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Memoirs of a Geisha

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by Arthur Golden

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Answered Questions (55)

Didnt knew Geishas still existed in the 20th century :o, until when was it made illegal?
Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) "Geisha" and "prostitute" are not the same thing. There are still geisha who are what the original word means: artists. "Gei" means "art." They specia…more"Geisha" and "prostitute" are not the same thing. There are still geisha who are what the original word means: artists. "Gei" means "art." They specialise in one of the performing arts: music, traditional dancing, reciting poetry or singing, etc. A real geisha's job is to act as a hostess in the true sense of the word, by providing conversation, serving food and drink etc at formal dinners, or accompanying a guest to observe the beauties of nature such as cherry blossoms, autumn colours etc--often with a picnic included, at which the geisha will serve the food or treats. They are paid for this service, but sex is not a given part of the service offered. There are indeed prostitutes in Japan, as there are in every other country in the world (except maybe Antarctica), but the terms are not interchangeable.(less)
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نفسي اقرا الرواية دى .. شفت الفيلم وعجبنى بس حاسس ان الرواية هتبقى حاجة تانية خالص
withcmd13 صراحة ، انا كنت بدي اقرأ الرواية عشان الفلم ، بس الكتاب طلع فعلا 'حاجة تأنيه خالص' . الفلم كثييييييييير مقطع الكتاب وحاذف مقاطع كاملة احيانا ، مع انه …moreصراحة ، انا كنت بدي اقرأ الرواية عشان الفلم ، بس الكتاب طلع فعلا 'حاجة تأنيه خالص' . الفلم كثييييييييير مقطع الكتاب وحاذف مقاطع كاملة احيانا ، مع انه محافظ على الشعور العام الا انه لم يوفه حقه . الكتاب اجمل بكثير والأحداث مفسرة بشكل اكبر ، مثلا قصة ماميها مفسرة بشكل اكبر وأجمل في الكتاب مع البارون (الفلم تقريبا حاذفها) دروس سايوري في المدرسة ، علاقتها مع الناس اللي ساكنين جيون ، علاقتها مع الام والعمة وبامبكين كلها اجمل في الكتاب . مع انه الرواية من أطول الكتب اللي قرأتها بس ممتعة جداً وحسب رأيي ، مع انه الفلم جميل ، الكتاب اجمل :)

ملاحظة: انا قرأت الكتاب بالانجليزية ، ما بعرف عن الترجمة العربية بس بقترح (اذا قررت تقرأ الرواية) تقرأها باللغة الأصلية (الانجليزية) احسن ، لانه الكاتب لغته جميلة جدا ، اعتقد انه رح تضيع اذا أترجمت . (less)
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How do the Japanese assess this novel? Do they feel that this fictional memoir is an accurate reflection of Japanese life in Kyoto in the 30's and 40's although it is written by a Westerner (and a man, no less!)?
Millie Muroi I don't think I have too much of a basis to answer your question but I can try giving my opinion nonetheless :)

Strictly speaking, I'd come under bein…moreI don't think I have too much of a basis to answer your question but I can try giving my opinion nonetheless :)

Strictly speaking, I'd come under being "Japanese" but having grown up in Australia, I wouldn't be so sure as to where my fundamental values, beliefs, and attitudes align with, nor how they might affect my understanding of Japanese history and culture.
I can only comment with regards to the "feel" of this book. Arthur Golden for the most part made me feel as though this was a plausible story, and had I not known that the author was a man - and "a Westerner" as such, I doubt that I would have questioned it's validity or basis at all. There's sort of an indescribable feeling and way of thinking (which I think must have something to do with the culture) that I experience whenever I'm in Japan and Golden quite beautifully and poignantly captures this in Memoirs of a Geisha.

My reservations lie in the fact that I have a less than perfect knowledge and experience with Japanese history, and much less so with Japanese life in Kyoto in the 30's and 40's. I'm in the process of convincing my mum and grandma to read the book so that they may be able to give me a bit more insight into that - so I will let you know if I find out their perspectives.

Several of the events and scenes described seem to be romanticised to some degree, but the way I see the book is purely as an art form and not so much as a basis for historical knowledge. It was engaging, conveyed universal emotions of suffering/life, and was quite beautiful.

So to answer your question in short, I feel that Memoirs of a Geisha taken purely as a literary art form is beautiful and well-written. I have seen several criticisms in regards to its degree of accuracy in reflecting Japanese life in Kyoto during the 30's and 40's but wouldn't be able to comment too much on that from a strictly historical perspective. Golden however, does have an impressive capacity for empathy in writing of a woman's experience and hits home with many of the emotions he conveys.

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Where to download pdf or audible books?
Cathleen I found the audiobook available on YouTube.
…moreI found the audiobook available on YouTube.
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Rebecca What they are selling is her "first time" in a very simple sense, and even though the presence of a hymen or lack of a hymen has absolutely nothing to…moreWhat they are selling is her "first time" in a very simple sense, and even though the presence of a hymen or lack of a hymen has absolutely nothing to do with virginity, it was believed it dictated virginity status or not back then. She could have had sex already of her own accord or had been through this process already so they were "checking" she hadn't. Flawed but is what it is. (less)
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