Paperback: 448 pages Publisher: Vintage; New edition edition (4 Jun 1998)
My Thoughts; Chiyo and her sister Satsu are taken away from their family and sold. Chiyo being the pretty sister is taken in by a geisha house whilst Satsu is forced into prostitution. It's horrific what the two of them go through.
For days Chiyo mourns her family. She is a child who has been ripped apart from the only people she has ever loved. But she quickly comes to realise that if she is to survive, she will have to conform to her surroundings. Hatsumomo, a geisha, instantly takes a dislike to her and makes her life a living hell whilst another apprentice - Pumpkin - quickly becomes her friend.
Yet it's not until The Chairman shows her kindness that she finds a new meaning to life. She sees the two geisha beside him, she notices their sophistication and yearns to be the one by his side. From that day on she works hard, but it's when Mameha knocks on their door - somewhat of a rival of Hatsumomo - does her real journey begin, and does she become Sayuri.
I remember reading this book for the first time and just being blown away. The gorgeous descriptions and writing were just breathtaking to me. I was mesmerized.
There's more to this than one girls journey. It is the life of a geisha which pulls me in. Although I may disagree with some of the things the author depicts in the novel, I can still appreciate those amazing moments for what they are.
There is something beautiful about this book.
Every character has their own story. But do keep in mind, this is not a happy - go book. There is bitterness, anger, hate and pain that consumes its pages. Yet this book does something to me. There is this heap of true love that Sayuri has for someone, yet she dares to love him knowing she can never really have that happy ending. What comes to mind is when Mameha mentions that a geisha does not love. And one can see why after what Sayuri goes through. Some may have not been able to endure all that she does and come out of it half sane, much less braver than ever. And although our protagonist is strong, and happy in her own way - I can't help but think that she deserved better. After all that she has been through, she deserved more of a happy ending.
Yet I fell in love with The Chairman. I was charmed by him as was she, so a part of me can see why she fell for him.
When I think of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - not only do I think of Sayuri, little Chiyo and The Chairman, but I think of those who were wronged. Hatsumomo who despite her cruel ways simply wanted to love. She may have been horrible at times but there was this vulnerability about her that made you want to reach out to her. It's not easy watching anyone become self - destructive and it wasn't any easier in her case either. I felt for her. There is something so sad about her story. I think of Pumpkin. This sweet child who has to grow up too fast like Chiyo. But perhaps her naivety is her downfall just like Nobu. And this is where I become angry at Sayuri, because she had a part to play in both of theirs. Sayuri goes through a lot, and I rooted for her for the majority of the novel, but she was also very selfish and was willing to do anything to get what she wanted - even if it meant hurting those that loved her. And it's this very trait of hers that left me a little torn.
People will have their conflicted thoughts. Some will hate this book and some love it, but regardless of its flaws, I don't think I could bring myself to dislike it even if I tried. It's one of those books that imprinted on my heart a long time ago, I am much too fond of it to think otherwise
For days Chiyo mourns her family. She is a child who has been ripped apart from the only people she has ever loved. But she quickly comes to realise that if she is to survive, she will have to conform to her surroundings. Hatsumomo, a geisha, instantly takes a dislike to her and makes her life a living hell whilst another apprentice - Pumpkin - quickly becomes her friend.
Yet it's not until The Chairman shows her kindness that she finds a new meaning to life. She sees the two geisha beside him, she notices their sophistication and yearns to be the one by his side. From that day on she works hard, but it's when Mameha knocks on their door - somewhat of a rival of Hatsumomo - does her real journey begin, and does she become Sayuri.
I remember reading this book for the first time and just being blown away. The gorgeous descriptions and writing were just breathtaking to me. I was mesmerized.
There's more to this than one girls journey. It is the life of a geisha which pulls me in. Although I may disagree with some of the things the author depicts in the novel, I can still appreciate those amazing moments for what they are.
There is something beautiful about this book.
Every character has their own story. But do keep in mind, this is not a happy - go book. There is bitterness, anger, hate and pain that consumes its pages. Yet this book does something to me. There is this heap of true love that Sayuri has for someone, yet she dares to love him knowing she can never really have that happy ending. What comes to mind is when Mameha mentions that a geisha does not love. And one can see why after what Sayuri goes through. Some may have not been able to endure all that she does and come out of it half sane, much less braver than ever. And although our protagonist is strong, and happy in her own way - I can't help but think that she deserved better. After all that she has been through, she deserved more of a happy ending.
Yet I fell in love with The Chairman. I was charmed by him as was she, so a part of me can see why she fell for him.
When I think of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - not only do I think of Sayuri, little Chiyo and The Chairman, but I think of those who were wronged. Hatsumomo who despite her cruel ways simply wanted to love. She may have been horrible at times but there was this vulnerability about her that made you want to reach out to her. It's not easy watching anyone become self - destructive and it wasn't any easier in her case either. I felt for her. There is something so sad about her story. I think of Pumpkin. This sweet child who has to grow up too fast like Chiyo. But perhaps her naivety is her downfall just like Nobu. And this is where I become angry at Sayuri, because she had a part to play in both of theirs. Sayuri goes through a lot, and I rooted for her for the majority of the novel, but she was also very selfish and was willing to do anything to get what she wanted - even if it meant hurting those that loved her. And it's this very trait of hers that left me a little torn.
People will have their conflicted thoughts. Some will hate this book and some love it, but regardless of its flaws, I don't think I could bring myself to dislike it even if I tried. It's one of those books that imprinted on my heart a long time ago, I am much too fond of it to think otherwise
We don't become geisha because we want our lives to be happy; we become geisha because we have no choice."
"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. "
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