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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I'm conflicted about this book. I did enjoy the story and look into the life of a real geiko. I, like many others, first became interested in geiko and geisha when the book by Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha was published. I understand the controversy and inaccuracies of that book, but it is a work of fiction and one I still very much enjoy. Back to the review of this book. While I loved hearing Mineko's perspective, a lot of what she said deeply conflicted. She was a shy person who hid in cupboards and loved to be alone more than anything. Yet she seemingly overnight blossomed into a perfect maiko. None of her encounters that she related made her seem particularly charming, yet she was the number one geiko in Gion. Maybe there is a cultural divide that I am missing here. She also mentioned many dear (female) friends she had, yet several times talked about how she never made friends because all the ladies were jealous of her success. Despite all this, I still enjoyed the book and learned quite a bit from it.
Absolutely fascinating. I wouldn't have put it down once if I hadn't had to.
After reading Memoirs of a Geisha, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Though ordinarily I probably wouldn’t have read this book, it felt worthwhile to get a more trustworthy account, free from the confines of the male-gaze reliant, orientalist, fetishized perspective of Arthur Golden. Somewhat serendipitously, I found a copy of this book in a little free library a block from my apartment, which seemed like enough of a sign to read this book.
Unfortunately, I can’t say this was a great memoir. Though ghost-written and not really Iwasaki’s fault, the prose was stiff and lifeless, almost entirely devoid of emotion. There was no sense of personal reflection, or any particularly incisive insight. Despite reading nearly 300 pages, I still feel like I don’t know much more than the author’s biographical details, distinctions, and accomplishments. Frankly, for someone so highly trained as an entertainer, she came across as remarkably arrogant and unlikable. As a professional dancer and patron of the arts, she demonstrated shockingly little capacity for self-expression. The best memoirs are intimate, and force you to empathize and relate with the writer. This book was utterly deficient in that regard.
It also failed to dispel many of the factual discrepancies between her account and those written in Memoirs of a Geisha. Golden wove together several characters and experiences taken directly from Iwasaki’s life. Though Sayuri doesn’t much resemble Iwasaki, but rather an amalgamation of many 20th century Kyoto geiko, the liberties he took with her life seem to perfectly encapsulate some of the problematics of his work. In conflating geiko with sex workers, he willingly misrepresents the reality of both, leading his primarily Western audience to develop harmful stereotypes that actively fetishize the women participating in these activities. Though Iwasaki distinguishes the two, in doing so, she disparages sex workers and ignores the favorable circumstances and noble-adjacent upbringing that contributed to her rise to becoming “the most famous geisha in Japan.” She claims to have actively fought against the system perpetuating these structural inequalities, yet never cites any specific examples. More extensive discussion of her activism would have better illuminated the social context of her work, not to mention her criticism of Golden.
Though interesting to see where Golden drew inspiration for his work, I'm not convinced it's really worth your time. Despite providing some important historical clarifications, it isn’t sufficiently detailed to be useful at a level beyond vague personal interest. I’m sure some of the quality of this work was lost in translation, but since I have no way of knowing, I don’t think I can give it more than two stars :/
Unfortunately, I can’t say this was a great memoir. Though ghost-written and not really Iwasaki’s fault, the prose was stiff and lifeless, almost entirely devoid of emotion. There was no sense of personal reflection, or any particularly incisive insight. Despite reading nearly 300 pages, I still feel like I don’t know much more than the author’s biographical details, distinctions, and accomplishments. Frankly, for someone so highly trained as an entertainer, she came across as remarkably arrogant and unlikable. As a professional dancer and patron of the arts, she demonstrated shockingly little capacity for self-expression. The best memoirs are intimate, and force you to empathize and relate with the writer. This book was utterly deficient in that regard.
It also failed to dispel many of the factual discrepancies between her account and those written in Memoirs of a Geisha. Golden wove together several characters and experiences taken directly from Iwasaki’s life. Though Sayuri doesn’t much resemble Iwasaki, but rather an amalgamation of many 20th century Kyoto geiko, the liberties he took with her life seem to perfectly encapsulate some of the problematics of his work. In conflating geiko with sex workers, he willingly misrepresents the reality of both, leading his primarily Western audience to develop harmful stereotypes that actively fetishize the women participating in these activities. Though Iwasaki distinguishes the two, in doing so, she disparages sex workers and ignores the favorable circumstances and noble-adjacent upbringing that contributed to her rise to becoming “the most famous geisha in Japan.” She claims to have actively fought against the system perpetuating these structural inequalities, yet never cites any specific examples. More extensive discussion of her activism would have better illuminated the social context of her work, not to mention her criticism of Golden.
Though interesting to see where Golden drew inspiration for his work, I'm not convinced it's really worth your time. Despite providing some important historical clarifications, it isn’t sufficiently detailed to be useful at a level beyond vague personal interest. I’m sure some of the quality of this work was lost in translation, but since I have no way of knowing, I don’t think I can give it more than two stars :/
Memoirs are a tricky one to rate because they're essentially someone else's life. In this case, though, the rating is not a rating of her life, but rather, the sort of writing and narrative structure that falls flat.
For one, the title of the book led me to think that it was going to be about 99% of her Geisha life, and not necessarily extensive dives into the before and after, and as someone else has already commented, about whether she farts after being hospitalised. Nevertheless, still an interesting read and I would say that her writing is (obviously) more representative of the Japanese style of writing that most Japanese authors have. This already makes it better than Arthur Golden's book, which is arguably one of the few books I would unhesitatingly toss into the flames of hell. There are also some lovely bits I really liked, wherein she included conversations with her clients and patrons e.g., with the professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy.
The narrative structure, however, is all over the place. I am completely fine with memoirs that jump the gun (cases in point: Kalanithi's 'When Breath Becomes Air,' or Westover's 'Educated.') But for some reason, Iwasaki and her editor must have thought to shoehorn every single bit from her life's most major and acute incidents. The end result: it doesn't go too deeply, yet it doesn't clock itself as surficial either. What we get is this odd straddling between the two, a kind of liminality that I'm not entirely comfortable with.
Here's what I'm really trying to say; her novel feels reactionary and defensive. Oftentimes when you read memoirs, you get a glimpse of how the person thinks of themselves and especially of the anger or misery that may beget their souls during incidents years past. Yet, because of Golden's highly unethical and repulsive piece of whitewashed history, Iwasaki seems to have garnered this as a response to that. Unfortunately, her tone comes across as largely angry and placating. It's fine if she factually lays out her life and her achievements, but it certainly sounds like she's not giving us a dimensional view of her life, and instead, picking bits to dig back at Golden.
If she is willing to publish another novel which goes much more in-depth, I would be very up for reading it. This, however, barely allows me to skimp a glimpse of the Geisha culture.
*Also, the picture placements could be better.
For one, the title of the book led me to think that it was going to be about 99% of her Geisha life, and not necessarily extensive dives into the before and after, and as someone else has already commented, about whether she farts after being hospitalised. Nevertheless, still an interesting read and I would say that her writing is (obviously) more representative of the Japanese style of writing that most Japanese authors have. This already makes it better than Arthur Golden's book, which is arguably one of the few books I would unhesitatingly toss into the flames of hell. There are also some lovely bits I really liked, wherein she included conversations with her clients and patrons e.g., with the professor of Aesthetics and Philosophy.
The narrative structure, however, is all over the place. I am completely fine with memoirs that jump the gun (cases in point: Kalanithi's 'When Breath Becomes Air,' or Westover's 'Educated.') But for some reason, Iwasaki and her editor must have thought to shoehorn every single bit from her life's most major and acute incidents. The end result: it doesn't go too deeply, yet it doesn't clock itself as surficial either. What we get is this odd straddling between the two, a kind of liminality that I'm not entirely comfortable with.
Here's what I'm really trying to say; her novel feels reactionary and defensive. Oftentimes when you read memoirs, you get a glimpse of how the person thinks of themselves and especially of the anger or misery that may beget their souls during incidents years past. Yet, because of Golden's highly unethical and repulsive piece of whitewashed history, Iwasaki seems to have garnered this as a response to that. Unfortunately, her tone comes across as largely angry and placating. It's fine if she factually lays out her life and her achievements, but it certainly sounds like she's not giving us a dimensional view of her life, and instead, picking bits to dig back at Golden.
If she is willing to publish another novel which goes much more in-depth, I would be very up for reading it. This, however, barely allows me to skimp a glimpse of the Geisha culture.
*Also, the picture placements could be better.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Mineko Iwasaki was credited for being Arthur Golden's main inspiration for his own book on geisha, even when asked not to name her. Aside from this book being written as a response to MoaG, it's a fascinating look into the closed-off world of Japan's geisha. I've always been fascinated with the culture, so when I found this book I was very excited to read it. Of course the first thing I noticed was Mineko's pretentiousness. While digging in somewhat with the traditions, it was mainly focused on her all around amazingness, if she does say so herself. Her attitude got to be very annoying, but seeing as she was the most prolific geisha of her day I think she has some right to brag. Overall an extremely good read!
