3.89 AVERAGE


I read the ebook for 70% before I finally was done with the extreme arrogance and entitlement of the writer. I just couldn't handle it anymore. She just keeps repeating how amazing she is, and how much she excels at everything. How dare a royal give her a signature? That was the last drop.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyable... With the exception of the protagonist. Found it hard to sympathise much at all with her attitude, which didn't improve as she aged!

Never read anything like this before, and i really got into it. I know it wont be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a brilliant and informative insight into the life of a geisha.
The Japanese words went right over my head though.

See on raamat, mille kohta võib öelda, et Lugemise Väljakutse grupp FB’s pani mind seda lugema. Täpsemalt Saatusesepa väljakutse, kus iga kuu eelmisest raamatust lähtuvalt uue väljakutse teema järgmiseni juhatab. Märtsis loetud Murakami “Norra mets” jätts mu Jaapanisse ja lugmiseks tuli leida raamat Jaapanis päriselt elanud naisest.

Aastaid tagasi loetud Arthur Goldeni “Geiša memuaarides” oli mees kasutanud ainesena just Mineko Iwasakilt saadud infot. Naine kaebas hiljem Goldeni laimamise eest kohtusse ning saavutas kohtuvälise kokkuleppe. Tema raamat “Geisha” on avaldatus osaliselt vastulausena Goldeni romaanile.

Mineko Iwasaki oli oma ajastu (1960ndate keskpaigast kuni aastani 1980) kuulsaim geisha, kes ootamatult oma edu tipus 29-aastasena ametist loobus. Mineko räägib raamatus oma lapsepõlvest, mis erinevalt Goldeni kangelannast oli üsna idülliline. Kuidas temast sai 5-aastasena ühe kuulsaima geishamaja pärija ning tema teekonnast oma ala tippu. Ta räägib lugejatele oma loo, milline tegelikult oli geisha elu ja tema vahetu kogemus on see, mis raamatu niivõrd kaasahaaravaks muudab.

Ja kui keegi veel peaks mõtlema, et geishad on prostituudid, siis lugege raamatut. Nad olid iseseisvad naised oma iseseisvate otsustega.

I read the ebook for 70% before I finally was done with the extreme arrogance and entitlement of the writer. I just couldn't handle it anymore. She just keeps repeating how amazing she is, and how much she excels at everything. How dare a royal give her a signature? That was the last drop.
informative reflective fast-paced

This book was truly insightful on the life of a geisha. I felt completely sucked into her story once I started and for a non-fiction book, that is new to me!

This book offers a personal glimpse into the lives of Geisha in post-war Kyoto. Witty and informative, a good read for comparison to Golden's Memoirs.

A beautiful autobiography, highly recommended!

A friend recommended GEISHA, A LIFE to me, and shared the history of how it came into being. Forever fascinated by Asian culture and literature, it took very little to convince me to read it. I personally loved reading about Ms. Iwasaki's life, and gaining an extremely detailed and vivid insight into the true world of being a geisha. It has only further cemented my desire to travel to Japan one day, and has helped me gain a whole new appreciation and respect for the beautiful traditions of Kyoto and Japan.
funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced