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Memoirs of a Geisha
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel tells with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of Japan's most celebrated geisha.Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fictionat once romantic, erotic, suspensefuland completely unforgettable.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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RedCurly
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

Finally, I read this book too. I have seen the movie multiple times so there was no surprise is the novel. I really like this story but somehow I never liked the relationship between Sajuri and the president.

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KateReadsYA
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.

TheBookHippie Happy Holidays 🎄🧑🏻‍🎄♥️ 12mo
AmyG Merry Christmas 🎄 12mo
Leftcoastzen Merry Christmas 🎄 12mo
51 likes3 comments
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Gingerbikerchick
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ yes that‘s a 6/5. I could not put this novel down. What a captivating story and eloquently written. I could nearly smell the air, envision the colors and scenes and feel the emotions throughout. The writing contained so many poetic figures of speech, I was stunned at the artistic way the author portrayed the story and brought it to life.

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ChelseaM6010
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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#SummerSpecial
Day 27. Lips/ lipstick
#Lips&Lipstick
The novel tells the story of a fictional geisha working in Japan before and after WW2.

Eggs 💕👄🤗 1y
20 likes1 comment
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SanjanaGhosh
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

This book had been on my TBR for more time than I would have cared to admit!

It has made me clear all my misconceptions of geisha in general....this is definitely not a light read but I'm glad to have finally read it.

SarahBookInterrupted Excellent book…I read it long ago but it was one that stayed with me. 2y
SanjanaGhosh @SarahBookInterrupted I think it will stay with me for a long time too....I keep correcting myself that it's not an actual memoir! 2y
SarahBookInterrupted @SanjanaGhosh I forgot it was a fiction too. I know there is a movie. I haven‘t seen it but I‘m wonder if it does the book justice? Maybe I‘ll see if I can track it down. 2y
SanjanaGhosh @SarahBookInterrupted Just watched it yesterday and the movie left out so many characters altogether...no mention of the General who was Sayuri's danna...did not show Mr. Tanaka nor any part of her childhood...did not show the kimono maker and that whole ordeal during the war..like they just glided over it...it was quite disappointing. 2y
SarahBookInterrupted @SanjanaGhosh I hate when movies do that. When they leave out too much and it changes the whole experience of the book. Thanks for letting me know! 2y
26 likes5 comments
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Beccaf
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
Pickpick

Absolutely brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed.

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Adele23
Memorie di una geisha | Arthur Golden
Pickpick

Libro bellissimo.

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BriannaT
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

I was so surprised by how easily I was sucked into the world of this book! I didn‘t think I‘d like it as much as I did, but it had a dramatic plot and a good number twists. One big disclaimer though - keep in mind it‘s written by a white guy and his portrayal of Geishas and their lives was highly contested/disliked in Japan. A great read, but actually look up any information if you want to know the truth.

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JenReadsAlot
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf 📚📚📚 2y
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Mdonald
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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I got behind!!

#Lipstickday
#JulyJam

❤️ 💄 🖤

Eggs Great choice 💋💄👄 2y
56 likes1 comment
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104_goodbuddyy
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
Pickpick

It was very interesting to be able to read a story about Japanese culture and feel like you're watching it instead. The way the author wrote the story made it seem like Sayuri was telling her story to me. It was beautifully written and I enjoyed every page.

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jenniferw88
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Andrew65 Great choice. 3y
annahenke Classic 3y
marleed Loved this book! 3y
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wanderinglynn
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Today, I arrived on mainland Japan for a mini vacation in Kyoto. If you saw the movie adaptation of the tagged, then these are the Torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine that young Chiyo runs through.

Friday I plan on going to the Gion section of Kyoto, which is where a lot of the book is based and is one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.

tpixie Beautiful!!! ♥️♦️🟥 Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your time and your ‘ book tour‘ (edited) 3y
Chrissyreadit 😍I‘m excited to see your adventure! 3y
alisiakae I love Kyoto! Are you going to visit the Nijō Castle? Hope you have a great frip! 3y
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Lindy Thanks for posting this so I can travel vicariously. I loved everything about my time in Kyoto. Enjoy! 3y
TheSpineView Beautiful! Enjoy your holiday! 3y
Allkat Would love to see any part of Japan some day! Enjoy 3y
marleed Oh so cool! I‘m anxiously awaiting traveling vicariously through you. I loved this book. I let myself keep my 5 star reads so it will always be on my shelves! 3y
LeahBergen Oh, lucky you! 3y
Leftcoastzen Wow! 3y
wanderinglynn @Chrissyreadit I‘m posting more photos on IG & I‘ll write it all up on my blog next week. (edited) 3y
wanderinglynn @4thhouseontheleft yes, that‘s on the agenda for today. 👍🏻 3y
Trashcanman So pretty 😍 3y
Ddzmini Beautiful 😍 3y
tpixie ♥️♥️♥️ 3y
115 likes16 comments
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Denzel.Que
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
Pickpick

It was such a treat reading this. All charachters were very well written!

