Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, this is the one book I read recently. Now a major motion picture having 3 Oscars to it’s credit, the book tells the story of a blue-grey eyed simpleton from a small fishing village in Japan, who in turn transcends to become one of Japan's most celebrated geishas.

The word "geisha" does not mean "prostitute," as people ignorantly assume--it means "artisan" or "artist." It takes these all… master the arts of music, dance, witty conversation, crafty battle with rival beauties, and cunning seduction of wealthy patrons, to become a successful geisha.

Narrates her eventful life story from her small yet exquisite suite in Waldorf Towers, New York, is this middle aged Japanese lady. Once a famous geisha in Japan, now managing her own teahouse in New York, life had never been easy for Nitta Sayuri. The story starts with hardships of the small girl Chiyo, belonging to a fisherman family in a small village Yoroido in Japan. Eventually she is sold along with her sister into slavery by their father after their mother's death, pertaining to a betrayal she would never forget. Sayuri tells of her traumatic arrival at the Nitta okiya (a geisha house), where she endures harsh treatment from Granny and Mother, the greedy owners, and from Hatsumomo, the sadistically cruel head geisha. But one day she gets to meet the Chairman, whose kindness and concern for this ordinary girl gives a purpose in her life and that very moment she is determined to become a geisha. Under the patronage the famous Mameha, Sayuri becomes a famous geisha of Japan in 1930s and 1940s.

It’s a splendid piece of work by Arthur Golden considering it’s his first piece of work. The first half of book is quite captivating, where as second half is a bit dull and flat. But this professor of Japanese history in New York University has definitely put lots of effort to provide the reader a vivid picture of Japan in 1930’s. The books gives pictorial view of Japanese culture, and a faint hint about Japanese business, politics and effect of war (World War-II) on the country.Over all I would say this book is full of life, beauty, music, art, love and of course jealousy, hatred and betrayal.A must read.:-)