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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I would give this a 3.5 if I could, but I'd rather round up than down. The structure of presentation for all the information about Mineko's life is strange. I wonder if some of this is a matter of translation or interview in how it was collected. I was also left wishing more of the middle of the book focused specifically on the aspects of karyukai that she attempted to resist, but I suppose that may have been a less honest account. Regardless, I'm also firmly going with 4 stars because I think it's worth the read despite its peculiarities.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
While re-reading Memoirs of a Geisha, one mention of the most-famous contemporary geisha led me down a Google rabbit hole. Turns out she was a real person, and after Golden’s novel came out (for which he blatantly stole details from Iwasaki’s life), she chose to tell her own story, in her own words. I recommend the audio.
Really, really interesting book. The author served as a consultant on Memoirs of a Geisha under the assumption her name would not be used (this breaks with Geisha tradition). It was and apparently many of the plot lines in Memoirs were not factual at all. This book was an attempt from the author to set the public straight about being a Geisha. Very interesting.
Though her life story is interesting, I found myself taken aback by how often the sentiment, "ACTUALLY, this is how it happened!! Listen to me and not the other fake stories" was thrust into the mix. Part of me gets her frustration with the situation at hand, but I don't think that putting it in the book is making anything better. A solid, though flawed, read.
informative
fast-paced
It is a biography and less filled with emotions than "Memoires of a geisha". So it is interesting but not that exciting.
This is the rebuttal to Memoirs of a Geisha so anyone who read that one must read this one for the real story
reflective
medium-paced