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rochelleisreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, War, Death of parent, Body shaming, Bullying, Slavery, Sexual content, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
emmaeleone's review against another edition
I will edit when I get the book to see how far I read. I ended up not finishing this novel due to after conducting research on the author and the subject, discovered that the novel was based on a real life geisha who was to remain nameless. The author, supposedly, still revealed the name of the woman despite assuring that she would remain anonymous. I plan on reading her account on her life rather than this fictive one! That information ruined the book for me, but without knowing this it was an interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
literarysaara's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Quotations that were meaningful for me as I read through this book....
"I never seek to defeat the man I am fighting," he (The Admiral) explained. "I seek to defeat his confidence. A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. Two men are equals - true equals - only when they both have equal confidence."
I fell into a sound sleep and dreamed that I was at a banquet back in Gion, talking with an elderly man who was explaining to me that his wife, whom he'd cared for deeply, wasn't really dead because the pleasure of their time together lived on inside him. While he spoke these words, I drank from a bowl of the most extraordinary soup I'd ever tasted; every briny sip was a kind of ecstacy. I began to feel that all the people I'd ever known who had died or left me had not in fact gone away, but continued to live on inside me just as this man's wife lived on inside him. I felt as though I were drinking them all in - my sister, Satsu, who had run away and left me so young; my father and mother; Mr Tanaka, with his perverse view of kindness; Nobu, who could never forgive me; even the Chairman. The soup was filled with all that I'd ever cared for in my life; and while I drank it, this man spoke his words right into my heart.
But now I know that our world is no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however we may suffer them, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink on paper.
Now that this context has been covered, onto the review! Overall, this is a beautifully written book that sheds light on a less-understood aspect of Japanese culture - the Geisha. The story is told from a first-person perspective of Sayuri (birth name, Chiyo), who is sold by her father to an Okiya (a Geisha House in Japan) in Gion, Kyoto. The pace is not too slow nor too drab - the story flows beautifully and holds your fascination well. The descriptions and explanations are detailed, and overall the book is a wonderful tapestry of intricate, rich, interesting story-telling. It's just a shame that the context behind the writing of this book is poor ethically, which does spoil it a bit for me. Nevertheless, reading this book has only made me want to read Geisha of Gion even more, and I'm looking forward to seeing the similarities and differences between these two books.
"I never seek to defeat the man I am fighting," he (The Admiral) explained. "I seek to defeat his confidence. A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. Two men are equals - true equals - only when they both have equal confidence."
I fell into a sound sleep and dreamed that I was at a banquet back in Gion, talking with an elderly man who was explaining to me that his wife, whom he'd cared for deeply, wasn't really dead because the pleasure of their time together lived on inside him. While he spoke these words, I drank from a bowl of the most extraordinary soup I'd ever tasted; every briny sip was a kind of ecstacy. I began to feel that all the people I'd ever known who had died or left me had not in fact gone away, but continued to live on inside me just as this man's wife lived on inside him. I felt as though I were drinking them all in - my sister, Satsu, who had run away and left me so young; my father and mother; Mr Tanaka, with his perverse view of kindness; Nobu, who could never forgive me; even the Chairman. The soup was filled with all that I'd ever cared for in my life; and while I drank it, this man spoke his words right into my heart.
But now I know that our world is no more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however we may suffer them, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink on paper.
Now that this context has been covered, onto the review! Overall, this is a beautifully written book that sheds light on a less-understood aspect of Japanese culture - the Geisha. The story is told from a first-person perspective of Sayuri (birth name, Chiyo), who is sold by her father to an Okiya (a Geisha House in Japan) in Gion, Kyoto. The pace is not too slow nor too drab - the story flows beautifully and holds your fascination well. The descriptions and explanations are detailed, and overall the book is a wonderful tapestry of intricate, rich, interesting story-telling. It's just a shame that the context behind the writing of this book is poor ethically, which does spoil it a bit for me. Nevertheless, reading this book has only made me want to read Geisha of Gion even more, and I'm looking forward to seeing the similarities and differences between these two books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Bullying, Trafficking, Emotional abuse, and Slavery
Minor: War
tessazwaan's review against another edition
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I looooved to read this - even though I have some criticism about it too (the “all the rape stories by American soldiers turned out to be untrue and they are so kind instead” sentence for example) - it was so informative about something I had no idea of
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, and Trafficking
slushhhhy's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Really interesting to read about this time in history, which I don't know much about. Even though nothing 'exciting' happens, it was written well and I found it easy to read. Didn't really know what to expect. I enjoyed most of the book apart from the ending chapters, although not sure what would've made for a better ending...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
r3ader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, War, Sexual content, and Slavery
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Stalking, Medical content, and Trafficking
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.
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
thirdtimesacharm's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, War, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent, Abortion, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
temporaryhouseplant's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Abortion and Infidelity
liab's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Empezando el libro noté que bien diferente a la película, así que voy a tomar la historia del libro como si fuera una historia diferente. La autobiografía de la geisha que el autor basó la historia también se puede encontrar. Este libro da más información y una imagen completa de la chica. Ando notando que la protagonista da comentarios crudos de la gente, pero es más notable los comentarios del peso de la gente. Me gusta mucho cuando llegas al capítulo 9 vemos con más detalles cuando decidió en ser Geisha. Ya siguiendo en el libro el autor exagera muchos detalles, pero lo que es más cansado es la obsesión que la protagonista tiene con el presidente. En realidad yo no tengo mucha información sobre las geisha’s pero me roba de mala manera de que la protagonista tiene que darse a si misma sexualmente. Tengo un problema con el autor cuando viene con Nobu, el trabaja en la compañía del El Presidente con que la protagonista no puede parar de pensar, Nobu se describe como una persona con una personalidad fuerte pero el es buena persona pero en el libro vemos más la buena persona que es Nobu. Ya para el capítulo veintiséis esperaba que la protagonista aprendiera que su obsesión con el presidente no va a llegar a nada y que ella es muy mala por usar a Nobu pero no, ella es el mismo tono.
El libro termino en aburriéndome y como sea cuando la protagonista tuvo lo que quizo desde el principio ella se tuvo que ir de su comunidad y no estaba completamente feliz, pero ella como sea le da la idea de ir a NY y abrir una tienda de té para mantener al presidente… que final más anticlamatico
Nota- busque sobre la información de mizuage, como el libro lo explica es medio incompleto.
Nota- busque sobre la información de mizuage, como el libro lo explica es medio incompleto.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Slavery, and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, War, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
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