A younger geisha would have a much harder time getting work if her looks faded like this. If you like memoirs of a geisha you might like similar movies interview with the vampire. Jan 06, 2009 the book and the movie are actually fairly similar usually not the case, however, you have to remember this is a fictional account. Memoirs of a geisha begins with a translators note. The book and the movie are actually fairly similar usually not the case, however, you have to remember this is a fictional account. Books that defined a generation memoirs of a geisha.
And years later, he became her friend in new york city. Cherry blossomdelicate, with images as carefully sculpted as bonsai, this tale of the life of a renowned geisha, one of the last flowers of a kind all but eliminated by ww ii, marks an auspicious, unusual debut. Books similar to memoirs of a geisha penguin readers memoirs of a geisha penguin readers by michael dean. Yes, mineko iwasaki was interviewed by arthur golden when he was working on his bestselling book, but memoirs of a geisha is a work of fiction. Books, stories, and novels like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden. Similarities and differences between movie and book of. Geisha are women trained to entertain men with conversation, dancing, and singing. The translator has the most hardtopronounce name in the whole book. The other people living at the okiya are the young apprentice geisha pumpkin, the greedy and materialistic mother who runs the okiya, and the beautiful but cruel geisha hatsumomo. Memoirs of a geisha was written based on arthur goldens talks with mineko iwasaki, a real geisha. But it also shows that by the time sayuri is a mature geisha in her twenties her reputation is solidifying. What are some recommendations for books that are similar to. Chapter one begins with a bit of an homage to dickens. However, i have yet to find another book that makes me feel quite like this one does.
In memoirs of a geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount. Ive reread moag about four times, and its one of the most immersive novels ive ever experienced. If you like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden central. Part historical novel, part fairy tale and part dickensian romance, memoirs of a geisha immerses the reader in an exotic world, even as it relates the story of one womans coming of age, 4 1 had similar thoughts to these while reading the hook. Arthur golden because her mother is dying and her father old, chiyo, nine, is sold to a wealthy geisha house in gion where she learns her trade and works it in the 1930s and 1940s. Goldens book gave insight into the cloistered world of the geisha, and in 2005, it was adapted into a lush, academy awardwinning filmthough the movie garnered criticism for casting the. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Jan 18, 2015 memoirs of a geisha was released in 1997 and spent two years on the new york times bestseller list. Nov 10, 2006 what are some differences between memoirs of a geisha the book and the movie. Dec 25, 2015 i just want to highlight to you that the book, the movie, and the author are actually very problematic. Its a sweeping, romantic epic with richly drawn, believable characters and a hugely satisyfying narrative arc. Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film based on the novel of the same name by arthur golden, produced by steven spielberg s amblin entertainment and spyglass entertainment and by douglas wick s red wagon entertainment. The memoirs of a geisha community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Forgive me for being too juvenile, but the only piece that comes into my head when i think of a. It was then made into a movie that was released in 2005. Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film. Japan is already changing, becoming industrialized and imperialistic, when in 1929 young chiyos fisherman father sells her to a house in kyotos famous gion district. A westerner named jakob haarhuis includes this note as preface to the main attraction. Memoirs of a geisha has always been among my favourite novels. Directed by rob marshall, the film was released in the united states on december 9, 2005 by columbia pictures and dreamworks pictures. Memoirs of a geisha was the kind of book i wanted to devour in one sitting a novel that charts a fascinating life inside a tough world.
Im not a huge reader mainly because i just couldnt find anything that i liked. Memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries kindle edition. Its not the story or romance that intrigues me, just the worldbuilding, for a lack of a. Memoirs of a geisha is one of my alltime favourite reads and i remain impressed that it was arthur goldens debut book. Memoirs of a geisha is a historical fiction novel by american author arthur golden, published in 1997. Memoirs of a geisha ebook written by arthur golden.
Mineko later sued arthur bc she claimed he had agreed not to expose her name, and also that he had not portrayed geisha truthfully. Ive read the book and own the movie, but all i can remember is the fire scene in the movie is not in the book. In 1997, arthur golden published memoirs of a geisha, a bestselling novel that follows chiyo sakamoto as she navigates the life of a kyoto geisha in the years surrounding world war ii. Clearly golden, a 40something american male, has never lived anything remotely similar to the experiences of a geisha coming of age in the 1930s, the glory days of kyotos gion pleasure district. Is arthur goldens memoirs of a geisha culturally accurate. Her story was very twisted in the way that gold portrayed her, so reading her own autobiography might hopefully. A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel presents with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of japans most celebrated geisha.
Find books like memoirs of a geisha penguin readers from the worlds largest community of readers. If youre looking for an alternative, i think these books come pretty close. A life by mineko iwasaki her first book or about geisha in general written by a anthropologist liza dalby who was a westerner who trained as a geisha. Its a fantastic book in its own right, but many of its depictions of life as a geisha are said to be very inaccurate. He tells us that in 1936, he saw a dance performance in kyoto. Dec 01, 2005 memoirs of a geisha is one of my alltime favourite reads and i remain impressed that it was arthur goldens debut book. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in kyoto, japan, before, during and after world war ii and. Memoirs of a geisha is a book of nuances and vivid metaphor, of memorable characters rendered with humor and pathos. It stars zhang ziyi, ken watanabe, gong li, michelle yeoh, youki kudoh, suzuka ohgo, and samantha futerman.
Looking for a book where the storyline is such that heroes turn out to be villains and villains turn out to be heroes. A celebrated writers irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life. Oct 19, 20 then again, the character is based on real life geisha mineko iwasaki, so i suppose it would be worth while reading her book geisha of gion and studying her perspective. To be sure, fiction has a certain creative license, but iwasaki believes that memoirs of a geisha doesnt merely use her as inspiration. The renowned kato yukia geisha who captured the heart of george morgan, nephew of j. Books like memoirs of a geisha for fans of arthur goldens classic. What are some differences between memoirs of a geisha the. I would greatly appreciate if anyone has any ideas, also the book doesnt need a.