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Noveldrama
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

Great😍 book! I had to keep reminding myself it's fictional and not actually a memoir.The writing is beautiful and descriptive, driven by richly written characters.I was pulled into sayuri story and couldn't wait to find out how her life turned out. Atlast this book is about survival and entanglements with a beautiful love story.💕Got to know about a whole new culture.

marleed That whole back of the neck thing. And the tiny bun with a part in the center - I can never not see this! 3y
10 likes1 comment
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SilversReviews
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Thanks to these Litsy folks for today‘s prompt:

#JULYJOURNEYS
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

Today‘s Prompt: JAPAN

Have YOU read this book?

Eggs No... 🇯🇵💙👄 3y
PaperbackPirate Yes, I loved it so much! 💙 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻📚❤️ 3y
42 likes4 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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#Japan
#JulyJourneys

I hope someday to visit the amazing @wanderinglynn in Japan 🌞😊❤️

SilversReviews I‘m using MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA too. 😀 3y
wanderinglynn 🇯🇵🏯 I hope so too! 3y
Eggs ❤️🌞🇯🇵 3y
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dragondrool I loved this book. I also think the movie was well done, and the movie soundtrack is one of the finest soundtracks I've ever heard. I like playing it in the background while I'm futzing around on things. 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @dragondrool awesome!! Thank you for sharing ❤️ 3y
78 likes6 comments
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Carolhreads
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Absolutely amazing , beautiful and sad !!! I love this book!!!! Don‘t put off reading it like I did it‘s so good !!!!!

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TheSpineView
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love this cover!! 3y
Eggs Beautiful 🥰 3y
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jenniferw88
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick
marleed I read this just in the last year. 5* for me too! The part about displaying necks and that tiny parted bun at the top of the neck :o) 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Librarybelle I really enjoyed this one! 3y
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jenniferw88
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

Tagged my current read on my Kindle.

My favourite thing is the ability to highlight quotes and transfer them to computer via USB - this feature saved me a lot of time at Uni whilst writing my essays as I'd just highlight the quotes I wanted, transfer onto my computer, then copy and paste the quote into the essay when I needed it!

Tagging @AbigailJaneBlog @Cupcake12 and, um, let's see, @julesG ?! 😂😂😂

TheSpineView That's a great use of an ereader. Thanks for playing! 4y
julesG 🤣🤣 Thanks for the tag. 4y
Cupcake12 Thank you for the tag x 4y
55 likes3 comments
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BoleyBooks
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Tackle the TBR 🤓📚 #boleybooks #MemoirsOfAGeisha #arthurgolden #bookbeast #bookjoy #Litsy #readwithme
What are you reading? 😊

EagleReader Watched the movie, need to read the book 4y
BoleyBooks @EagleReader yes, I recommend both! 😊 4y
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Blackink_WhitePaper
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Pickpick

It‘s a splendid story narrated beautifully in the POV of a young girl. Got to learn many things about a different culture. At some point I felt it is too lengthy and the story is never ending. It was between so-so and pick for me. 3🌟

#bookspinbingo #readingwithmaja #april #wrapup #bestseller

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
maich Great job👏👏 April challenge is done. I loved this one. 4y
37 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Come-read-with-me
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

A beautiful book driven by richly written characters. It is so easy to get lost in these pages as Chiyo beguiles the reader as she was trained to beguile rich and powerful men. It always amazes me that a male writer could write so compelling from the perspective of a young woman and capture her inner voice so accurately. A beautiful read - thank goodness for spring break and having the time to reread this treasure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

EvieBee It took me so long to read this and when I finally did I was so glad! It‘s such a beautiful and heartbreaking story! Great review. 4y
Come-read-with-me @EvieBee It is long, but as you said worth every page! 4y
Amor4Libros One of my favorite books! 4y
Crazeedi I totally enjoyed this years ago 4y
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Carolhreads
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Starting

emmaturi Read it many years ago, think I should re-read it now! 4y
Carolhreads @emmaturi I have heard so many great things about this book. :) 4y
13 likes2 comments
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LadyBird
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

I devoured this novel, and yet, I am so conflicted in my review of it after doing research over the author and his handling of information. Yes, this is a book of fiction - and it is beautifully written - however, I believe there are sections that are misleading to true Japanese culture. I would absolutely recommend this book, but readers need to understand that it is fictional - which is confusing due to his sources being geishas themselves.

