Memoirs of a Geishaby Arthur Golden
(adult, historical romance, japan)
Published: 2005
Publisher: Vintage
Paperback: 499 pages
5 butterflies
Synopsis 
In this literary tour de force, novelist Arthur Golden enters a remote and shimmeringly exotic world. For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan's most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess.
We follow Sayuri from her childhood in an impoverished fishing village, where in 1929, she is sold to a representative of a geisha house, who is drawn by the child's unusual blue-grey eyes. From there she is taken to Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto. She is nine years old. In the years that follow, as she works to pay back the price of her purchase, Sayuri will be schooled in music and dance, learn to apply the geisha's elaborate makeup, wear elaborate kimono, and care for a coiffure so fragile that it requires a special pillow. She will also acquire a magnanimous tutor and a venomous rival.
Surviving the intrigues of her trade and the upheavals of war, the resourceful Sayuri is a romantic heroine on the order of Jane Eyre and Scarlett O'Hara. And Memoirs of a Geisha is a triumphant work - suspenseful, and utterly persuasive.
Cover 
I absolutely adore this cover! The actress who plays Sayuri in the movie is one of my favorites and a stunning beauty. I am mesmerized by the Geisha culture and this cover fits the feel of this gorgeous tale.
Characters 
Sayuri is such a great character. She starts the story being an afraid child and ends it being someone girls can really look up to. I found myself wanting to be her. I even used Sayuri for a username online for a while. I know, ridiculous. Each character brings their own personality to the story and none of them were created without their full potential shining through.
Story 
This is still my favorite book, ever. Being obsessed with Japan helps a lot but even without that, it's an amazing tale of love of triumph in Japan pre American takeover. The only thing I don't like about this book is the inclusion of the US. Japan was such an outstanding place back then, and even though it's still a fantastic place, I would have liked it to stay the way it was in this book. This is my favorite period of time in Japan and I would have given anything to live in that time and place. This book is my dream come true. It's deep and memorable, and will be hard to pass in my opinion. Arthur Golden is a magical man.
Quote(s) 
“If you aren't the woman I think you are, then this isn't the world I thought it was.”
“He was like a song I'd heard once in fragments but had been singing in my mind ever since.”
“I don't know when we'll see each other again or what the world will be like when we do. We may both have seen many horrible things. But I will think of you every time I need to be reminded that there is beauty and goodness in the world.”
So the question is... 
Have you had the opportunity to check out this novel or movie?
DISCLOSURE: All of the reviews posted are my opinions and mine alone. I am in no way paid for them. Every book reviewed was either purchased by me, received for free directly from the publisher/author specifically for review or received via:
