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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Worth reading.
Interessant boek over Japanse cultuur vanuit een insider, ipv Westers perspectief. Iwasaki was een bron van inspiratie voor het boek Memoirs of a Geisha, waarin haar verhaal helemaal verdraaid is om in een Westers narratief/fictie te passen. In haar boek illustreert zij het daadwerkelijk leven van een geisha, ook wel geiko. Soms beetje verwarrend vanwege de vele namen en termen die allemaal naar specifiek soorten instituties en praktijken wijzen.
The author of this book might just be the most unpleasant, shallow, conceited and spoiled person I ever had the misfortune of reading about.
Her life was extraordinary, but she lacks the ability to make her retelling tolerable, let alone entertaining. Most of the book consists of anedoctes about her beheaving in an appalling way towards other people and then wondering why her peers seem to strongly dislike her (envy, she decides).
Judging by how disjointed and poorly edited the book is, the people at her publishing house must have felt very envious as well.
This is how the author describes the eventual fate of her much older sister, who — reading between the lines — was justifiably traumatized and bitter about being sold by her parents in early childhood:
"In recent years Yaeko developed Alzheimer’s disease and became more impossible than ever. None of my six remaining siblings or I am in communication with her any longer. I’m not even sure where she is living. It’s a sad situation, but I can’t help feeling that she is merely getting what she deserves.”
Her life was extraordinary, but she lacks the ability to make her retelling tolerable, let alone entertaining. Most of the book consists of anedoctes about her beheaving in an appalling way towards other people and then wondering why her peers seem to strongly dislike her (envy, she decides).
Judging by how disjointed and poorly edited the book is, the people at her publishing house must have felt very envious as well.
This is how the author describes the eventual fate of her much older sister, who — reading between the lines — was justifiably traumatized and bitter about being sold by her parents in early childhood:
"In recent years Yaeko developed Alzheimer’s disease and became more impossible than ever. None of my six remaining siblings or I am in communication with her any longer. I’m not even sure where she is living. It’s a sad situation, but I can’t help feeling that she is merely getting what she deserves.”
I loved Memoirs of a Geisha; finding out its a bastardization of Mineko life story enraged me, so of course, I read her book.
You can feel the shade. Pumpkin was given a single, not kind portrayal. Prince Charles was insulting and didn't know the culture? Colour me shocked!
I did like the little bit about Queen Elizabeth however near the end.
You can feel the shade. Pumpkin was given a single, not kind portrayal. Prince Charles was insulting and didn't know the culture? Colour me shocked!
I did like the little bit about Queen Elizabeth however near the end.
Loved this book! Sexual references and content but used to describe the life of a Geisha. But I thought it was a great read.
informative
slow-paced
I read this because everyone watched memoirs of a geisha when it came out and that was written by a white man who took this person's actual life story! Now this memoir definitely had some questionable memories like how this woman could vividly remember being 2 years old, and how at 75 pounds she was direct and defensive using her body to stop men from trying to grab at her. I did learn a lot about the geisha culture and how she rose to fame and how in that other book they use the same words for ceremonies that didn't actually happen. All in all I would say if you have ever seen that movie or other book you should be mandated to read this true account.
Fascinating! Her story is beautiful and inspiring. The book is filled with interesting cultural information.
informative
medium-paced
Ik vond dit boek echt beter dan dagboek van een geisha. Zeker omdat ik weet dat dit veel waarheidsgetrouwer is, Golden had namelijk heel wat zaken verdraaid. Enorm genoten!