Title: Memoirs of a Geisha
Author: Arthur Golden
Publisher: Vintage contemporaries ed edition
Paperback: 448 pages
ISBN: 0679781587

When I first heard about this book, I did not care to pick it up to read. Matter a fact, I never expected to read it. I guess I was hesitant to waste my time on a so called “Woman’s Novel”. Im glad my wife asked for “QT” (quality time) and we watched the movie last weekend. The storyline caught my interest, and I decided to read the book despite the “Woman’s Novel” label.

I must admit that I was extremely impressed with it. This work of literature is an instant classic. A true masterpiece. After reading the book, I completely understood why the critics were so hard on the motion picture. They were right on the money when they said that the movie did not do the book much justice. The book was 100 times better than the film. I just felt that the film left out so many important elements that made the book a bestseller.

The story itself was not just captivating, it was inspirational. It portrayed the struggle of a young child, sold into slavery to become one of Japan’s most well respected and revered geishas. I do want you to know that the story was not flawless. I was pretty disappointed with the ending. However, dont let that stop you from reading this book. It still gets a strong 4/5 rating from me. Its worth the time.

Book Synopsis:

Set in a mysterious and exotic world which still casts a potent spell today, the story begins in the years before World War II, when a Japanese child is torn from her penniless family to work as a servant in a geisha house. Despite a treacherous rival who nearly breaks her spirit, the girl blossoms into the legendary geisha Sayuri. Beautiful and accomplished, Sayuri captivates the most powerful men of her day, but is haunted by her secret love for the one man (Ken Watanabe) who is out of her reach.

Offtopic: I need to find time to re-read “The Da Vinci Code”. Movie is coming out soon!! Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon should be interesting.