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alyssapolis 's review for:
Memoirs of a Geisha
by Arthur Golden
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really enjoyed this book, and reading about all the history and controversy surrounding it. I understand the problems about reinforcing negative stereotypes, and can see why the woman who the author gathered intel from was angry about the misinformation the author included (and about not understanding he wasn’t supposed to expose her), but I was surprised to discover that the information in question was apparently correct, it just implied the experience happened to her when it didn’t. Would like to read the book written by the woman now.
But a very beautiful and heartbreaking book. And so strange when I find myself rooting for a romance when there is so much I shouldn’t be rooting for (insane age gap; her youth - and was he attracted to her when he first met her? Hopefully not until after she became a geisha, but still… very young; also he’s married; etc) It’s all from her perspective, and she does a good job making one forget all the things that would make us cringe today, which I think actually adds layers to it. After I finished it, I wanted to break down how it made me feel and explore how it managed it, as it really had no right too 😂 I think a big part of it comes down to a feeling of wanting someone to succeed, and a relationship with Chairman was her goal the whole time. It also helped that there was no clear harm in it. Which makes me cringe to say, since all appearances point to her being groomed… but honestly, Chairman was always shown to be very good and kind (although from her perspective), and it would take her out of the path of worse fates (although it can’t be forgotten Chairman was going to allow her to be with his friend, who wasn’t so sweet), and he would have her set up for life. It also helped that he didn’t take her virginity (though would he have?) and at least the retrospective narrator was very realistic about her life and this suggested maturity. It also helped that the age difference wasn’t quite as apparent in the film, which I watched before reading the book.
But a very beautiful and heartbreaking book. And so strange when I find myself rooting for a romance when there is so much I shouldn’t be rooting for (insane age gap; her youth - and was he attracted to her when he first met her? Hopefully not until after she became a geisha, but still… very young; also he’s married; etc) It’s all from her perspective, and she does a good job making one forget all the things that would make us cringe today, which I think actually adds layers to it. After I finished it, I wanted to break down how it made me feel and explore how it managed it, as it really had no right too 😂 I think a big part of it comes down to a feeling of wanting someone to succeed, and a relationship with Chairman was her goal the whole time. It also helped that there was no clear harm in it. Which makes me cringe to say, since all appearances point to her being groomed… but honestly, Chairman was always shown to be very good and kind (although from her perspective), and it would take her out of the path of worse fates (although it can’t be forgotten Chairman was going to allow her to be with his friend, who wasn’t so sweet), and he would have her set up for life. It also helped that he didn’t take her virginity (though would he have?) and at least the retrospective narrator was very realistic about her life and this suggested maturity. It also helped that the age difference wasn’t quite as apparent in the film, which I watched before reading the book.