If you liked memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden, here are some books like this. Jan 18, 2015 memoirs of a geisha was released in 1997 and spent two years on the new york times bestseller list. In memoirs of a geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount. To be sure, fiction has a certain creative license, but iwasaki believes that memoirs of a geisha doesnt merely use her as inspiration. Nov 10, 2006 what are some differences between memoirs of a geisha the book and the movie. If youre looking for an alternative, i think these books come pretty close.
Amazon has a very good section but avoid the books by lesley downer. What are some recommendations for books that are similar to. A younger geisha would have a much harder time getting work if her looks faded like this. The memoirs of a geisha community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries kindle edition. Goodreads members who liked memoirs of a geisha also liked. Mineko iwasaki, one of gions top geisha in the 1960s and 1970s, opened her kyoto home to me during may 1992, and corrected my every misconception about the life of a geishaeven though everyone i knew who had lived in kyoto, or who lived there. The translator has the most hardtopronounce name in the whole book. If you like memoirs of a geisha you might like similar books the time travelers wife, the help, the secret life of bees, the girl who played with fire, water for elephants.
It stars zhang ziyi, ken watanabe, gong li, michelle yeoh, youki kudoh, suzuka ohgo, and samantha futerman. Im not a huge reader mainly because i just couldnt find anything that i liked. To compare memoirs of a geisha to a similar work, i couldnt think of one that i had read recently. Goldens book gave insight into the cloistered world of the geisha, and in 2005, it was adapted into a lush, academy awardwinning filmthough the movie garnered criticism for casting the. Ive read the book and own the movie, but all i can remember is the fire scene in the movie is not in the book. Memoirs of a geisha arthur golden read online free books. The geisha who was the main source for arthur goldens bestselling memoirs of a geisha has hit back at what she claims are slurs on her profession by releasing her own memoirs. The life of a famous kyoto geisha from her painful apprenticeship in the early. Goodreads members who liked memoirs of a geisha pen. If you like memoirs of a geisha you might like similar movies interview with the vampire. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in kyoto, japan, before, during and after world war ii and ends with her being relocated to new york city. If you like memoirs of a geisha and want more historical books about women in other cultures, here are some recommendations. Yes, mineko iwasaki was interviewed by arthur golden when he was working on his bestselling book, but memoirs of a geisha is a work of fiction. Memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries kindle edition by golden, arthur.
Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film. Memoirs of a geisha was written based on arthur goldens talks with mineko iwasaki, a real geisha. Readalikes are one of the many benefits of membership. Its a sweeping, romantic epic with richly drawn, believable characters and a hugely satisyfying narrative arc. A celebrated writers irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure, spiritual devotion, and what she really wanted out of life. Memoirs of a geisha was the kind of book i wanted to devour in one sitting a novel that charts a fascinating life inside a tough world. Summoning up years of japans most dramatic history, this title conjures up the perfection and the ugliness of life behind ricepaper screens, where young girls learn the arts of geisha dancing and singing, how to wind the kimono, how to walk and pour tea, and how to beguile the most powerful men. Click on a title, author name or category to see similar books. Memoirs of a geisha reminds me of all the light we cannot see and the book thief. Memoirs of a geisha summary from litcharts the creators of.
To see the complete list of this books readalikes, you need to be a member. If you like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden, you may like these other historical fiction titles featuring women and that take place in asia. Dec 01, 2005 memoirs of a geisha is one of my alltime favourite reads and i remain impressed that it was arthur goldens debut book. Memoirs of a geisha begins with a translators note. Ive reread moag about four times, and its one of the most immersive novels ive ever experienced. Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film based on the novel of the same name by arthur golden, produced by steven spielbergs amblin entertainment and spyglass entertainment and by douglas wicks red wagon entertainment. It is an elegantly written novel filled with history, romance, beauty and suspense. Feel free to like the book, but i simply cannot stand it that not many are aware of how bad it is.
Count on nobu to point it out in the most callous way. If you like memoirs of a geisha and want more historical books. Her story was very twisted in the way that gold portrayed her, so reading her own autobiography might hopefully. Part historical novel, part fairy tale and part dickensian romance, memoirs of a geisha immerses the reader in an exotic world, even as it relates the story of one womans coming of age, 4 1 had similar thoughts to these while reading the hook.
Its a novel which, once read, will stay with you forever so vivid is the writing and characterisation. Books like memoirs of a geisha for fans of arthur goldens classic. Memoirs of a geisha ebook written by arthur golden. Dec 25, 2015 i just want to highlight to you that the book, the movie, and the author are actually very problematic. Memoirs of a geisha is a book full of history, romance and life in another culture. Stories similar to memoirs of a geisha books, stories, and novels like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading memoirs of a geisha vintage contemporaries. I loved this book so much back when i read and couldnt put it down. What are some differences between memoirs of a geisha the.
Memoirs of a geisha is a book of nuances and vivid metaphor, of memorable characters rendered with humor and pathos. It is 1959 when haruko, a young woman of good family, marries the crown prince of japan, the heir to the chrysanthemum throne. Similarities and differences between movie and book of. Its not the story or romance that intrigues me, just the worldbuilding, for a lack of a. Books that perform well based on their reader engagement are published by inkitt in different formats and channels.
