Kept women’. Review on Memoirs Of A Geisha - Arthur Golden

I decided to read this book because I was curious about what a geishaactually was. I know most'westerners' think them to be prostitutes, but to me that didn't seem to be the whole story. While they did striveto be ‘kept women’, they were also very skilled and cultured, who forthe most part entertained men with dance, music, witty conversation andseduction of wealthy patrons. The word geisha does not mean‘prostitute’ but ‘artisan’ or ‘artist’. However, sexual intrigue ispart of the job description, namely in the ritual known as ‘mizuage’, the selling of their virginity.

Thisbook is surely different and unlike any other book I've read, becauseof the theme and the way it's written. The pace and quickly changingconflicts leave no room for boredom. It's characters are vivid and thewording is clear and elegant. Personally, I've never became soemotionally attached to a book. I'd often find myself crying orlaughing. There are many ups and downs in life that this book couldn'texplain better. It's poignant, emotional and delves into the nuances oferotic maneuvering. It gives the reader a totally new perspective ofhistory and a respect for the dramatic life of Japanese geishas.

Readers experience the obstacles and triumphs of a highly successfulgeisha known as Sayuri, from the time she was sold by her parents to ageisha family, to the triumphant auction of her mizuage and herreminiscent old age in Manhattan. Most of the story centers on thegeisha's coming of age in Gion(the geisha district), struggles withrivals and her search for love during the 1930s and 1940s. We witnessher struggle from maid, to apprentice and finally an actual geisha, andlearn just what it is like to live solely to entertain and be perfect.Arthur Golden portrays the story through the eyes of a young girl, allowing us to experience the thoughts and feelings of a woman in herworld, as well as the characteristic grace, stoicism and politeness ofJapanese culture.

However, the annoying thing about this book is the ending. It’s soabrupt and simple. It undoes all of the sympathy and warmth I felt forthe character. She becomes very shallow and manipulative. It’s like thewriter got bored, or was behind on his deadline because the last pageswere very weak, as if gave up and wanted to end the book. I canunderstand why she ended up where she did.how else would she beable to tell her story?

But it’s disappointing because here is a woman with so muchpotential - she's beautiful and intelligent - but she is also trainedto be manipulative, deceitful, and opportunistic. It seems to condonethat the end justifies the means. The ultimate message of this book is;rely on yourself because everyone else will fail you. Not that this issurprising, based upon the environment and upbringing she experiences.It could be argued that she made the most out of her circumstances. Fora book like this, with an incredible build up where you want to seeeverything wrapped up, there is no adequate ending. I still recommendthe book, but warn against the end - what a letdown.

The metaphors in this book delveinto the meaning of life. My favorites include; ‘I felt as a bird mustfeel when it has flown across the ocean and comes upon a creature thatknows its nest.’ ‘Was life nothing more than a storm that constantlywashed away what had been there only a moment before, and left behindsomething barren and unrecognizable?’ ‘We lead our lives like waterflowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until wesplash into something that forces us to find a new course.’ I wasamazed at times with the writing and the detail of it. At other times, however, I felt the author sacrificed the story for style. In thebeginning the metaphors were well-placed and clever, but as the storywent on I wished that just once, Sayuri could say something withoutcomparing it to leaves or butterflies.

It's a novel that's full of passion, feelings, and sadness which mademe want to keep reading to discover what was going to happen next. Thesetting is what makes this book readable and enjoyable. By usingoriginal Japanese words and detailed descriptions the author draws themost incredible pictures in the readers' mind. I liked that the heroinewas not flawless, it helped me sympathize with her situation. But whatcaptivated me was the subject matter, it's a rare and enlightening lookat a secret culture that's both elusive and seductive. The book closeswith an image Sayuri constructs, describing the choices she has made:

"But now I know that our world is no more permanent than a wave risingon the ocean. Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however, we sufferthem, all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like watery ink onpaper."

Although the ending was a disappointment, the rest of the story morethan made up for it and anyway, what’s wrong with fairy tales?