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prosewhore 's review for:
Ma vie de geisha
by Mineko Iwasaki, Rande Brown
Refined, wise and simply wonderful book about Mineko Iwasaki's life as an artist and its learning. She answered most every question I have, clarifies what it really means to be a geisha answering many questions a western audience probably has (sex, money, lifestyle rules) but also details the minutia that goes into every detail of her appearances. From her outfits, makeup and hair to the ethics of her profession. She blasts through every cliché.
The author is so strong to have gone through all this with such grace. It's truly impressive to me. Contrarily to what I've read in others reviews I think she stays humble. Sure she namesdrop a bit, but after all not every Geisha reached such a level of fame, she is aware of that and doesn't shy away from telling it as it was but also candidly shares some of her own failures along the way, moments of anger and sadness and fragility.
The writing itself is elegant and accessible. I would really recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a glimpse into the Japan of another era, it's made me eager to learn more on the subject.
PS: I don't want to make this the main point of my review but I just want to point out that Mineko is the woman who inspired the infamous "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. The man stole the story and very inacurately and inapropriately fictionalised it in the most offensive way possible and reading the true thing made me incredibly mad once again. Golden, what a piece of shit you are.. It has really highlighted for me how perverted and westernised his view of Geishas and japanese women in general is, absolutely disgusting. Anyway this is a friendly reminder to skip his papertrash, go for truth, own voices and badassery with this book instead!
The author is so strong to have gone through all this with such grace. It's truly impressive to me. Contrarily to what I've read in others reviews I think she stays humble. Sure she namesdrop a bit, but after all not every Geisha reached such a level of fame, she is aware of that and doesn't shy away from telling it as it was but also candidly shares some of her own failures along the way, moments of anger and sadness and fragility.
The writing itself is elegant and accessible. I would really recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a glimpse into the Japan of another era, it's made me eager to learn more on the subject.
PS: I don't want to make this the main point of my review but I just want to point out that Mineko is the woman who inspired the infamous "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. The man stole the story and very inacurately and inapropriately fictionalised it in the most offensive way possible and reading the true thing made me incredibly mad once again. Golden, what a piece of shit you are.. It has really highlighted for me how perverted and westernised his view of Geishas and japanese women in general is, absolutely disgusting. Anyway this is a friendly reminder to skip his papertrash, go for truth, own voices and badassery with this book instead!