If youre looking for characterdriven books like memoirs of a geisha, check out these titles by philippa gregory, lisa see, tracy chevalier and. If youre looking for characterdriven books like memoirs of a geisha, check out these titles by philippa gregory, lisa see, tracy chevalier and more. Clearly golden, a 40something american male, has never lived anything remotely similar to the experiences of a geisha coming of age in the 1930s, the glory days of kyotos gion pleasure district. A life by mineko iwasaki her first book or about geisha in general written by a anthropologist liza dalby who was a westerner who trained as a geisha. Cherry blossomdelicate, with images as carefully sculpted as bonsai, this tale of the life of a renowned geisha, one of the last flowers of a kind all but eliminated by ww ii, marks an auspicious, unusual debut. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, emotional, touching and sentimental films with plots about love and romance, culture clash, storytelling, romance, mentor, destiny and catastrophe mostly in drama, romance and history genres. The only work that this book can be compared to cannot be found on the best sellers list, but rather, in the childrens section of the library.
Memoirs of a geisha arthur golden according to arthur goldens absorbing first novel, the word geisha does not mean prostitute, as westerners ignorantly assumeit means artisan or artist. Its a fantastic book in its own right, but many of its depictions of life as a geisha are said to be very inaccurate. Jan 06, 2009 the book and the movie are actually fairly similar usually not the case, however, you have to remember this is a fictional account. Historical romance and women memoirs of a geisha thoughtco. Author mineko iwasaki performs a traditional japanese dance during the presentation of her new book geisha, a life at the beverly hills library. The other people living at the okiya are the young apprentice geisha pumpkin, the greedy and materialistic mother who runs the okiya, and the beautiful but cruel geisha hatsumomo. The renowned kato yukia geisha who captured the heart of george morgan, nephew of j. Looking for a book where the storyline is such that heroes turn out to be villains and villains turn out to be heroes. A literary sensation and runaway bestseller, this brilliant debut novel presents with seamless authenticity and exquisite lyricism the true confessions of one of japans most celebrated geisha.
Second, there was a part of himand i didnt know how dominant. Books that defined a generation memoirs of a geisha. If you like memoirs of a geisha by arthur golden central. Most similar movies to memoirs of a geisha the list contains related movies ordered by similarity. And though the story is rich with detail and a vast knowledge of history, it is the transparent, seductive voice of sayuri that the reader remembers. I would greatly appreciate if anyone has any ideas, also the book doesnt need a. He tells us that in 1936, he saw a dance performance in kyoto. Thats one of the reasons iwasaki decided to write geisha. It is a unique and triumphant work of fictionat once romantic, erotic, suspensefuland completely unforgettable. What are some recommendations for books that are similar. Find books like memoirs of a geisha from the worlds largest community of readers.
Buy a cheap copy of memoirs of a geisha book by arthur golden. In 1997, arthur golden published memoirs of a geisha, a bestselling novel that follows chiyo sakamoto as she navigates the life of a kyoto geisha in the years surrounding world war ii. Oct 19, 20 then again, the character is based on real life geisha mineko iwasaki, so i suppose it would be worth while reading her book geisha of gion and studying her perspective. I first read this novel about a decade ago and like many other readers, i kept flipping back the pages, checking that a man wrote this wonderful narrative. However, i have yet to find another book that makes me feel quite like this one does. At the okiya, chiyo works as a maid while she trains to be a geisha. Is arthur goldens memoirs of a geisha culturally accurate. Mineko later sued arthur bc she claimed he had agreed not to expose her name, and also that he had not portrayed geisha truthfully. I just want to highlight to you that the book, the movie, and the author are actually very problematic. It was then made into a movie that was released in 2005. Books similar to memoirs of a geisha memoirs of a geisha. The translator has the most hard to pronounce name in the whole book.
Arthur goldens brilliant debut novel, memoirs of a geisha, is a reminder of just how silly the exhortation write what you know. This spellbinding debut, reminiscent of memoirs of a geisha, depicts, with chilling accuracy, life behind north koreas iron curtain. To see the complete list of this book s readalikes, you need to be a member. Geisha are women trained to entertain men with conversation, dancing, and singing. Directed by rob marshall, the film was released in the united states on december 9, 2005 by columbia pictures. Here is the quote about sayuris appearance changing during the war. Arthur golden because her mother is dying and her father old, chiyo, nine, is sold to a wealthy geisha house in gion where she learns her trade and works it in the 1930s and 1940s. Memoirs of a geisha has always been among my favourite novels. Since geisha were supposed to keep their trade secrets, she talked to him on condition of anonymity, a promise which he broke by naming her as a sou. A westerner named jakob haarhuis includes this note as preface to the main attraction. And years later, he became her friend in new york city. Chapter one begins with a bit of an homage to dickens. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in kyoto, japan, before, during and after world war ii and. Find books like memoirs of a geisha penguin readers from the worlds largest community of readers.
Memoirs of a geisha is one of my alltime favourite reads and i remain impressed that it was arthur goldens debut book. She was the reallife geisha that memoirs was based off of. Then again, the character is based on real life geisha mineko iwasaki, so i suppose it would be worth while reading her book geisha of gion and studying her perspective. Mineko iwasaki, one of gions top geisha in the 1960s and 1970s, opened her kyoto home to me during may 1992, and corrected my every misconception about the life of a geisha even though everyone i knew who had lived in kyoto, or who lived there still, told me never to expect such candor. Books similar to memoirs of a geisha penguin readers memoirs of a geisha penguin readers by michael dean. Memoirs of a geisha is a 2005 american epic drama film based on the novel of the same name by arthur golden, produced by steven spielberg s amblin entertainment and spyglass entertainment and by douglas wick s red wagon entertainment. Memoirs of a geisha summary from litcharts the creators.
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