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3rd out of 21 books
—
61 voters
Geisha
by
Liza Dalby (Goodreads Author)
In this classic best-seller, Liza Dalby, the only non-Japanese ever to have trained as a geisha, offers an insider's look at the exclusive world of female companions to the Japanese male elite. Her new preface considers the geisha today as a vestige of tradition as Japan heads into the 21st century.
Paperback, 367 pages
Published
October 1st 1998
by University of California Press
(first published 1983)
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[Note: At the time I wrote this review, I had not yet read Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha. And I think I may be the only person in America who still hasn't.]
Of course, it's now a full week after A&E aired _The Secret Life of Geisha_, a show nominally based on Dalby's 1983 account of her time in Kyoto as the only non-Japanese ever to train and serve as a geisha. But I kept reading anyway. The show's material came, for the most part, from the first four chapters of the book, which cover a good d...more
Of course, it's now a full week after A&E aired _The Secret Life of Geisha_, a show nominally based on Dalby's 1983 account of her time in Kyoto as the only non-Japanese ever to train and serve as a geisha. But I kept reading anyway. The show's material came, for the most part, from the first four chapters of the book, which cover a good d...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Apr 23, 2012
Tocotin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people interested in Japanese culture
I liked the author's approach to the culture and the people who agreed to help her learn more about the profession. I appreciated that she wrote not only about Kyoto. However, I found some of her conclusions too hastily drawn, for example her claim that being a wife and being a geisha is mutually exclusive. Geisha are not as homogenous as they might appear, there were and are many kinds of geisha, and STUFF HAPPENS and exceptions abound, especially in professions like this one. Japanese culture...more
i read this book quite a long time ago, but was recently reminded of it today. i skipped arthur golden's memoirs of a geisha and went straight to dalby's anthropological account of living with geishas. the book is beautifully made and dalby describes geisha culture very accurately. i would guess that to this day this is probably one of the better recounts of geisha culture from a western perspective.
edit: definitely NOT for people looking for memoirs of a geisha or any such fiction.
edit: definitely NOT for people looking for memoirs of a geisha or any such fiction.
“Geisha” first published in 1983 was an extremely influential work in the study of Japanese culture and the intricacies of the lives of geiko (geisha). In it, Dalby examines the history and many aspects of geisha life such as dress, ritual practice, initiation, shamisen playing and zashiki (geisha parties). The style of the book is written in a quite a personal manner, and reads somewhat like a novel. Some could argue that this diminishes the scholarly value, but it is easy to see how well it se...more
I've been an enthusiast of Japan and the Japanese culture since a young age, so Geisha by Liza Dalby was perhaps unsurprisingly an incredibly engaging and illuminating read for me. I knew a lot of the information she addressed going in, but many of the technical aspects of the lifestyle and the traditions she discussed were new to me. It was also one of my first encounters with anthropological literature, which turned out to be a great mixture of raw informative and personal accounts.
Undeniably...more
Undeniably...more
I loved the book Memoirs of a Geisha as a fictional account and it was my first introduction to the Geisha lifestyle. I feel that Liza Dalby's "Geisha" is a book version of a FAQ on Geisha. Everything I ever wanted to know is in this book. I think the most interesting parts are when Ms. Dalby explains the differences between a prostitute and a geisha, although, with my westernized upbringing there are still some hazy areas. It was amazing that she, as a foreign woman, was allowed to train to bec...more
This is a fascinating book giving all kinds of insight into geisha life and Japanese culture. Liza Dalby studied geisha life as an anthropologist, and by living as a geisha. There were places where I found the narrative structure/underpinnng logic hard to follow, moving between subjects. The book is neither fully detached and academic, nor purely personal account, and sometimes the mingling of the two is awkward, and frequently it left me wanting more.
That said, there was much that I enjoyed, I...more
That said, there was much that I enjoyed, I...more
I read this book while living in Japan (before "Memoirs of a Geisha" was published). We visited Kyoto often during our 31 Months there, and Liza'a insight helped inform our experience. We were fascinted and interested in reading about other westerners' experiences adjusting to the Japanese cultural. (Visiting Japan is VERY different than living there!)
It is an interesting insight into the hidden world of the geisha. This way of life is dying since younger women aren't interested. So, records of...more
It is an interesting insight into the hidden world of the geisha. This way of life is dying since younger women aren't interested. So, records of...more
Halverwege heb ik het boek weggelegd.....
