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2.55 AVERAGE
2.55 AVERAGE
osmosis's review against another edition
1.0
This is a really easy and light book to read and contains some nice tidbits of information regarding hostessing and Japanese culture in general.
However, the story is way to strung out (it could easily be condensed into an article), the dates and customers that she encounters are so remarkably similar to each other I found it difficult to keep track to the latter. It was difficult to understand why she might be attracted to yoshi and her relationship with her husband also seemed difficult to fathom. The way she described her customers and especially the other hostesses seemed quite arrogant e.g. she seemed to attract so many customers without trying vs. the desperate attempts of her colleagues who all seemed to be falling apart at the seams. Finally, the title is completely misleading and though I guess I was a bit stupid to think a foreigner could actually become a geisha, still...
I think a more honest and apt title and one that would saved my time reading the book would be "confessions of a hostess".
However, the story is way to strung out (it could easily be condensed into an article), the dates and customers that she encounters are so remarkably similar to each other I found it difficult to keep track to the latter. It was difficult to understand why she might be attracted to yoshi and her relationship with her husband also seemed difficult to fathom. The way she described her customers and especially the other hostesses seemed quite arrogant e.g. she seemed to attract so many customers without trying vs. the desperate attempts of her colleagues who all seemed to be falling apart at the seams. Finally, the title is completely misleading and though I guess I was a bit stupid to think a foreigner could actually become a geisha, still...
I think a more honest and apt title and one that would saved my time reading the book would be "confessions of a hostess".
threemadness's review
2.0
I thought the premise of this book was going to be interesting, but the author shows a clear lack of understanding of both the Japanese language and Japanese culture.
To anyone who knows anything about Japanese it just gets annoying. At one point she said that "gaijin literally translates to foreign devil"
To anyone who knows anything about Japanese it just gets annoying. At one point she said that "gaijin literally translates to foreign devil"
saucygal69's review against another edition
2.0
This was a very mediocre read. Most of the book was written as if you were in her head and hearing her thoughts but then there would be a random extremely factual section. It was bizarre! It was as if she had pasted in a wikipedia article about whatever she was talking about because it didn't fit with her voice at all. But there was something about this book that kept me turning the pages...
aryadeschain's review against another edition
4.0
When I finished reading this book, I did spend a couple of instants asking myself why so many people gave it such a low rating. Personally, I didn't find it as bad as other people say it is.
90-Day Geisha is pretty much a diary. The title is self-explanatory: Chelsea Haywood, a young Canadian girl who has married not too long ago decides to go to Japan to work as a hostess. The first reaction was, of course, the cultural chock. After many conflicts, compliments and lessons for life, she slowly ends up making "bounds" with the people she meets in her work.
One aspect that I found interesting was Chelsea's point of view toward the Japanese and how she was gradually changing her own self as the narrative goes on. And also the fact that she includes several historical reports about Japan: why is there such a strong fascination for schoolgirls? Why do wealthy, relatively handsome married men paid to just talk to women? Why do Japanese have such shy behaviors compared to Westerners? Why do they take the blood compatibility into account?
Amidst detailed accounts of regular chatting and peculiar behaviors, the author inserts her own personal drama. The way her job seemed to affect her relationship. The psychological harassment her clients did to her.
What was missing in the book: a little bit more description about her impressions of the country. I feel like there was a lack of interest from the author towards the country's culture. This is easily noticed soon in the introduction, when she finishes it with a Japanese expression used right before the meals.
Overall, I actually liked this book. Not exactly what I'd call a "guide book for the Japanese culture", but it broaches several aspects of the "dark side" of Japan.
90-Day Geisha is pretty much a diary. The title is self-explanatory: Chelsea Haywood, a young Canadian girl who has married not too long ago decides to go to Japan to work as a hostess. The first reaction was, of course, the cultural chock. After many conflicts, compliments and lessons for life, she slowly ends up making "bounds" with the people she meets in her work.