Incredible. Infinitely more fascinating than Memoirs of a Geisha, this is the true story of a Japanese Geiko. Mineko's navigation through this world social nuances, her brushes with celebrity and unbelievable fame makes this book a read you can't put down.
This was a nonfiction book I picked up ages ago after having heard the real life inspiration for Memoirs of a Geisha wrote her autobiography.
The author talks about her life, her family and how she came into being a geisha, and the successor to the lead geiko in her area all at the age of five. Along the way, she explains how the geisha world is made up, their duties (which don't include sex) and how her fame intersected with her job. It was a fascinating look at another world, as she talked about getting three hours a night and having no clue about how to live on her own because her world had been set since she was five. The talk about the visits and the manners you have to practice was very interesting to read about.
She dealt with a lot of jealousy from her fellow geisha (she calls them geiko) about her popularity and she talks about how she managed that as best she could. As a person, no she is not terribly likeable. She is a fairly arrogant, bratty child and she grows up to be that kind of woman as well. But the amount of work she had to put into being the best is phenomenal.
Her mindset which had been molded over the years by being in this environment, was so fascinating to read about, like when she hospitalised and has to get used to not being busy like she has been since she was 5 years old. The only complaints were that I really disliked her romance with the actor being talked about (though it was interesting to see how she dealt with him) and the book was quite dry in points. I would have liked more of a view of the community at large, rather than just a talk about her own particular life but it is an autobiography after all.
Interesting book but it depends whether you can handle the narrator.
4 stars!
The author talks about her life, her family and how she came into being a geisha, and the successor to the lead geiko in her area all at the age of five. Along the way, she explains how the geisha world is made up, their duties (which don't include sex) and how her fame intersected with her job. It was a fascinating look at another world, as she talked about getting three hours a night and having no clue about how to live on her own because her world had been set since she was five. The talk about the visits and the manners you have to practice was very interesting to read about.
She dealt with a lot of jealousy from her fellow geisha (she calls them geiko) about her popularity and she talks about how she managed that as best she could. As a person, no she is not terribly likeable. She is a fairly arrogant, bratty child and she grows up to be that kind of woman as well. But the amount of work she had to put into being the best is phenomenal.
Her mindset which had been molded over the years by being in this environment, was so fascinating to read about, like when she hospitalised and has to get used to not being busy like she has been since she was 5 years old. The only complaints were that I really disliked her romance with the actor being talked about (though it was interesting to see how she dealt with him) and the book was quite dry in points. I would have liked more of a view of the community at large, rather than just a talk about her own particular life but it is an autobiography after all.
Interesting book but it depends whether you can handle the narrator.
4 stars!
emotional
informative
inspiring
Mineko Iwasaki è la Geisha che ha ispirato il più (giustamente) famoso "Memorie di una Geisha" di Arthur Golden. Qualcuno l'ha letto? Se sì, astenetevi dal conoscere questa storia.. Se non lo avete letto, rimediate il prima possibile, è bellissimo!
Spinta dall'amore per questa lettura e incantata dai mondi che l'autore era riuscito ad evocare (nonché l'inguaribile voglia di farmi un corredo di Kimono meravigliosi) sono stata sufficientemente attratta da questo libro tanto da dare alla tizia una chance. Non provavo particolare simpatia nei suoi confronti perché ha attaccato il povero Golden per la storia che ha pubblicato ma la curiosità ha avuto la meglio.
Maledetta curiosità!!
Allora, come prima cosa la tizia (mi rifiuto di considerarla un'autrice) prima fa il pianto greco sul fatto che golden abbia rivelato il suo nome nei ringraziamenti del libro e poi che fa? Pubblica la storia della sua vita.
Vai coerenza, scelgo te! So much for secretiveness!
Secondo di poi, da brava Geisha (la migliore, come lei stessa non manca di sottolineare ogni poche righe) è istruita sulla danza, sull'arte di versare il Sake, sul saper conversare e tenere compagnia.. NON a scrivere! Tanto per dire.. Ha lasciato la scuola a 15 anni. ._.
E tu ti metti a scrivere un libro?? Non so sinceramente quale sia la funzione della tipa che appare in copertina vicino al nome della Iwasaki, ma spero per lei che non l'abbia aiutata a scrivere bene, perché altrimenti avrebbe fatto un lavoro pessimo..
Fatto sta che palesemente la tizia non ha minimamente idea di come si scriva un libro.. Ripetizioni, fatti buttati a casaccio e l'impossibilità di seguire il filo di un discorso per più di qualche riga: in una pagina è possibile anche che ci parli di 4/5 cose.. Inizia il discorso, le viene in mente altro e ne parla.. Fino a che non interviene altro e così via. E siccome non si chiama James e nemmeno Joyce, questo pseudo stream of consciousness fa piangere.
