Ciao - for people with opinions

Latest reviews Latest questions
Write a review Latest videos
Special offers
Home > Books > Fiction > Historical Fiction Books > M Historical Fiction Books > Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

User Reviews

for Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

Rating Summary based on 51 reviews

  • 5 Stars
    		42
  • 4 Stars
    		8
  • 3 Stars
    		1
  • 2 Stars
    		0
  • 1 Star
    		0

Detailed rating

  • Characters
  • How does it compare to other works by the same author?
  • How does it compare to similar books?
  • Readability
  • Story
  		• 4.7
  		• 1.1
  		• 2.2
  		• 4.8
  		• 4.8

Review attribute filters

Previous page Next page Page 1 of 6 | 1 to 10 out of 51 Review(s)
  • 130 of 130 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of watkins11

    Level 7 watkins11

    Member since 27/10/2005

    Reviews written: 103

    5 Stars Japanese butterfly 09/10/2008
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages hard to put down, easy to read

    Disadvantages Disadvantages hard to put down!

    I'm sure many of you will have heard of the book, Memoirs of a Geisha, just as I have. I've never really had much of an interest in the book, probably because my usual novel of choice would be crime fiction and also due to my lack of understanding of the Geisha and Japanese culture. However, I found a slightly tatty copy of this book in a local book sale for 25p and decided to broaden my horizons! The story begins in 1929 during the great depression. Yoroido, a small peasant fishing village, is home to Chiyo, her elder sister Satsu and her mother and father. From a young age, Chiyo seems so ... more
  • 46 of 46 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of kitty17

    kitty17

    5 Stars An Evocative and Enthralling Tale of Geisha 19/03/2005
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Wondeful and engaging tale

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Thought the end was a bit rushed

    I purchased this book on a whim and it has sat in my bookcase for quite some time, I finally came around to reading it because I was having a spring clean and thought 'well, why not' I think maybe the whim why I purchased it is because it has a lovely cover, I am referring to the paperback version of the book, and on the cover is the painted red lips of a Geisha girl in full white make-up, I found the image quite transfixing and nicely erotic too. I was very surprised by this novel because there it had sat on my bookcase for so long without my even looking at it, and when reading it, once I ... more
  • 44 of 44 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of maz2909

    maz2909

    5 Stars The secrets of a geisha's life revealed 09/02/2006
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Wonderfully written, interesting and mystical subject matter

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Ending felt a bit rushed

    Memoirs of a Geisha has recently been released at the cinema and reminded me of a book I had never quite got round to reading yet. I went out and purchased the book with every intention of reading it before seeing the film, however things didn't quite go to plan. My mother came to visit and we wanted to go to the cinema and this was the only film we could agree on so we went, the book still sitting unread on the bookshelf. I really enjoyed the film and after mum told me the book was better couldn't wait to read it. The paperback copy I have was only purchased at Christmas after the release of ... more
  • 13 of 13 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of beckmeh

    beckmeh

    5 Stars Transported to a lost world! 28/07/2008
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages The portrayal of an extraordinary world, and amazing, evocative writing.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages Unsure about the ending, but very fitting to the novel.

    A few days before I was due to fly to the Maldives, for a week of reading and relaxation, I stumbled across this book in a charity shop. For the ludicrously low price of £1 and the shop assistants pleas that I really ought to read the book before even considering watching the film, I felt that I should give it a go. So I bought it, and made it my priority to read it whilst I was away. Prior to this, you realise, I had had absolutely no knowledge of either Japanese culture or Japan during the long period in which it is set, so I opened the book knowing nothing and full of curiosity. The book ... more
  • 80 of 80 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of helenmayclark

    helenmayclark

    5 Stars An enchanting story following the life of a Geisha Review with images 22/06/2005
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages beautifully descriptive story about an ancient tradition

    Disadvantages Disadvantages none

    'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden is an enchanting story which follows the life of a beautiful, young Japanese girl named Chiyo in her quest to become a geisha. The story begins in 1929 in Chiyo's birth town of Yoroido, a small fishing village on the Sea of Japan. Chiyo lives here until the age of nine, with her mother, father and sister Satsu in a little 'tipsy house' on the cliffs. Everything is normal is Chiyo's life, until one day she and her sister are bought by Mr Tanaka and taken by train to Kyoto. Once in Kyoto, Chiyo is sold to a renowned geisha house in Gion and is separated ... more
  • 91 of 91 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of thingywhatsit

    thingywhatsit

    5 Stars A BUTTERFLY WITH CLIPPED WINGS. 08/02/2007
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages A great insight into another world.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages None, overall good appeal for all readers.

