Golden, Arthur - Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha, put plain and simply [though it is difficult to even imagine this novel as plain and simple], is the story of a girl's life that allows you to immerse yourself in the rich culture of traditional Japan. It explores the mystifying lifestyle of the geisha, a branch of Japanese culture often shrouded in myths and rumor by foreigners. There is no true plot as you would normally think when the word 'plot' comes to life. Instead, it binds you to the heroine as though you are her yourself, or perhaps that she is your best friend, that you are wishing well and then pulls you into her turbulent life. All the while, you hold your breath and pray she will live happily ever after in the end, no mater how unlikely it seems as the book wears on. The heroine, Sayuri, is a vivid and bold character, one that causes you to bite your lip and hope for the best when she comes across trouble, something that is ample in her life. Often, it is not simply trouble that she faces, but tragedy. The story itself is a roller coaster ride of emotions, following Sayuri's entire life - from her childhood to her blossoming as a geisha in Gion. The reader is there to cry with her, hope with her, dream with her, and see her world through her eyes. The tone of the story is so beautifully poetic that while you were only moments ago on your bed with Memoirs cradled in your hands, you find yourself suddenly sitting among the guests and the geisha in the Ichiriki Teahouse or peering up the dark stairs of the Nitta okiya, fearful of what punishment may await you. This is a book for avid readers, with a 428 page glimpse of another world, a number even now I feel is far too small.

Memoirs of a Geisha will leave you feeling wiser, as though you have aged ten years over the time you read the book. In a way, after learning all of life's lessons through Sayuri, you might have matured exactly so without realizing it.

Weishan Chin

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