A critically acclaimed author tells the enthralling true story of the real Madame Butterfly, a woman who became the most celebrated geisha in Japan...
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reviews
Jun 05, 2010
Tracey
rated it: 
This was a Borders "cheap book" purchase sometime in the spring of 2010.
Read this while on vacation (May 2010) - a fascinating "fish out of water" story where a strong woman challenges her society's expectations and becomes a success not only in what was a man's world, but in a totally different culture as well.
Downer's research on both the Japanese and American sides of the story seems quite solid and in line with what little I know of this time pe More...
Read this while on vacation (May 2010) - a fascinating "fish out of water" story where a strong woman challenges her society's expectations and becomes a success not only in what was a man's world, but in a totally different culture as well.
Downer's research on both the Japanese and American sides of the story seems quite solid and in line with what little I know of this time pe More...
Jan 05, 2011
Jean
rated it:
I love everything geisha (except, of course, the gender and occupational-based discrimination associated therein). Madame Sadayakko was a very interesting person living and defining her career in a time of great importance for the development of culture and man's journey towards globalization. Downer does well to illustrate the cultural climate of the late 19th century and the struggles and triumphs of this artist's rise to fame. My only criticism is that she intuited Sadayakko's thoughts and
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Apr 27, 2010
Kayt
rated it: 
This could have been a lot more interesting if it didn't feel like the author's fantasy. It was often hard to figure out where facts stopped and conjecture began. Despite the fact that I know that every detail of Sada's life isn't going to be available, phrases that cropped up often--"You can imagine," "There might have been," &etc-- didn't help the feeling that this was more "based on" Sadayakko's story than even an attempt at a biography.
Oct 27, 2011
Caitlin
rated it:
Like others, I found the constant switch between biography and historical fiction was a little jarring but it is good of Downer to provide notes about when things may have been exaggerated and glossed over by Sadayakko and her descendants to preserve her image. For those interested strictly in geisha history or biography, this is probably not the book for them, but for those interested in Japanese history during the Meiji-era, this is a good, informative read.
Jul 27, 2011
This was brilliant! I was captivated by this fascinating woman and spent almost two weeks in the strange, bewitching world of Meiji and Taisho Japan ... a whole lot different to the modern reality.
Jan 06, 2011
Deb
rated it:
Not bad. The thing that annoyed me most was the constant misuse of the word "coiffeur" instead of "coiffure" - like she was walking around with a hairdresser on her head!
Oct 27, 2008
Melissa
rated it:
Biography of a Geisha turned actress in the late 19th century. She travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe with her husband who had founded the acting troupe.
Sep 18, 2007
Jennifer
rated it:
I thought this would be like Memoirs of a Geisha, but it was not as detailed or interesting.
Mar 17, 2008
Jen
rated it: 
This book was really interesting. I don't have a copy anymore but I wish I did!
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