definitivamente una gran lectura con todos los ingredientes que me gustan: historia, intriga, amor, giros inesperados y lecciones de vida.
Hay película de hace algunos años y una reciente adaptación en Netflix. No he visto ninguna, pero el libro para mi es extraordinario.
Es fascinante conocer desde dentro la cultura japonesa. Respeto y admiro sus tradiciones, su disciplina, su honorabilidad.
Sucede en las década de los 30-40-50, cuando las geishas estaban en todo su esplendor. El autor hace un maravilloso trabajo de documentación y narración. Lectura ágil, absorbente, muy interesante y humana.
Te traslada y vives la ilusión de Sayuri niña. Creces con ella y sufres las injusticias y te aferras igual a una ilusión.
Amor, lealtad, amistad, decepción, ambición, frustración… cuánto me ha transmitido!
Casi llegando al final cerré el libro de golpe. Mi corazón latía a mil! No quería ver lo que estaba por pasar! … que libro!
Definitivamente una gran lectura con todos los ingredientes que me gustan: historia, intriga, amor, giros inesperados y lecciones de vida.
Hay película de hace algunos años y una reciente adaptación en Netflix. No he visto ninguna, pero el libro para mi es extraordinario.