"What I did on Amami, I did because of my feelings for you, Chairman. Every step I have taken in my life since I was a child in Gion, I have taken in the hope of bringing myself closer to you."
"How strange, that the same woman who looked me so frankly in the eye as a girl, many years ago, can't bring herself to do it now."
I started reading this novel about more than three years ago. I tried very hard to like it enough to continue reading and eventually finish it but I failed. I have not yet gotten through the first chapter when I felt bored out of my wits. But then I persevered and got myself through chapter 11, and then I just cannot really push myself to go through another chapter anymore. It was not until this last few months that I have been watching some old movies that I stumbled upon the Memoirs of a Geisha movie again. The movie brought back my interest in reading the book and so I picked up the yellowing copy of mine and read it again starting from page 1.
I have first known Sayuri when I was in my senior year in college. Our professor let us watched the movie version of Memoirs of a Geisha as part of our lesson in Japanese business ethics. She then asked us to explain the line "What is sumo but a dance between giants, and what is business but a dance between companies?!" after watching the movie. It was then that I got interested with the original version of which the movie was based upon.
As what others were saying about this novel, it really is half truth and half fairytale. But nevertheless it is a lovely, at times sad, love story. Loving someone from afar is something I am very familiar with. And yet Chairman and Sayuri's love story still captured me with its sorrow, faith, and realness.
Following Sayuri's life can be exhausting, maddening, sorrowful, and of course encouraging. You will be given a glimpse inside geishas' lives, their world, and although the book was accused of maligning the dignity of how geishas really conduct their businesses in real life, I think this is very close to reality, nevertheless. But of course I am still very interested to read "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki, who is the main source of Golden's novel. She is also the one who cried foul of some scenes written by Golden. But nevertheless, Memoirs of a Geisha still will bring you to a world full of competition, friendship, betrayal, trust, business transactions, family relations, and in general, life itself. And of course amidst all of this, a beautiful, enchanting, and too good to be true love story bloomed from the hearts of two people who will do everything for the sake of the other. It was only know, after typing the last sentence that I realized that Memoirs of a Geisha really is all about sacrifice also.
Sad, touching, tear-jerking scenes aside, I also enjoyed the humor sprinkled here and there by Golden. I find myself laughing my head off and yet not feel ridiculous about it afterwards. Golden really knew how to throw a punch line. I really liked the book, and it has promoted itself to being one of my favorite books of all time. Well, what can I say? I am a fan of too good to be true, fairytale-like love stories. And to prove that I really love Memoirs of a Geisha, here is a poem I made inspired by this book: Ode to Sayuri
"How strange, that the same woman who looked me so frankly in the eye as a girl, many years ago, can't bring herself to do it now."
I started reading this novel about more than three years ago. I tried very hard to like it enough to continue reading and eventually finish it but I failed. I have not yet gotten through the first chapter when I felt bored out of my wits. But then I persevered and got myself through chapter 11, and then I just cannot really push myself to go through another chapter anymore. It was not until this last few months that I have been watching some old movies that I stumbled upon the Memoirs of a Geisha movie again. The movie brought back my interest in reading the book and so I picked up the yellowing copy of mine and read it again starting from page 1.
I have first known Sayuri when I was in my senior year in college. Our professor let us watched the movie version of Memoirs of a Geisha as part of our lesson in Japanese business ethics. She then asked us to explain the line "What is sumo but a dance between giants, and what is business but a dance between companies?!" after watching the movie. It was then that I got interested with the original version of which the movie was based upon.
As what others were saying about this novel, it really is half truth and half fairytale. But nevertheless it is a lovely, at times sad, love story. Loving someone from afar is something I am very familiar with. And yet Chairman and Sayuri's love story still captured me with its sorrow, faith, and realness.
Following Sayuri's life can be exhausting, maddening, sorrowful, and of course encouraging. You will be given a glimpse inside geishas' lives, their world, and although the book was accused of maligning the dignity of how geishas really conduct their businesses in real life, I think this is very close to reality, nevertheless. But of course I am still very interested to read "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki, who is the main source of Golden's novel. She is also the one who cried foul of some scenes written by Golden. But nevertheless, Memoirs of a Geisha still will bring you to a world full of competition, friendship, betrayal, trust, business transactions, family relations, and in general, life itself. And of course amidst all of this, a beautiful, enchanting, and too good to be true love story bloomed from the hearts of two people who will do everything for the sake of the other. It was only know, after typing the last sentence that I realized that Memoirs of a Geisha really is all about sacrifice also.
Sad, touching, tear-jerking scenes aside, I also enjoyed the humor sprinkled here and there by Golden. I find myself laughing my head off and yet not feel ridiculous about it afterwards. Golden really knew how to throw a punch line. I really liked the book, and it has promoted itself to being one of my favorite books of all time. Well, what can I say? I am a fan of too good to be true, fairytale-like love stories. And to prove that I really love Memoirs of a Geisha, here is a poem I made inspired by this book: Ode to Sayuri
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