De inhoud vind ik op zich boeiend en ik wil graag ook meer weten over "geisha". Alleen heb ik bij het lezen van dit boek steeds het gevoel dat ik eerst een ander boek had moeten lezen om echt goed mee te kunnen (terwijl er geen "eerste" boek is). De auteur schrijft nogal chaotisch en houdt geen chronologische volgorde aan (welke volgorde precies heb ik niet kunnen ontdekken).
Lezen is voor mij ook een vorm van ontspanning en op deze manier erger ik me meer...more
De inhoud vind ik op zich boeiend en ik wil graag ook meer weten over "geisha". Alleen heb ik bij het lezen van dit boek steeds het gevoel dat ik eerst een ander boek had moeten lezen om echt goed mee te kunnen (terwijl er geen "eerste" boek is). De auteur schrijft nogal chaotisch en houdt geen chronologische volgorde aan (welke volgorde precies heb ik niet kunnen ontdekken).
Lezen is voor mij ook een vorm van ontspanning en op deze manier erger ik me meer...more
This is a really interesting book written by an American anthropologist who went to Japan and actually become a geisha. It's a really interesting insight not just into the geisha life but its cultural context as well - the history, politics, literature, class structure. The author, known as the geisha Ichigiku, really has a great love and fascination for her subject and it really shows in this book. I found it endlessly fascinating. And it's making me want to go and read Memoirs of a Geisha agai...more
A fascinating account of a mysterious and, sadly, disappearing culture. The only thing that I didn't really enjoy about this book was the fact that it seemed kind of jumbled and thrown together. The more autobiographical chapters did not mesh well with the strictly anthropological information. I suppose that's part of the issue when combining two such contrasting writing styles, but it all could have benefitted from a strict re-edit, or perhaps been separated into two different works.
This bestseller offers an intimate glimpse into a unique female community. Liz Dalby, the only non-Japanese woman ever to have trained as a geisha, reveals the realities of geisha life. I read this book thinking it would be following the style of Memoirs of a Geisha. However, this book was totally different, in that it was a factual biography. I found it interesting to read about the life of Geisha in Japan, but overall I found this book a little monotonous.
Jul 09, 2009
Mina Villalobos
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone interested in human exchanges, japan, geishas, anthropology
Shelves:
non-fiction,
anthropology
This is a wonderful book. Part anthropologic study, part the recount of a life experience, it blurs the line between studying and living and makes for a fantastic read. The author, an American woman, spent two years as a Geisha in the 1970s to gather information for her thesis. In this book she recounts her life with her 'mother', the things she had to learn and relearn, explains differences between cultures and bridges those gaps with understanding and love. She respects the culture she was imm...more
Liza Dalby does a good job of exploring the state of the geisha in early 1970s Japan, and giving enough historical context to both show the transformation the role was going through at that time and that, to a certain extent, it has always been in a state of transformation. The only thing that bothered me about the book was that at times it felt like she was taking pains to tell us what an awesome geisha she had been. A very worthwhile read.
A facinating read by Liza Dalby, the only foreigner to have ever become a geisha. Half memoir, half historical text, Geisha is a wonderful text that covers everything one needs to know about these exotic artists. I would definitely recommend this book as a reference tool for anyone writing a historical novel set in Japan, and it a definite must read for anyone interested in Asian Studies, Women Studies, or Anthropology.
This book took me a little while to get through. I love it! I started to get curious about what the Geisha were all about and not just the American sterotype of what they are. This book explained a lot. It didn't read like a history book, or something you would use to research a subject, however it could be used that way! I found it overall very interesting and I am now working on her next book Kimono : Fashioning Culture.
I picked this up off the shelf thinking it would be of use in understanding (attempting to understand) the
library
at
Amatsu-Shima
in Second Life. Whether that's so or not remains to be seen. I liked the author's refusal to draw cheap conclusions, however. Thank heavens for anthropologists and the evaluative rigor they impose on themselves.
Para mí, como lectora, encuentro un texto lleno de datos interesantes para el que quiere saber algo más sobre el mundo de 'el sauce y la flor'. Sin embargo, una vez leída la historia de Mineko Iwasaki no dejo de pensar que tal vez unos de estos datos fallaron.
Si es por la información histórica o sociológica no me quejo, pero aun así no me fió de todo.
Si es por la información histórica o sociológica no me quejo, pero aun así no me fió de todo.
I enjoyed this far more than 'Geisha of Gion', as it was much more insightful about the life of a modern geisha, and covers those outside the Kansai region. Dalby also touches on Kimono etiquette and what colours or patterns are appropriate in certain seasons. This has intruiged me so much that I've also bought her specialist book all about it!
