Memoirs of a Geisha Review ⭐️
Arthur Golden’s ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a beautifully written novel, with an impressive use of imagery and detail. But his lack of full historical context on the geisha profession is noticeable.
'Memoirs of a Geisha' takes place in Kyoto, Japan before, during, and after World War II. Narrated in the first-person, the protagonist Nitta Sayuri, tells her story of becoming one of Japan's most prominent geisha, and her struggles along the way.
The novel is a beautiful tale of one girl’s journey from a poor fisherman’s daughter to one of Japan’s most prominent Geisha. Chiyo’s life living in a poor fishing village makes a drastic transformation when she, along with her older sister, is sold into a geisha house and a brothel, respectively, and Chiyo becomes a geisha apprentice at the Nitta Okiya.
The reader follows her journey as she learns everything about the arts of the geisha, including learning tea ceremonies and how to dance, and discovers the far darker elements of Japanese traditions. Prior to debuting as a geisha, Golden reveals that the highest bidder will win a bidding war for the young girl’s virginity.
Arthur Golden, with the use of beautiful language and vivid imagery, weaves together the world around Chiyo/Sayuri, set between World War II (1929-1945) in Japan and the United States. In a story filled with hardship and sadness, the protagonist, Chiyo/Sayuri, always seems to overcome any obstacle thrown her way and find the light in every situation.
Arthur Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1956. Golden graduated from Baylor School (middle and high school) in 1974 before attending Harvard University. There he received a degree in art history, focusing on Japanese art. In the 1980s, Golden earned a degree in Japanese history from Columbia University. After receiving his master’s, Golden spent a summer at Beijing University and then went to work in Tokyo, where he met a young man whose dad was a well-known businessman and whose mother was a geisha. He later earned a Master in Arts from Boston University.
The stories of this man’s family inspired him to return to the U.S. in the late 80s and begin to work on the first drafts of what would become ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ After six years of writing, in 1997, Arthur Golden would complete his first novel. A complete success, the novel was on the New York Times bestseller list for two years while selling more than four million copies. Arthur Golden currently lives in Brookline, Massachusetts, with his wife and kids.
With such a popular genre as historical fiction, there are quite a few fantastic books similar to the story of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha.’ The idea of creating new perspectives or realities for historical events or periods has captivated readers for a long time. The following list of novels relates to the journey and struggle of the protagonist Sayuri and the portrayal of the negatives of a particular cultural heritage.
An obvious and slightly controversial novel related to ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ would be Mineko Iwasaki’s ‘Geisha, a Life.’ Arthur Golden interviewed Mineko Iwasaki for research purposes before writing the novel, and Mineko believed everything was said in confidence. She believed he exaggerated the profession of a geisha, comparing it closer to prostitution. She later sued Arthur Golden and wrote her memoirs, ‘Geisha, a Life.’
Other books with similar, strong female protagonists spanning different time periods include; Diana Gabaldon’s, ‘Outlander,’ which follows protagonist Claire Randall in a magical retelling of the past. Colson Whiteheads, ‘The Underground Railroad,’ a rewrite of the atrocities black people endured in America before the Civil War. Last on the list is Philippa Gregory’s ‘The Constant Princess.’ The similarities between Catherine of Aragon and Sayuri’s journeys are very much the same.
The lasting impact of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is marred with criticism. Right after the novel was published in 1997, Mineko Iwasaki sued Arthur Golden for a violation of confidentiality. Mineko Iwasaki was one of the most famous geisha during the 60s and 70s, and during Golden’s research for the novel, he had many recorded conversations with Mineko about the geisha community. In the end, Golden pledged to provide accurate information and maintain her anonymity. He fails to do the latter when he writes on the acknowledgment page, “In the course of my extensive research, I am indebted to one individual above all others. Mineko Iwasaki, one of Gion’s top geisha…” (p. 433). Mineko Iwasaki contested he had no right to put her name in the book, and Golden’s publisher eventually settled out of court with her.
Arthur Golden’s ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a beautifully written novel, with an impressive use of imagery and detail. But his lack of full historical context on the geisha profession is noticeable.
‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a memorable novel that takes place in Japan around World War II. It features historically important locations and delves into geisha traditions.
Three of the most prominent themes of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ are self-identity, tradition/customs, and free will. Sayuri’s desire for free will and self-identity clashed with the traditions and customs of Japan in the early twentieth century.
There are many major and minor characters in Arthur Golden’s ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’, such as Sayuri, Mother, the Chairman, and many more that tie this novel together.
There is a similarity and connection between the main themes when analyzing Arthur Golden’s novel ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’, all about self-understanding.
‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ by Arthur Golden details the life of Sayuri. Once a daughter to a poor fisherman, Sayuri blossoms into one of Japan’s most distinguished geisha.