Reviews tagging 'Death'

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

9 reviews

tomnoor's review against another edition

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Death of parent, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, and Death

Minor: Abortion, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

ladybirder's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and War

dannilmp's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I picked this book up hoping to learn something more about a culture's history and I wasn't dissapointed. Here we follow young Sayori through the trials of her life that lead to her becoming a Geisha. A heartfelt story with plenty of heartaching moments to follow.

Golden really did his research to be able to write such a detailed piece of historical fiction. I felt as though I learnt so much more about Geishas and Japan's history while also coming to understand more what the Geishas roles and functions in society were. 

I don't typically read historical fiction so this was a venture outside of my usual comfort zone, and while it was written very well (bar young Sayori's obsession with a certain character feeling icky) it is not something I would rush to read in a hurry again. But parts of the story have still stuck with me months later, so I have to give the book credit.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Slavery, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

hanniquinn's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Cancer, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Confinement, War, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Stalking

Minor: Child death, Classism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Blood, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Vomit

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, War, and Sexual content

suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I honestly went into this book hesitant because it follows the plot of a young Japanese woman in WWII but is written by a white man. Because of this, the book has no real narrative for Sayuri. And this is a shame because the book is written in the first person and could have been used to portray a powerful story about the transition from girlhood to womanhood, how concepts and the idea of what a woman changes when this geisha role is assigned to her. As for the war, this was only really added at the end and just sped past it-- which again is a shame because it had the potential to cover grief, rage, imperialism, violence, and all the other big things that come with the war in such a powerful way. All this to say, I would not recommend this book to anyone. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

daisiesandbees's review against another edition

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Kidnapping

Minor: Death

tardycreative's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death

mugoika's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape and War

Minor: Death of parent, Death, Cultural appropriation, Bullying, and Alcohol