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SabGinesi
Pickpick

5/5 - the story was amazing! Beautiful writing.

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SabGinesi
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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I am loving this book so far - I‘ve read half of it already!! It‘s amazing!!!

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SabGinesi
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Just started this today - loving it so far!

Crazeedi I read this years ago, it was very good. And welcome to litsy!🎉 ask questions if you need help, also @LitsyHappenings and @LitsyWelcomeWagon 4y
SabGinesi @Crazeedi Thank you so much! I can‘t wait to finish it 📚 4y
Chrissyreadit Welcome to Litsy! Here is a link with helpful information: https://sites.google.com/view/litsywelcomewagon/home 4y
20 likes3 comments
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Tianarose
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Current read : Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

AmyG I loved this book. Wonderful. Enjoy! 4y
Tianarose @AmyG it truly is, I can‘t seem to put it down. 4y
Nute A favorite book of mine! 4y
51 likes3 comments
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BooksNBowls
Pickpick

Incredibly written coming-of-age story that has stayed with me for many years since I first read it. It‘s extremely descriptive, which is a plus in most ways, yet slowed the story down quite a bit. It‘s a fantastic book and movie, highly recommend.

“We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.”

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BarkingMadRead
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Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Another book and it was a good one! Way to go! 4y
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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

I know I'm very late to the party with this one, but I loved this book. It is beautifully written, and the story is one that just had to be told. 5 stars for me

JenReadsAlot One of my favorites! 4y
Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira A long time favorite 🤩 I had a major a story/mc mourning period after that one. It was 20 years ago 😅 (edited) 4y
marleed I only read a couple of months ago, too. I agree with you. There were some Lolita feels that I hadn‘t anticipated and I‘m still thinking about exposed necks and gently parted hair buns - yikes! 4y
See All 6 Comments
Yoricke_SouthAfrica @marleed I have exactly the same. Some images and scenes are sticking with me. Red, red lips! 4y
Yoricke_SouthAfrica @Josee.a.lu.lit.et.lira It is such a well written story, I don't think I'll forget it soon. A difficult book to "get over". 4y
Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira @marleed OMG! I remember the hair buns now 😄 4y
46 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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Next up for #crushtherush and #bookspinbingo for the #popsugarreadingchallenge it‘s my book that takes place in Japan.

Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira I read that over 20 years ago, still a favorite ❣️I hope you enjoy it 😉 4y
43 likes1 comment
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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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After putting this book on hold, because a library book became available, I'm not finally into this book. It's taken me far too long to get here.

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calciumkels
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
Pickpick

FINALLY finished this beautifully written fictional piece which I‘ve been (embarrassingly) working on since the summer. COVID School sure has been exhausting!

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TheSpineView
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty ❤️ 4y
OriginalCyn620 I really liked this one! 4y
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TheSpineView @OriginalCyn620 This is another that own but have not read! 😋 4y
mommyincolortv Still haven't read the book but I LOVED the movie! 4y
TheSpineView @mommyincolor Totally agree! The movie was fabulous! ❤📽 4y
mommyincolortv @TheSpineView I have a girl crush on the actress who played Sayuri. She was also in Rush Hour 2,which I loved her in as well. 4y
TheSpineView @mommyincolor It has been a while since I saw the movie and I can't picture the actress. Now I'll have to go looked her up. Kind of like the song you can't remember it keeps nagging at you! 😋 4y
mommyincolortv @TheSpineView That is the actress on the cover of the book, Zhang Ziyi 4y
67 likes10 comments
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MicrobeMom
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
Today is day 6. #bookstoread #TBRpile

Alfoster I met him at a book signing once and he told us of a guy who thought the title was Memoirs of a Gay Chef. We were rolling!😂😂😂 4y
MicrobeMom @Alfoster 😂😂😂. I love this story! 4y
Alfoster He was very charming and so nice!❤️ 4y
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ximena.vasquez
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

1/3 Although I am not quite done with the novel however, I can already say it is an amazing book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes drama and suspense. We follow Chiyo, a poor fisherman‘s daughter, who was sold along with her sister after her poor mother's passing. Chiyo being sold into a geisha house and her sister...into prostitution.

