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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Probably more like 3.5 stars
If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha I'd recommend checking this book out as it gives an accurate and realistic account of what being a Geisha (really geiko) was like. Basically Memoirs of a Geisha got almost everything wrong.
Mineko has a very interesting life and I enjoyed reading her story. It wrapped up a little quickly at the end and I would have enjoyed a few more stories about her time as a geiko (especially when she was just starting out - she seemed to jump from the "just starting out" phase to the "super mega famous" phase quickly in the book).
If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha I'd recommend checking this book out as it gives an accurate and realistic account of what being a Geisha (really geiko) was like. Basically Memoirs of a Geisha got almost everything wrong.
Mineko has a very interesting life and I enjoyed reading her story. It wrapped up a little quickly at the end and I would have enjoyed a few more stories about her time as a geiko (especially when she was just starting out - she seemed to jump from the "just starting out" phase to the "super mega famous" phase quickly in the book).
After hearing about the criticism Arthur Golden received for his novel "Memoirs of a Geisha", I tried to make a stand against the orientalist mindset it supposedly propagates and hear how his source of information would have liked to be portrayed.
Overall this was a good decision, I can wholeheartedly recommend. Is the author/main character Mineko likeable? Probably not. She seems to be very self absorbed and like she would be the kind of person to get so worked up about the portrayal of her former profession, that she would not only sue the author but write a whole book as a counterpoint on top. And you know what? I respect that. You do not have to like her. You do not even have to trust all of her stories. Of course she is human and farts. Of course she did not work for years on only 3 hrs of sleep per night.
Nonetheless her stories paint a picture of a world that is so far removed of what most people would call "normal" that it will definitely challenge ideas and conceptions in many readers.
Overall this was a good decision, I can wholeheartedly recommend. Is the author/main character Mineko likeable? Probably not. She seems to be very self absorbed and like she would be the kind of person to get so worked up about the portrayal of her former profession, that she would not only sue the author but write a whole book as a counterpoint on top. And you know what? I respect that. You do not have to like her. You do not even have to trust all of her stories. Of course she is human and farts. Of course she did not work for years on only 3 hrs of sleep per night.
Nonetheless her stories paint a picture of a world that is so far removed of what most people would call "normal" that it will definitely challenge ideas and conceptions in many readers.
Mineko Iwasaki became known outside of Japan when she was referenced as a source for the bestselling "Memoirs of a Geisha", a fictionalized story which mirrored her life in many ways. The actual life of a geisha, however, was skewed and turned into a sordid tale of prostitution and enslavement. Iwasaki, one of the most successful geisha of the twentieth century, understandably took issue with this portrayal. Here, she tells her own story.
First off, Iwasaki is very candid about her own faults and the flaws in the geisha system--after all, she did end her lucrative career at twenty-nine. I never felt like she was lying or trying to make herself look like a better person than who she is. Admittedly, it's hard for me to fact-check as I do not know the geisha world intimately, but from what I've read, everything stacks up. Her tale is illuminating, honest, and interesting.
The only problem with the story is not its own fault. This is a translation, and while Rande Brown does a good job, I wish that I knew Japanese. Clearly, some of the more confusing details are lost, as is a certain personal edge. Overall, this doesn't dent the book in a big way, and it's a more than worthwhile read.
First off, Iwasaki is very candid about her own faults and the flaws in the geisha system--after all, she did end her lucrative career at twenty-nine. I never felt like she was lying or trying to make herself look like a better person than who she is. Admittedly, it's hard for me to fact-check as I do not know the geisha world intimately, but from what I've read, everything stacks up. Her tale is illuminating, honest, and interesting.
The only problem with the story is not its own fault. This is a translation, and while Rande Brown does a good job, I wish that I knew Japanese. Clearly, some of the more confusing details are lost, as is a certain personal edge. Overall, this doesn't dent the book in a big way, and it's a more than worthwhile read.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
A wonderfully poignant autobiography of one of the greatest and most famous geiko in Japan.
This is easily one of my favorite books. I picked up this book wanting to learn more about geishas. I had a feeling that this book would be immensely interesting to me.
It did not disappoint. In fact, it turned out to be much more interesting than I had anticipated. From the very beginning where Mineko describes her childhood, I could tell that she probably has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. As someone with Asperger's Syndrome (a ASD), I was struck by this every time Mineko spoke very bluntly or described the rigid routine of her walk to and from her dance classes (get a treat from a shop-keeper, pet a dog, feed the dog, etc. every single day). Often I would read something that she did, said, or thought and see myself (or someone very similar) staring back at me. It was fascinating to see someone like me flourish so well in such a aesthetic and social profession.
The book also clears up many misconceptions about geishas. For instance the mizuage, or coming of age ceremony, for geishas is often confused for the mizuage for oiran (high-class prostitutes) where the oiran's virginity was sold to the highest bidder. The same was not and is not true for maikos and geishas.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about geishas, traditional Japanese culture, or who simply wants a good read.
It did not disappoint. In fact, it turned out to be much more interesting than I had anticipated. From the very beginning where Mineko describes her childhood, I could tell that she probably has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. As someone with Asperger's Syndrome (a ASD), I was struck by this every time Mineko spoke very bluntly or described the rigid routine of her walk to and from her dance classes (get a treat from a shop-keeper, pet a dog, feed the dog, etc. every single day). Often I would read something that she did, said, or thought and see myself (or someone very similar) staring back at me. It was fascinating to see someone like me flourish so well in such a aesthetic and social profession.
The book also clears up many misconceptions about geishas. For instance the mizuage, or coming of age ceremony, for geishas is often confused for the mizuage for oiran (high-class prostitutes) where the oiran's virginity was sold to the highest bidder. The same was not and is not true for maikos and geishas.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about geishas, traditional Japanese culture, or who simply wants a good read.
a quick read. a valuable and intimate look in the training and culture of geisha in the 1950s-1970s. not a great book. lacked an overall theme. more like a series of fascinating vignettes. much more relatable than Memoirs of a Geisha and I can definetly understand why Iwasaki wanted to get her story out there.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
After reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and learning about how the book came to be, it seemed only right that I picked this book up and read the story directly from the mouth (hands?) of the woman who lived it.
While this tale may not have been as "theatrical" as MoaG, it certainly hit me harder in the feels. I was glad to be able to get to the truth behind the tale, to hear a woman speak of her experiences from an era where women were meant to be seen and not heard.
If you enjoyed MoaG, I highly, highly suggest reading Iwasaki's rendition.
While this tale may not have been as "theatrical" as MoaG, it certainly hit me harder in the feels. I was glad to be able to get to the truth behind the tale, to hear a woman speak of her experiences from an era where women were meant to be seen and not heard.
If you enjoyed MoaG, I highly, highly suggest reading Iwasaki's rendition.