Memoirs of a Geisha
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by 4evagreen from Furness Vale, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Spotted in a charity shop and I could not resist picking up.
“Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.”
The story is certainly cruel at times there are also touches of deep humour. The book follows the tale of Chiyo whom along with her sister Satsu are taken from their penniless father and dying mother and sold into an okiya in Gion. Chiyo who is younger with striking blue eyes is to be trained as a geisha whilst her sister is sold into prostitution although here the lines become a little blurred as the only way a geisha can really make money is to become a mistress to a wealthy 'danna' and therefore sells sex for favor a bit like prostitution really. Ultimately in both instances their job is to entertain wealthy men. The geishas are seen as an investment who must repay for their owners for food, clothing, lodgings and training out of any future earnings. The quickest way to do this is by the sale of their 'mizuage' or virginity. It was certainly amusing as Chiyo (who becomes renamed as Sayuri) is explained the facts of life by her mentor Mameha who speaks of a man's 'homeless eel'. Even after they have repaid all there debts they are still expected to contribute towards the running of the okiya so continuing the cycle of abuse.
You certainly feel for Chiyo/Sayuri in her trials and tribulations as she grows older but despite the dark nature of the material this is not a maudlin tale but one of a society that we in the West cannot hope to understand. Perhaps that is the most surprising part of the book as it is hard to imagine life like this even in 1930's Japan because nowadays it is seen as an advanced country rather than a third World one whereas if it took part in some less developed country it would not surprise us at all.
My main complaint with this book is that it is written by an American and you can certainly see from the last few chapters how it is aimed at an American mass market. That said I still found it a remarkable book and one that I feel will last with me for a while.
The story is certainly cruel at times there are also touches of deep humour. The book follows the tale of Chiyo whom along with her sister Satsu are taken from their penniless father and dying mother and sold into an okiya in Gion. Chiyo who is younger with striking blue eyes is to be trained as a geisha whilst her sister is sold into prostitution although here the lines become a little blurred as the only way a geisha can really make money is to become a mistress to a wealthy 'danna' and therefore sells sex for favor a bit like prostitution really. Ultimately in both instances their job is to entertain wealthy men. The geishas are seen as an investment who must repay for their owners for food, clothing, lodgings and training out of any future earnings. The quickest way to do this is by the sale of their 'mizuage' or virginity. It was certainly amusing as Chiyo (who becomes renamed as Sayuri) is explained the facts of life by her mentor Mameha who speaks of a man's 'homeless eel'. Even after they have repaid all there debts they are still expected to contribute towards the running of the okiya so continuing the cycle of abuse.
You certainly feel for Chiyo/Sayuri in her trials and tribulations as she grows older but despite the dark nature of the material this is not a maudlin tale but one of a society that we in the West cannot hope to understand. Perhaps that is the most surprising part of the book as it is hard to imagine life like this even in 1930's Japan because nowadays it is seen as an advanced country rather than a third World one whereas if it took part in some less developed country it would not surprise us at all.
My main complaint with this book is that it is written by an American and you can certainly see from the last few chapters how it is aimed at an American mass market. That said I still found it a remarkable book and one that I feel will last with me for a while.
Released 9 yrs ago (6/19/2014 UTC) at Furness Vale, Derbyshire United Kingdom
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Going out as a BookMooch. Enjoy!
Found on Bookmooch! Very excited to read it!
