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A review by elliesuk
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
3.0
Chiyo tells Sayuri(herself) that “dreams can be such dangerous things: they smolder on like a fire does, and sometimes they consume you completely.” Either this is accepting her fate or choosing to live a restrained life. Memoirs of a Geisha is a historical fiction novel written by Arthur Golden, based on real life memoirs of Geishas in the 19th and 20th century, delivering the intriguing yet controversial culture of Geishas with vividness. While implying the indisputable fate of life, Memoirs of a Geisha is an encouragement to self-determination.
At the age of 9, Chiyo gets sold to Okiya, a geisha house where young girls are trained how to entertain men. Separated from her home and family, Chiyo struggles to adapt to the house, especially under Hatsumomo’s never-ending, cruel intentions to get her in trouble. During the attempt to run away from the Okiya, Chiyo encounters the Chairman who shows genuine kindness to her for the first time in her life. She decides she will become a Geisha and serve the Chairman one day. Given the Geisha name Sayuri, she later becomes one of the highest paid Geishas in history. Before all the journey as a Geisha, what made Chiyo Sayuri was her own determination not the coerciveness of the Okiya. Also, her connection to other characters such as the Chairman or “sister” Mameha seems to me that her very last destination was chosen from the beginning.
Aware that Memoirs of a Geisha is a renowned novel, I was still skeptical about how accurately an American would be able to bring a story of Japanese culture to the readers and was also concerned if there will be any stereotypes in his interpretation. However, I really liked how Golden well applied the psychology of Japanese culture into Chiyo’s personal thoughts, actions, and experiences, melting it into the coming of age of Chiyo.
At the age of 9, Chiyo gets sold to Okiya, a geisha house where young girls are trained how to entertain men. Separated from her home and family, Chiyo struggles to adapt to the house, especially under Hatsumomo’s never-ending, cruel intentions to get her in trouble. During the attempt to run away from the Okiya, Chiyo encounters the Chairman who shows genuine kindness to her for the first time in her life. She decides she will become a Geisha and serve the Chairman one day. Given the Geisha name Sayuri, she later becomes one of the highest paid Geishas in history. Before all the journey as a Geisha, what made Chiyo Sayuri was her own determination not the coerciveness of the Okiya. Also, her connection to other characters such as the Chairman or “sister” Mameha seems to me that her very last destination was chosen from the beginning.
Aware that Memoirs of a Geisha is a renowned novel, I was still skeptical about how accurately an American would be able to bring a story of Japanese culture to the readers and was also concerned if there will be any stereotypes in his interpretation. However, I really liked how Golden well applied the psychology of Japanese culture into Chiyo’s personal thoughts, actions, and experiences, melting it into the coming of age of Chiyo.