Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This was such an interesting memoir! I had just read Memoirs of a Geisha a few weeks ago and wanted to read for myself the differences between Mineko Iwasaki's life and what Arthur Golden took and fictionalized from interviews with her. I didn't have a problem with most of the ways Golden spun her interviews into fiction, however I do not like how he gave the main character blue-gray eyes or made Geisha's seem so submissive in order to westernize them. When we learn from Geisha, a Life that Mineko Iwasaki threatens men with knives and hits a man with a mallet that embarrasses her. While I don't love that Golden furthers the misconception of Geishas being prostitutes, I understand why he would include that in his book, as Geishas are so centered around their appearence. I enjoyed both these books, and think reading them close together makes reading both of them more interesting and enjoyable.
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
With a memoir/autobiography, you tend to get an impression of the author as a person. This story reads very much like a "humble brag." Even taking into consideration cultural differences, I still feel like the author comes off as arrogant. What a wonder it is that she was instantly good at everything! Even golf.
I read "Memoirs of a Geisha," so appreciate the more realistic perspective of the life of a geisha. I got the impression at the beginning of the book that the author wanted to work to change the culture of surrounding becoming a geisha, but in the end resigned herself to the way things were, and even lamented the slow disappearance of the culture.
I read "Memoirs of a Geisha," so appreciate the more realistic perspective of the life of a geisha. I got the impression at the beginning of the book that the author wanted to work to change the culture of surrounding becoming a geisha, but in the end resigned herself to the way things were, and even lamented the slow disappearance of the culture.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Since discovering the controversy around memoirs of a geisha, I felt it was important to read this book to understand Mineko’s true version of events and life history.
I enjoyed it thoroughly and found it enlightening. I have learnt so much!
The timeline felt a little jumpy at points but on the whole I thought it was a great read and am glad I understand a bit more about the history and reality of geisha life, rather than the sordid misrepresentation from Golden.
I enjoyed it thoroughly and found it enlightening. I have learnt so much!
The timeline felt a little jumpy at points but on the whole I thought it was a great read and am glad I understand a bit more about the history and reality of geisha life, rather than the sordid misrepresentation from Golden.
I really enjoyed this book, especially after having read Memoirs of a Geisha. It felt much more authentic as Iwasaki tried to subtly clear up the untrue parts of Arthur Golden's book (the mizuage in particular). I would have preferred more photos but overall found this to be a fascinating insight into a dying artform.
Very interesting read and glad I read it although u found the prose very basic but that could be related to translation
Very interesting! I like to read biographies about life in different cultures. Mineko is a very strong women. I am glad to have read her story. Geisha, A Life is a great book that tells of the hard life and dispels some misconceptions that people have about them.
I discovered this book existed after going on a deep dive after reading a--now guilty pleasure--favorite book of mine, Memoirs of a Geisha. I knew that Golden (of 'Memoirs'), based a lot of his story on the generous gift of stories from actual geisha from back in the day, and was very horrified to find out that he had succumbed to the very Western need to misrepresent things in the East, particularly this inclination to mix up or conflate geisha with oiran: Geisha are simply entertainers, while oiran are courtesans.
After discovering that Iwasaki-san was the main inspiration of the book, I looked more into her, and discovered she had written a book with her side of the story, which I was very eager to snatch up. While 'Memoirs' will continue to be a nostalgic favorite of mine, I will now go forward rereading it as it is: A fantasy of misconceptions.
Iwasaki-san's book is a little...all over the place. It's something like a memoir, autobiography, and history all together, but not in the most organized way. I'm not sure if this is due to translation issues, or perhaps it just wasn't cobbled together the best way. Personally? This doesn't bother me at all, because in my opinion it does what it sets out to do, and that is set the record straight of what it was actually like to be the daughter of an okiya, and a rising star in geisha circles. It also added her own childhood, and her disconnect with family and whether being a geisha was what she really even wanted, as her circumstances, at least to a modern Westerner, are very unique and strange.
Her book definitely humanizes everyone. There's no real villains or anything of the sort, like a Hastumomo or Baron in 'Memoirs' (although sadly it seems assault of women and geisha in her time was very common). There's a lot of explaining of what the actual culture, duties, training, and living situations of geisha is, really demystifying it and making it seem both less glamorous than I thought (coming from 'Memoirs') and more glamorous than I thought. Stakes were present, but not the sort of dramatic ones like Sayuri went through. Love stories existed, but not in the ultra romantic and ultimately really weird and skeevy way it did in 'Memoirs'.
If you come to the book looking to be educated, and not entertained, you will gain a lot from it.
After discovering that Iwasaki-san was the main inspiration of the book, I looked more into her, and discovered she had written a book with her side of the story, which I was very eager to snatch up. While 'Memoirs' will continue to be a nostalgic favorite of mine, I will now go forward rereading it as it is: A fantasy of misconceptions.
Iwasaki-san's book is a little...all over the place. It's something like a memoir, autobiography, and history all together, but not in the most organized way. I'm not sure if this is due to translation issues, or perhaps it just wasn't cobbled together the best way. Personally? This doesn't bother me at all, because in my opinion it does what it sets out to do, and that is set the record straight of what it was actually like to be the daughter of an okiya, and a rising star in geisha circles. It also added her own childhood, and her disconnect with family and whether being a geisha was what she really even wanted, as her circumstances, at least to a modern Westerner, are very unique and strange.
Her book definitely humanizes everyone. There's no real villains or anything of the sort, like a Hastumomo or Baron in 'Memoirs' (although sadly it seems assault of women and geisha in her time was very common). There's a lot of explaining of what the actual culture, duties, training, and living situations of geisha is, really demystifying it and making it seem both less glamorous than I thought (coming from 'Memoirs') and more glamorous than I thought. Stakes were present, but not the sort of dramatic ones like Sayuri went through. Love stories existed, but not in the ultra romantic and ultimately really weird and skeevy way it did in 'Memoirs'.
If you come to the book looking to be educated, and not entertained, you will gain a lot from it.
If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, you'll probably like this. Just as interesting, and based on a true story.