One aspect that I found interesting was Chelsea's point of view toward the Japanese and how she was gradually changing her own self as the narrative goes on. And also the fact that she includes several historical reports about Japan: why is there such a strong fascination for schoolgirls? Why do wealthy, relatively handsome married men paid to just talk to women? Why do Japanese have such shy behaviors compared to Westerners? Why do they take the blood compatibility into account?
Amidst detailed accounts of regular chatting and peculiar behaviors, the author inserts her own personal drama. The way her job seemed to affect her relationship. The psychological harassment her clients did to her.
What was missing in the book: a little bit more description about her impressions of the country. I feel like there was a lack of interest from the author towards the country's culture. This is easily noticed soon in the introduction, when she finishes it with a Japanese expression used right before the meals.
Overall, I actually liked this book. Not exactly what I'd call a "guide book for the Japanese culture", but it broaches several aspects of the "dark side" of Japan.
lotuschildearthdaughter's review against another edition
2.0
An interesting enough read, but about halfway through I found the author's voice annoying and disingenuous.
jennifertijssen's review against another edition
3.0
De voornaamste reden dat ik dit drie sterren geef is omdat het een feest van herkenning was en het me vicariously het leven van een hostess in Tokyo kon laten meemaken. Ik snap de opzet van het boek in vignettes, omdat het leven als hostess nou eenmaal bestaat uit korte momenten van ontmoetingen in de club tijdens een werkshift, en de dates ertussenin. Het leest alleen niet zo lekker en voelt als een niet-samenhangend dagboek.
Heb me ook echt verbaasd over het gebrek aan onderzoek en kwaliteitscontrole. Staat vol met interpunctiefouten, verkeerd geschreven Japanse termen en twijfelachtige "achtergrondinformatie" over Japanse cultuur en geschiedenis.
De inzichten van de schrijver waren interessant, hoewel ik haar onprofessionele houding tegenover het werk waar ze zelf voor gekozen heeft niet altijd kon waarderen. Ze was nog jong, maar dat praat niet goed hoe dwars ze was in hoe ze met haar klanten en collega's omging.
Heb me ook echt verbaasd over het gebrek aan onderzoek en kwaliteitscontrole. Staat vol met interpunctiefouten, verkeerd geschreven Japanse termen en twijfelachtige "achtergrondinformatie" over Japanse cultuur en geschiedenis.
De inzichten van de schrijver waren interessant, hoewel ik haar onprofessionele houding tegenover het werk waar ze zelf voor gekozen heeft niet altijd kon waarderen. Ze was nog jong, maar dat praat niet goed hoe dwars ze was in hoe ze met haar klanten en collega's omging.
lyssrose's review
reflective
medium-paced
2.5
By about the middle of the book, I just wanted to be done with it. There were some interesting musings about hostessing and life as an outsider in Japan, but ultimately, there really wasn't much substance here beyond the cliched falling in love with a client moral crisis.
melissa_h's review
2.0
First of all my problem with the book was mainly that Chelsea was not a geisha. She wore cocktail dresses, sang karaoke, went to beautiful places and was bought clothing - she was a hostess. A real geisha trains for years and years, performs tea ceremonies, wears a kimono and other traditional wear, does not go alone with a customer who buys her things.
Basically, it was misleading. I expected something else. Also was disappointed in how fast she fell in love with another man, almost considering divorcing her supportive, loving husband.
Were the stories interesting? Some. At the end of the book though I was bored and just wanted it to end.
Basically, it was misleading. I expected something else. Also was disappointed in how fast she fell in love with another man, almost considering divorcing her supportive, loving husband.
Were the stories interesting? Some. At the end of the book though I was bored and just wanted it to end.
booksbecreads's review against another edition
2.0
The problem with this book seems to be that she thinks she's writing a great narrative when in fact its just another story told by another traveller and throwing some fancy words in doesn't change that. I also struggled with the whole story, girl goes to Japan to be aq hostess, girl goes on about Japanese men and there misogynistic culture but then is part of the problem and justifies it, again using flowry words. Best left on the TBR shelf.