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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I've had this book on my Amazon wishlist for a while, as it was not available for the Kindle, and received it as an early Christmas present last week. I promptly put it in my bag for our vacation, and spent a lovely time reading it over the past few days. As I logged on to write up a review, I discovered that this is simply a re-issue of Geisha: A Life which I had read quite some time ago. However, while that is disappointing (and explains why it was vaguely familiar as I read it), it is still an excellent story and book that should be read by anyone interested in learning about the life of a geisha in Kyoto in the mid-1900s.
Others have pointed out that the author, Mineko Iwasaki, wrote this as a refutation of the fictions penned by the man who interviewed her and wrote Memoirs of a Geisha, so I won't rehash that further. Mineko's story starts at age 3, with her earliest memories of her family and the circumstances that led to her becoming heir to the Iwasaki geisha house. Her training to become a maiko and then geiko began at age 6, and continued until her retirement at age 29. It's a fascinating story of the different classes and learning that she undertook, as well as the various relationships that underpin the entire flower and willow world. Her descriptions of the kimono ensembles, hairdos, and the dances are wonderful and evocative, and her humor peeks through in short snippets of conversation and other vignettes. The writing is a little choppy at times, with a few rapid-fire topic changes, but not enough to detract from the story.
Simply put, this is an excellent story of one of the world's most prominent geisha and possibly the last one to be so. It's worth a read for anyone interested in a good story, and especially so for anyone who is interested in the world of the geisha.
Others have pointed out that the author, Mineko Iwasaki, wrote this as a refutation of the fictions penned by the man who interviewed her and wrote Memoirs of a Geisha, so I won't rehash that further. Mineko's story starts at age 3, with her earliest memories of her family and the circumstances that led to her becoming heir to the Iwasaki geisha house. Her training to become a maiko and then geiko began at age 6, and continued until her retirement at age 29. It's a fascinating story of the different classes and learning that she undertook, as well as the various relationships that underpin the entire flower and willow world. Her descriptions of the kimono ensembles, hairdos, and the dances are wonderful and evocative, and her humor peeks through in short snippets of conversation and other vignettes. The writing is a little choppy at times, with a few rapid-fire topic changes, but not enough to detract from the story.
Simply put, this is an excellent story of one of the world's most prominent geisha and possibly the last one to be so. It's worth a read for anyone interested in a good story, and especially so for anyone who is interested in the world of the geisha.
This was really interesting. I'm torn between thinking how fascinating it must have been to be a top geiko, to be able to meet so many interesting people, and thinking how narrow and restricted a life it must have been, and how little practical training the geiko received.
The story is told in a very stilted and unemotional fashion, although I wonder if some of that is the challenge of translation. It took a bit of getting used to, and makes the book read more like a history than a memoir. I was also amazed at the author's memory - she recounts details of things that happen when she was only 3 years old! I'd be really surprised if she's actually able to remember that level of detail.
It's certainly some interesting background for books like Memoirs of a Geisha. I think the only thing that this book was really missing was a glossary. There are a lot of very specialized Japanese terms used throughout the book. Some of them have multiple meanings, and there are a lot of words that (to English eyes at least) look very similar. With no glossary or index, it was really hard to look back and find out what exactly was meant by a particular word.
The story is told in a very stilted and unemotional fashion, although I wonder if some of that is the challenge of translation. It took a bit of getting used to, and makes the book read more like a history than a memoir. I was also amazed at the author's memory - she recounts details of things that happen when she was only 3 years old! I'd be really surprised if she's actually able to remember that level of detail.
It's certainly some interesting background for books like Memoirs of a Geisha. I think the only thing that this book was really missing was a glossary. There are a lot of very specialized Japanese terms used throughout the book. Some of them have multiple meanings, and there are a lot of words that (to English eyes at least) look very similar. With no glossary or index, it was really hard to look back and find out what exactly was meant by a particular word.
Meh. Interesting in some parts but mostly it just felt like bragging and ignorance. Not a fan, maybe I was expecting too much.
This book caught my interest to an extent that I could hardly put it down, I read it every spare chance that I was allowed until I finished it, I love the graceful story of this geisha. I was amazed by all the events that happened in her life, she was truly an extraordaniary person. She risked a lot putting this story out there but I'm very happy that she did, that way I was able to learn a lot about the Geisha's world
Mineko Iwasaki told her life story to her then-friend Arthur Golden, who wrote "Memoirs of a Geisha." A lot of the book's basic structure is based on her life and characters in it. But there is the clunky translation of culture. Not to mention the wild inaccuracies and voyeurism. After reading Golden's book, Iwasaki got so angry that she ended the friendship and sued him. Then she told her own story.
I really appreciated getting to read about the geikos' art, dance, and relationships directly from someone who has experienced their world and training firsthand--especially given how misunderstood they are by outsiders. I particularly liked Iwasaki's insights on the business of geiko entertainment, and the family structures: she was formally adopted by one of her mentors when she chose to pursue this career path at a young age.