    I had never read Arthur Golden before, although I was tempted to read this book through recommendation. Thus I had no pre-conceptions of the writing style of the author. Neither had I seen the film, and although I bought the film, was glad that I decided to read the book first, since the film pales in comparison. The story tells of Chiyo, a young girl (aged 8), living in the fishing village of Yoroido in 1929, with her mother, father and sister, Satsu, and the road which takes her from the simple life she is leading to being a successful Geisha. From the moment I started to read the book, I ... more
  • 68 of 68 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of emmorticia

    emmorticia

    5 Stars Sayuri's story 09/05/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages fascinating story; a glimpse into another world

    Disadvantages Disadvantages I read it far too quickly!

    "Memoirs of a Geisha" is set in Japan, beginning in 1929 and spanning a quarter of a century. It tells the story of a young girl named Chiyo-Chan, who lives in the small fishing village of Yoroido - a happy life with her father, mother and elder sister. However, Chiyo's mother becomes very ill indeed, and her father cannot cope with the upbringing of the two children on his own, so they are sent away - both believing that they are to be adopted by the nice Mr. Tanaka. However, all is not what it seems: the girls are driven to Kyoto where they are separated and each taken to a different "okiya" ... more
  • 57 of 57 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of emmaclaire

    emmaclaire

    5 Stars The Ultimate Social Butterfly 05/07/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages beautiful story and language

    Disadvantages Disadvantages none

    As the final week of my first year at uni was drawing to an end, during a shopping trip to Newcastle with my boyfriend I decided to treat myself to some new books to keep my mind occupied when I was at home. For me, Waterstone’s is an Aladdin’s cave and the books are its jewels. With the offer of 3 for 2 on ‘Summer reads’ amongst others, I couldn’t resist. I bought ‘1984’ by George Orwell, ‘The Rice Mother’ by Rani Manicka and this, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ by Arthur Golden. The RRP of the book is £6.99 and the ISBN no. is 0-09-977151-9. So, now that you know where to find it, why would you want ... more
  • 57 of 57 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of michaird

    michaird

    5 Stars Another time, another place 12/12/2002
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages Beautifully written, Realistic, Both a simple and rich story.

    Disadvantages Disadvantages None

    I’ve not been very well today. I’ve not been well for a while, but shrugged it of with thoughts of more important things that needed doing and struggled along with my head feeling as thought it was filled with water. Yesterday however, the important things were all done, after dragging my poor body out of bed early enough to ring work and tell them in my best croaky ‘I’m not very well’ voice I slumped back into dream land for a few hours of much needed sleep. Around midday I finally rose and after a good wash, a couple of slices of toast and a quick pootle on the computer I found myself ... more
  • 48 of 48 Ciao users found the following review helpful
    Picture of sandrabarber

    sandrabarber

    5 Stars Memoirs of a Fascinating Life 28/07/2003
    User recommends the product

    Advantages Advantages beautifully written, emotive, educational

    Disadvantages Disadvantages that trick

    ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ by Arthur Golden was one of the most talked-about books of the 1990s. It sat at the top of the bestseller lists on both sides of the Atlantic for an age. You couldn’t get on a bus, train or tube without seeing someone lost in its pages. I got around to reading it myself a couple of weeks ago, finally finding out for myself just what all the fuss was about. The Plot Chiyo, a beautiful Japanese child, lives with her sister, Satsu, her ageing father and her dying mother in a tiny fishing village. When her mother reaches critical stage, Chiyo and Satsu are sold and taken to ... more
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 6 | 1 to 10 out of 51 Review(s)

Compare prices

for Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Compare all 13 prices