Memoirs of a geisha summary from litcharts the creators. Memoirs of a geisha is a book full of history, romance and life in another culture. Historical romance and women memoirs of a geisha thoughtco. It is 1959 when haruko, a young woman of good family, marries the crown prince of japan, the heir to the chrysanthemum throne. The only work that this book can be compared to cannot be found on the best sellers list, but rather, in the childrens section of the library. Readalikes are one of the many benefits of membership. It is a unique and triumphant work of fictionat once romantic, erotic, suspensefuland completely unforgettable. Count on nobu to point it out in the most callous way. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, emotional, touching and sentimental films with plots about love and romance, culture clash, storytelling, romance, mentor, destiny and catastrophe mostly in drama, romance and history genres. Arthur goldens brilliant debut novel, memoirs of a geisha, is a reminder of just how silly the exhortation write what you know. Click on a title, author name or category to see similar books. Feel free to like the book, but i simply cannot stand it that not many are aware of how bad it is. Since geisha were supposed to keep their trade secrets, she talked to him on condition of anonymity, a promise which he broke by naming her as a sou. Memoirs of a geisha summary from litcharts the creators of.
Thats one of the reasons iwasaki decided to write geisha. Books that perform well based on their reader engagement are published by inkitt in different formats and channels. This spellbinding debut, reminiscent of memoirs of a geisha, depicts, with chilling accuracy, life behind north koreas iron curtain. If you like memoirs of a geisha you might like similar books the time travelers wife, the help, the secret life of bees, the girl who played with fire, water for elephants. Then again, the character is based on real life geisha mineko iwasaki, so i suppose it would be worth while reading her book geisha of gion and studying her perspective. If you like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden, you may like these other historical fiction titles featuring women and that take place in asia. Mineko iwasaki, one of gions top geisha in the 1960s and 1970s, opened her kyoto home to me during may 1992, and corrected my every misconception about the life of a geishaeven though everyone i knew who had lived in kyoto, or who lived there. Its a novel which, once read, will stay with you forever so vivid is the writing and characterisation. If you liked memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden, here are some books like this. I loved this book so much back when i read and couldnt put it down. The life of a famous kyoto geisha from her painful apprenticeship in the early. Buy a cheap copy of memoirs of a geisha book by arthur golden.
Find books like memoirs of a geisha from the worlds largest community of readers. And though the story is rich with detail and a vast knowledge of history, it is the transparent, seductive voice of sayuri that the reader remembers. Most similar movies to memoirs of a geisha the list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Memoirs of a geisha reminds me of all the light we cannot see and the book thief. The translator has the most hard to pronounce name in the whole book.
Here is the quote about sayuris appearance changing during the war. Author mineko iwasaki performs a traditional japanese dance during the presentation of her new book geisha, a life at the beverly hills library. Goodreads members who liked memoirs of a geisha pen. Mineko iwasaki, one of gions top geisha in the 1960s and 1970s, opened her kyoto home to me during may 1992, and corrected my every misconception about the life of a geisha even though everyone i knew who had lived in kyoto, or who lived there still, told me never to expect such candor. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries. To compare memoirs of a geisha to a similar work, i couldnt think of one that i had read recently. The geisha who was the main source for arthur goldens bestselling memoirs of a geisha has hit back at what she claims are slurs on her profession by releasing her own memoirs.
At the okiya, chiyo works as a maid while she trains to be a geisha. Directed by rob marshall, the film was released in the united states on december 9, 2005 by columbia pictures. If you like memoirs of a geisha and want more historical books. If youre looking for characterdriven books like memoirs of a geisha, check out these titles by philippa gregory, lisa see, tracy chevalier and more. A fictional jakob haarhuis, a professor of japanese history at the new york university tells how he met sayuri, a former geisha, and she wants him to write her story. Books similar to memoirs of a geisha memoirs of a geisha. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read memoirs of a geisha. Amazon has a very good section but avoid the books by lesley downer. Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film based on the novel of the same name by arthur golden, produced by steven spielbergs amblin entertainment and spyglass entertainment and by douglas wicks red wagon entertainment. Memoirs of a geisha arthur golden according to arthur goldens absorbing first novel, the word geisha does not mean prostitute, as westerners ignorantly assumeit means artisan or artist. If youre looking for characterdriven books like memoirs of a geisha, check out these titles by philippa gregory, lisa see, tracy chevalier and.
Second, there was a part of himand i didnt know how dominant. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If you like memoirs of a geisha and want more historical books about women in other cultures, here are some recommendations. To see the complete list of this book s readalikes, you need to be a member. It is an elegantly written novel filled with history, romance, beauty and suspense. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in kyoto, japan, before, during and after world war ii and ends with her being relocated to new york city. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to memoirs of a geisha. Memoirs of a geisha arthur golden read online free books. Goodreads members who liked memoirs of a geisha also liked. To see the complete list of this books readalikes, you need to be a member. What are some recommendations for books that are similar. Memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries kindle edition by golden, arthur. Summoning up years of japans most dramatic history, this title conjures up the perfection and the ugliness of life behind ricepaper screens, where young girls learn the arts of geisha dancing and singing, how to wind the kimono, how to walk and pour tea, and how to beguile the most powerful men. She was the reallife geisha that memoirs was based off of.
1033 1034 1346 796 1173 499 843 81 187 329 758 12 724 1422 695 544 376 565 1284 193 1323 386 238 717 51 1178 16 319 1241 42 1183 395 1323 197 980