Still, it's not the greatest prose, and Iwasaki can be prone to some pretty broad sketches of her characters. The book didn't feel particularly self-reflective. Still, I'd recommend it as a primary source for understanding an often sensationalized tradition.
I really appreciated getting to read about the geikos' art, dance, and relationships directly from someone who has experienced their world and training firsthand--especially given how misunderstood they are by outsiders. I particularly liked Iwasaki's insights on the business of geiko entertainment, and the family structures: she was formally adopted by one of her mentors when she chose to pursue this career path at a young age.
Still, it's not the greatest prose, and Iwasaki can be prone to some pretty broad sketches of her characters. The book didn't feel particularly self-reflective. Still, I'd recommend it as a primary source for understanding an often sensationalized tradition.
A fascinating insight into the world of the geiko and Gion region of Kyoto....a great intro for my upcoming trip.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
I enjoyed this book very much! It was fascinating, though it could get a bit dry when detailing who did what with whom a hundred years ago. Though I fully acknowledge this probably would not have been a problem if I knew more about Japanese history and especially its important figures.
What I found a bit sad to be missing is a reaction or comment on Arthur Golden's Memoir of a Geisha. I read that this book was written because of Golden's misrepresentation, so as a direct reaction, so it feels a bit off that there is no mention of either book or film.
What I found a bit sad to be missing is a reaction or comment on Arthur Golden's Memoir of a Geisha. I read that this book was written because of Golden's misrepresentation, so as a direct reaction, so it feels a bit off that there is no mention of either book or film.
3,5/5
Ho iniziato a leggere questo libro perché ho adorato "Memorie di una Geisha" di Arthur Golden, che si è rifatto proprio alla storia di Mineko Iwasaki. Di "Memorie di una Geisha" questo libro non ha poi molto, e per quanto la Iwasaki si sia lamentata per come Golden abbia stravolto la sua vita (in effetti Mineko ha davvero poco da spartire con Sayuri) io trovo il libro di Golden molto più d'impatto di questo.
In alcuni punti ci racconta cos'è l'essere una geisha e che cosa comporta, la maggior parte del tempo però sembra preoccuparsi di dire che essere una geisha non vuol dire essere prostitute, che lei era la più popolare della sua generazione, che tutti la invidiavano e che non sapeva accendere un fornello. Neanche il suo matrimonio alla fine me l'ha fatta rivalutare, insomma sposare un uomo conosciuto da meno di un mese a ventinove anni solo perché: "volevo avere dei figli!" non mi fa esattamente rivalutare una persona.
Oltretutto mi era sembrato di capire che Mineko Iwasaki si fosse lamentata con Golden, portandolo anche in tribunale, perché l'aveva citata nel suo libro rendendo chiaro a tutti di aver infranto le leggi non scritte che impediscono di parlare di quel mondo a chi non ne fa parte. Allora perché scrivere poi un libro lei? non ha senso! nessuno pensava che "Memorie di una Geisha" fosse la sua storia, anche se Golden ha preso molto spunto dalla sua vita personale ma non ha intervistato solo lei per scrivere il suo libro. Alla fin fine piacevole da leggere, però non mi ha lasciato il segno di "Memorie di una Geisha".
Ho iniziato a leggere questo libro perché ho adorato "Memorie di una Geisha" di Arthur Golden, che si è rifatto proprio alla storia di Mineko Iwasaki. Di "Memorie di una Geisha" questo libro non ha poi molto, e per quanto la Iwasaki si sia lamentata per come Golden abbia stravolto la sua vita (in effetti Mineko ha davvero poco da spartire con Sayuri) io trovo il libro di Golden molto più d'impatto di questo.
In alcuni punti ci racconta cos'è l'essere una geisha e che cosa comporta, la maggior parte del tempo però sembra preoccuparsi di dire che essere una geisha non vuol dire essere prostitute, che lei era la più popolare della sua generazione, che tutti la invidiavano e che non sapeva accendere un fornello. Neanche il suo matrimonio alla fine me l'ha fatta rivalutare, insomma sposare un uomo conosciuto da meno di un mese a ventinove anni solo perché: "volevo avere dei figli!" non mi fa esattamente rivalutare una persona.
Oltretutto mi era sembrato di capire che Mineko Iwasaki si fosse lamentata con Golden, portandolo anche in tribunale, perché l'aveva citata nel suo libro rendendo chiaro a tutti di aver infranto le leggi non scritte che impediscono di parlare di quel mondo a chi non ne fa parte. Allora perché scrivere poi un libro lei? non ha senso! nessuno pensava che "Memorie di una Geisha" fosse la sua storia, anche se Golden ha preso molto spunto dalla sua vita personale ma non ha intervistato solo lei per scrivere il suo libro. Alla fin fine piacevole da leggere, però non mi ha lasciato il segno di "Memorie di una Geisha".
Along with a beautiful, triumphant story, Mineko Iwasaki gives tremendous detail to a rich part of Japanese culture. I was shocked to find out that the price of a full kimono was about the same cost as a house! Absolutely one of my favorite books.