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sciamachy7's review against another edition
1.0
Unenjoyable to the last page. Written from the pov of a woman blatantly constructed in the mind of a man. I hate this book with every fiber of my being. A pedophilic “love story” that features the system of abuse pushed on young girls in the time of the story without so much as acknowledging it as trauma. The book’s narrator is an empty-headed ditz whose only goal is to capture the attention of a man 5 times her age. Reading this book has shortened my lifespan by 10 years at least. I never want to see a book about women written by a man again for as long as I live. This is a disgrace to literature, to historical fiction, and to geisha especially.
auricrow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lprice's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
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
5.0
al_sharnaqi's review against another edition
5.0
لمن الممتع القراءة في عالم منْغلقٍ تامّ السريّة بكل هذا الانفتاح ومن غير أيّ تسلط أو تحيز. ولمن الممتع أن تكون القراءة في هذا العالم على لسان أحدٍ من أولئك الذين كانوا يشكلون جزءًا منه ذات يوم.
لم يسبق لي وأن نظرت لهذا العالم بنظرة كتلك التي تشكلت لديّ بعدما أنهيتُ قراءة هذه الرواية. كيف لا ولم يكن يتبين لي من قبل منه شيئًا سوى ما أراد أصحابهُ وساكنيهِ أن يبينوه ليّ كما الآخرين تفاديًا لأي اشتباكٍ من أي نوعٍ ولأسباب ومصالحٍ أخرى.
إنه لمجتمع عجيب، ولفعلًا هو غريب أن تنتابك كل هذه المشاعر وأنت تلجُ لأول مرة لعالم كهذا، بل وتراه على حقيقتهِ للمرّة الأولى وعلى لسان أحد ساكنيه قبلًا، ذات مرّة.
حين تنتهي من قراءة هذه الرواية، تجد نفسك تطفو بين البيّن لا تدري ما الذي ينبغي عليك أن تصدقهُ وتأخذ به، وما عليكَ أن تتفادى الوقوع في تكذيبهِ. وكأن الأمر لم يعد مهمًا كما كان ولن يكون لرأيك أيّةُ أهميةٍ مهما كان الجانب الذي تقف فيه محتازًا، ضد الآخر، طالما تمّ رفع الستار بأكمله عن هذا العالم ولم يعد مخفيًا مغلقًا كما كان، بعد الآن.
رواية ممتعة، شهيّة، وفي غاية اللذّة والحقيقة.
لم يسبق لي وأن نظرت لهذا العالم بنظرة كتلك التي تشكلت لديّ بعدما أنهيتُ قراءة هذه الرواية. كيف لا ولم يكن يتبين لي من قبل منه شيئًا سوى ما أراد أصحابهُ وساكنيهِ أن يبينوه ليّ كما الآخرين تفاديًا لأي اشتباكٍ من أي نوعٍ ولأسباب ومصالحٍ أخرى.
إنه لمجتمع عجيب، ولفعلًا هو غريب أن تنتابك كل هذه المشاعر وأنت تلجُ لأول مرة لعالم كهذا، بل وتراه على حقيقتهِ للمرّة الأولى وعلى لسان أحد ساكنيه قبلًا، ذات مرّة.
حين تنتهي من قراءة هذه الرواية، تجد نفسك تطفو بين البيّن لا تدري ما الذي ينبغي عليك أن تصدقهُ وتأخذ به، وما عليكَ أن تتفادى الوقوع في تكذيبهِ. وكأن الأمر لم يعد مهمًا كما كان ولن يكون لرأيك أيّةُ أهميةٍ مهما كان الجانب الذي تقف فيه محتازًا، ضد الآخر، طالما تمّ رفع الستار بأكمله عن هذا العالم ولم يعد مخفيًا مغلقًا كما كان، بعد الآن.
رواية ممتعة، شهيّة، وفي غاية اللذّة والحقيقة.
kitkat962's review against another edition
4.0
You may argue that Memoirs of a geisha is an inaccurate account of Japan, but there is no denying that it's a compelling read regardless. It's historical fiction, not an autobiography. The readers may criticize as need be, but they can still learn a lot (with some help from google)
monkeyboystiff's review against another edition
3.0
The story started interestingly and tragically. A poor girl sold essentially into slavery who then became a Geisha.
But as the book went on it got less interesting and Sayuri became a less likeable and sympathetic character. She didn't grow or change, and when she at last was top dog in her Geisha house, she didn't change anything. She didn't try and make things easier or fairer for new girls, she didn't take charge, or even gain a modicum of independence from the Mother. She had no agency throughout.
Instead she mooned after one man all the way through who, in the end it turns out has been mooning after her too. So they live happily ever after although not really because she's still his mistress (he's married) an underling and plaything, rather than an actual partner.
Sayuri also screws over Nobu whom she constantly refers to as a dear friend and yet never honestly communicates with and dreads the thought of being stuck with. She never tells him this though, or indicates she would prefer to be in control of her own destiny.
Maybe the story is meant to be a bit tragic in the end, that all the way through Sayuri was a slave to others and never really got to be in control of her life. But if that was the intended message it's incredibly subtle, and I don't think it is frankly.
But as the book went on it got less interesting and Sayuri became a less likeable and sympathetic character. She didn't grow or change, and when she at last was top dog in her Geisha house, she didn't change anything. She didn't try and make things easier or fairer for new girls, she didn't take charge, or even gain a modicum of independence from the Mother. She had no agency throughout.
Instead she mooned after one man all the way through who, in the end it turns out has been mooning after her too. So they live happily ever after although not really because she's still his mistress (he's married) an underling and plaything, rather than an actual partner.
Sayuri also screws over Nobu whom she constantly refers to as a dear friend and yet never honestly communicates with and dreads the thought of being stuck with. She never tells him this though, or indicates she would prefer to be in control of her own destiny.
Maybe the story is meant to be a bit tragic in the end, that all the way through Sayuri was a slave to others and never really got to be in control of her life. But if that was the intended message it's incredibly subtle, and I don't think it is frankly.
nithreasaigh's review against another edition
4.0
Intriguing story that totally sucked me in with intimate details of a world I only barely knew existed.
liasigna's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
miki514's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.5