Sarei anche passata sopra allo stile se la tizia non mi avesse fatto cadere le braccia per terra.. Non credo di aver mai letto di una persona così piena di sè, così brava nell'autocelebrazione e così gonfia di autostima come la Mineko qui presente: mi ha provocato un urto non indifferente, con i pollici che prudevano ad ogni pagina e tanta tanta tanta voglia di prenderla a schiaffi.
Sarai pure figa tesoro.. Ma senza un po' di umiltà dove vai?
Quanto avrei goduto se tutta la sua boria e supponenza l'avessero danneggiata dal punto di vista lavorativo!!
E invece no, non c'è giustizia :(
Un flebile punto a favore del libro è il fatto che permette di conoscere il mondo delle Geishe (maddai? Se non avesse fatto nemmeno questo, era da impiccarsi!).. Il problema è che lo fa in modo confusionario -quando va bene- e come un interminabile, noiosissimo e prolisso elenco - nella (sfortunatamente) maggioranza dei casi.
Una piaga, altroché!
Ovviamente è un libro per cui ho speso i soldi.. Ormai sono arrivata ad un rapporto di amore/odio con la Newton & Compton, che pare pubblicare tutto ciò che capita.. Può andar bene o può capitare una Mineko Iwasaki. E lì sono dolori.
Spinta dall'amore per questa lettura e incantata dai mondi che l'autore era riuscito ad evocare (nonché l'inguaribile voglia di farmi un corredo di Kimono meravigliosi) sono stata sufficientemente attratta da questo libro tanto da dare alla tizia una chance. Non provavo particolare simpatia nei suoi confronti perché ha attaccato il povero Golden per la storia che ha pubblicato ma la curiosità ha avuto la meglio.
Maledetta curiosità!!
Allora, come prima cosa la tizia (mi rifiuto di considerarla un'autrice) prima fa il pianto greco sul fatto che golden abbia rivelato il suo nome nei ringraziamenti del libro e poi che fa? Pubblica la storia della sua vita.
Vai coerenza, scelgo te! So much for secretiveness!
Secondo di poi, da brava Geisha (la migliore, come lei stessa non manca di sottolineare ogni poche righe) è istruita sulla danza, sull'arte di versare il Sake, sul saper conversare e tenere compagnia.. NON a scrivere! Tanto per dire.. Ha lasciato la scuola a 15 anni. ._.
E tu ti metti a scrivere un libro?? Non so sinceramente quale sia la funzione della tipa che appare in copertina vicino al nome della Iwasaki, ma spero per lei che non l'abbia aiutata a scrivere bene, perché altrimenti avrebbe fatto un lavoro pessimo..
Fatto sta che palesemente la tizia non ha minimamente idea di come si scriva un libro.. Ripetizioni, fatti buttati a casaccio e l'impossibilità di seguire il filo di un discorso per più di qualche riga: in una pagina è possibile anche che ci parli di 4/5 cose.. Inizia il discorso, le viene in mente altro e ne parla.. Fino a che non interviene altro e così via. E siccome non si chiama James e nemmeno Joyce, questo pseudo stream of consciousness fa piangere.
Sarei anche passata sopra allo stile se la tizia non mi avesse fatto cadere le braccia per terra.. Non credo di aver mai letto di una persona così piena di sè, così brava nell'autocelebrazione e così gonfia di autostima come la Mineko qui presente: mi ha provocato un urto non indifferente, con i pollici che prudevano ad ogni pagina e tanta tanta tanta voglia di prenderla a schiaffi.
Sarai pure figa tesoro.. Ma senza un po' di umiltà dove vai?
Quanto avrei goduto se tutta la sua boria e supponenza l'avessero danneggiata dal punto di vista lavorativo!!
E invece no, non c'è giustizia :(
Un flebile punto a favore del libro è il fatto che permette di conoscere il mondo delle Geishe (maddai? Se non avesse fatto nemmeno questo, era da impiccarsi!).. Il problema è che lo fa in modo confusionario -quando va bene- e come un interminabile, noiosissimo e prolisso elenco - nella (sfortunatamente) maggioranza dei casi.
Una piaga, altroché!
Ovviamente è un libro per cui ho speso i soldi.. Ormai sono arrivata ad un rapporto di amore/odio con la Newton & Compton, che pare pubblicare tutto ciò che capita.. Può andar bene o può capitare una Mineko Iwasaki. E lì sono dolori.