If you want to know more about these mysterious figures, this is a fantastic read.
If you want to know more about these mysterious figures, this is a fantastic read.
The first thing that struck me when this book arrived through the post were the amazing pictures. They were in a sophisticated style, taking the form of large mosaic pieces, and yet still simple enough for a child to understand. The story was simple and charming, although it finished quite abruptly and I found myself wanting it to continue. A came out of reading it was a greater understanding of the saintly origins of Valentine's Day.
I borrowed this book from my co-worker who teaches Japanese. I love it. It's a fascinating memoir, historical document, and anthropological work. The explanations and insights into this subculture are fascinating and help clarify details of Japanese culture that I had not understood before.
A must-read for anyone interested in not only geisha, but Japanese dress, male-female relations, aspects of traditional culture, and Japanese history. Fascinating and a page-turner!
A must-read for anyone interested in not only geisha, but Japanese dress, male-female relations, aspects of traditional culture, and Japanese history. Fascinating and a page-turner!
A fascinating insight into Japanese culture and the world of Geisha society. Dalby's research was started as a PhD project and adapted into this book after her thesis was finished. Her knowledge of Japanese culture, both inside and outside that of the Geisha community, is extensive and comes from many years of being immersed in that culture. Although primarily a look at the various Geisha communities opperating in Japan Dalby also makes observations on other aspects of the culture as they relate...more
A sensitive and fascinating look into the only western Geisha, Liza Dalby paints a unique picture of the Geisha world and lifestyle. Her writing is easy to read and engaging, and the wistful degeneration of this old tradition, the reality of the role of a Geisha and its cultural position and the characters involed are beautifully sketched.
I read this as one of the books in my Japanese phase and I really loved it. It is much better than Memoir of a Geisha. Liza Dalby spent a lot of her youth in Japan and speaks Japanese. As an anthropology PhD student she went back to Japan to study Geisha. As part of her work, she was able to live and work as a Geisha. The book is at its best when she is describing her own experiences. Although parts are a bit academic, she is basically a good, clear writer and it never becomes too dry and abstra...more
This book was written by the only non-Japanese person who ever became a Geisha, and the way she writes about her experiences is sensative, and very informational for a Western audience who may not explain all of the terms. For someone like me who has an interest in Eastern culture, I'd recommend this every time.
Read this 25 years ago while living in Japan. So interesting that a westerner was able to 'break' into the world of the Geisha. Again tradition ruled. And to think this was Lisa Dalby's thesis. She really investigated the life of a Geisha and made it so readable. This is one of those "keepers".
A surprisingly easy ready for someone's graduate work. Acting as a cultural anthropologist, Liza works through regional definitions of geisha, historical moments relevant to the profession of geisha, and some persuasive arguments for why geisha have not yet (as of 1976) died out in total.
Feb 09, 2012
Sammi
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who is fascinated by geisha, Japan, history or other cultures.
This book was brilliant.
I loved how Liza wrote about the history of Geisha in Japan and every tiny detail of the things in their life - Kimono and how it is worn, why it is worn, the way it is worn, the colours that are worn and why.
Every detail is written about and it is definately one of the best books i've read about concerning geisha - and it was even written by a non-Japanese.
It has aspects of her time as a geisha, but it wasn't too autobiographical. It forcussed mainly on geisha arts and c...more
I loved how Liza wrote about the history of Geisha in Japan and every tiny detail of the things in their life - Kimono and how it is worn, why it is worn, the way it is worn, the colours that are worn and why.
Every detail is written about and it is definately one of the best books i've read about concerning geisha - and it was even written by a non-Japanese.
It has aspects of her time as a geisha, but it wasn't too autobiographical. It forcussed mainly on geisha arts and c...more
Feb 28, 2009
Liz
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wants to learn more about the life of a geisha
Recommended to Liz by:
self
Shelves:
memoirs
This book was very inciteful of the geisha lifestyle, traditions, and the opinions of an outsider. Liza actually goes to japan and becomes the first non-japanese geisha. The book switches from her actual accounts to history and traditions in the geisha world.
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With its fascinating story of characters caught up in a world they themselves don't understand, Hidden Buddhas may well be Liza Dalby's best work yet. Besides taking us on a journey through little-known corners of Japan, it offers us an engaging and believable portrait of people driven to do things they may not have imagined." --Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha
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