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franwyyazg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
cosymilko's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I'd been expecting every time I'd read the blurb and put it back. It was more.
The story of how Chiyo, the fisherman's daughter became Sayuri, the great geisha is rich and filled with feeling. I didn't expect the voice of the book to draw me in the way it did. There are many metaphors throughout the book and I thought I'd be tired of reading them but really I understood Chiyo/Sayuri that much better.
I felt heartache when she was taken from her home; fear when Hatsumomo tormented her again and again; betrayal when she wasn't to be a geisha; every emotional upheaval she felt, I felt.
I enjoyed this book so much I've lost many hours of sleep reading into the night. I needed to find out what would happen between Sayuri, the Chairman, and Nobu.
I loved how detailed the book was regarding the training an day to day life of a geisha. I can understand how for some it would be boring but it is somewhat lost to Japan and so foreign to me that I drank it in. I have huge urges to try several drinks and foods and even to style my hair that way but we'll see.
I'm richer for having read this. I read it when I needed to. And while this is somewhat superficial regarding historical aspects and the nuances of Japanese culture as a whole it is still a peek at something we don't see.
The story of how Chiyo, the fisherman's daughter became Sayuri, the great geisha is rich and filled with feeling. I didn't expect the voice of the book to draw me in the way it did. There are many metaphors throughout the book and I thought I'd be tired of reading them but really I understood Chiyo/Sayuri that much better.
I felt heartache when she was taken from her home; fear when Hatsumomo tormented her again and again; betrayal when she wasn't to be a geisha; every emotional upheaval she felt, I felt.
I enjoyed this book so much I've lost many hours of sleep reading into the night. I needed to find out what would happen between Sayuri, the Chairman, and Nobu.
I loved how detailed the book was regarding the training an day to day life of a geisha. I can understand how for some it would be boring but it is somewhat lost to Japan and so foreign to me that I drank it in. I have huge urges to try several drinks and foods and even to style my hair that way but we'll see.
I'm richer for having read this. I read it when I needed to. And while this is somewhat superficial regarding historical aspects and the nuances of Japanese culture as a whole it is still a peek at something we don't see.
sentetia's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I loved the first 2/3 of the book.
The ending was just forced and too cheesy in my opinion.
I loved the first 2/3 of the book.
The ending was just forced and too cheesy in my opinion.
tash1531718's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
narcissa_bagman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
readersjournal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
mimimilaa's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure how to rate this because once I was in the story (~100 pages), I couldn’t put it down but there are a few things that weird me out.
1. it’s written by a white dude
2. big Nobu fan
3. this reminds of the current meme of “when we were young” and it’s two pics of a couple’s current age and when they first met (she was 9 and he was 45 hello?????)
1. it’s written by a white dude
2. big Nobu fan
3. this reminds of the current meme of “when we were young” and it’s two pics of a couple’s current age and when they first met (she was 9 and he was 45 hello?????)
jull1980's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
runningdobe's review against another edition
4.0
Feelings of Ambivalence
There is much I liked about the book; there are a few things I did not. Generally, I loved the story: Sayuri overcomes the despair and fear of having been sold by her dad and sent away to a foreign city to live with a greedy, opportunistic family. One main theme is about destiny and the choices that we make or are made for us, and how these choices come together and ultimately determine one's fate. Sayuri took the circumstances of her life and ultimately lived a life better than she could have imagined when she was an adolescent. I would not refer to the novel as 'feel-good;' nevertheless, I always enjoy a nice redemption story.
At times, I found the writing tedious. There were details that I found to be mundane and superfluous. Meanwhile, I felt a little more time could have been spent describing the depression and its impact on the people of Japan.
There is much I liked about the book; there are a few things I did not. Generally, I loved the story: Sayuri overcomes the despair and fear of having been sold by her dad and sent away to a foreign city to live with a greedy, opportunistic family. One main theme is about destiny and the choices that we make or are made for us, and how these choices come together and ultimately determine one's fate. Sayuri took the circumstances of her life and ultimately lived a life better than she could have imagined when she was an adolescent. I would not refer to the novel as 'feel-good;' nevertheless, I always enjoy a nice redemption story.
At times, I found the writing tedious. There were details that I found to be mundane and superfluous. Meanwhile, I felt a little more time could have been spent describing the depression and its impact on the people of Japan.