ximena.vasquez 2/3- Chiyo, who has “a great deal of water in your personality” is trained into becoming a geisha however, Chiyo‘s attempt at running away jeopardizes her future and she is stripped of her geisha lessons and is forced to become a maid to pay her debts. This becomes her life for the next few years until Mameha, a renowned geisha catches her attention. From there Chiyo‘s life changes, it was heaven… and hell. 4y
ximena.vasquez 3/3. The reader witnesses all this happen in Chiyo‘s point of view (first person as the author uses I, we, us) . We feel her joys and her pains as she grows from a child into a young woman. This book is wonderful yet terrifying and I highly recommend it. I had to constantly remind myself this is a fictional novel as a result of being so well written.
4y
MissYaremcio Ooo this sounds so good! Well done! 6/6 4y
6 likes3 comments
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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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My next great read 💜

marleed I just read it this month - so fascinating! 4y
42 likes1 stack add1 comment
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JenReadsAlot
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Chab256 Did you watch the I Know This Much Is True TV series? I thought it was good! 4y
BarbaraBB I loved all of them too! 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 📚🙌🏻👍🏻 4y
See All 6 Comments
OriginalCyn620 I haven‘t read the middle book but I loved the other two! 4y
Chelsea.Poole I loved these too! 🤍 4y
JenReadsAlot @Chab256 no I have not! 4y
36 likes6 comments
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marleed
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Of the 9 books in this grid I chose the tagged because the book form of this story sat unread for years. There‘s a thrill I get when I finally read a book from the bottom of my TBR and It turns out to be a powerful, memorable reading experience.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Madelpadel I love Memoirs of a Geisha! It‘s one of my mom‘s favorite books and she gave it to me to read when I was way too young, but even then I loved it. Now I‘m thinking I‘ll have to reread it again! 4y
60 likes1 comment
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marleed
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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Pickpick

I saw this movie 15 years ago and still recall the beauty of the story. But the book! For a full 2/3‘s of the book Chiro is between 12 and 15 - forced into servitude where her beautiful eyes are the difference between being a maid, prostitute, or geisha. She is taught from the age of 12 to beguile men. Somehow the reading is both beautiful and horrifying.

SheReadsAndWrites This book is phenomenal. They did a nice job with the movie but the book (as always) is my favorite. 4y
Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira I read that book in 2000, I had to mourn it for weeks after. It was the same of a few of my book club partners ❣️ I agree that the movie is well done, but the book 💗 4y
Pageturner1 I have seen this movie several years ago and it still stays with me. I need to read the book. 4y
marleed @SheReadsAndWrites @Josee.a.lu.lit.et.lira I was emotionally spent when I finished this - even knowing the basic story! 4y
marleed @Pageturner1 The movie stays with me too! But boy the book hits me in an entire different way! 4y
67 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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sblbooks
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#TryMySnacks #Japan I'm trying a new subscription box of snacks. My plan is to read one of my books off my TBR, to go along with the theme that month. I like this one because they donate proceeds to the ASPCA, and you get a coin from each country. Last month was Japan, so I got one yen. My favorite snack was the little chocolate filled teddy bear cookies.

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Sincerely_areeba
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Pickpick

“This is why dreams can be such dangerous things: they smolder on like a fire does, and sometimes they consume us completely”
//Memoirs of a Geisha~ Arthur Golden.
Memoirs of a Geisha is a remarkable historical fiction set in Kyoto, Japan ; before, during and after the World War II.
It tells the story of a geisha names Sayuri; the development of Chiyo- a young girl to Sayuri- a Geisha.

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peacegypsy
Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden
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I‘ve wanted to read this for years. Today, the journey begins. 😊

keys_on_fire LOVED this book. Hope you do as well! 4y
peacegypsy @keys_on_fire Haven‘t been able to put it down yet! 😊 4y
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Daisey
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Pickpick

Although many aspects of the story are sad as Chiyo is sold away from her family and grows up to become the geisha Sayuri, it is also a beautiful and well told historical fiction story. It focuses on the perspective of the women and their experience, but there are many unique characters. I looked up a few things as I read, but I would like to read more nonfiction sources on some points.

#1001books #Reading1001
#TBRTakedown June 2020

Daisey Many aspects of the Japanese geisha culture of this story set mostly in the years between WWI & WWII were interesting for me to consider in comparison to the much older story of Japanese Heian culture told in 4y
RebelReader I resisted reading this one for a long time and then I caved. Still one of my all time favorites! 4y
71 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Daisey
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I‘ve gotten a slow start with this book, but now almost a third of the way in, I‘m thoroughly enjoying it.

#1001books #Reading1001
#TBRTakedown June 2020

Lesanne I think I need to reread this.... 4y
NikkiM5 Loved this book 4y
Daisey @Lesanne @NikkiM5 Now that I‘ve gotten into the actual training as a geisha it‘s moving along more quickly and is even more interesting. 4y
66 likes3 stack adds3 comments