Sophia.'s review of Memoirs of a Geisha > Likes and Comments
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That was painful, haha, wow!
I think too, that this book is now "like a mouse expecting sympathy from a snake" ROFL lol. Great review :)
SubterraneanCatalyst wrote: "I think too, that this book is now "like a mouse expecting sympathy from a snake" ROFL lol. Great review :)"
Hahaha,I was going to say something about feeling like that rock who gets beaten by the waterfall, but after reading all of those I couldn't bring myself to do it, haha!
Hahaha, and imagine how I felt after reading the book. I was like a dam that had exploded, like a cat that wanted to sleep, like a butterfly that wanted to fly away hahaha.
It really, really is painful.
Great review! I read this a long time ago, but I remember next to nothing about it. All of my memories of plot, etc., come from the movie. Maybe I should reread it and re-evaluate my opinion, because those descriptions really were annoying, like a fly that you can't shoo away. :)
Oh wow! I've never read this but it's supposed to go down as a classic from what I've heard of it!
But then again, Fifty shades of shit is getting equally good reviews and how disgusting is that? So, it goes to show, bestsellers are a lie.
I was considering rereading this because I hated it the first time I read it. However, I attributed my dislike for this book as being more of a "I'm 13 and what is this!?" thing than a real critique of the writing. But even at 13 I found the use of simile and metaphor to be ridiculously heavy handed, from the get go (one of the first pages compares the limits of autobiography to a dog running through a field). I should trust 13 year old Lanika, this book was not good.
oh my god, your review killed me! :) I swear, I have the exact same opinion about that book, it was bleh and the ending was pathetically short and vague.
This thing about worshipping Americans bothered me too - it was so painfully obvious that the author is from US...
Eve wrote: "oh my god, your review killed me! :) I swear, I have the exact same opinion about that book, it was bleh and the ending was pathetically short and vague.
This thing about worshipping Americans bot..."
Ohh Thanks Eve.
I know right? As if the american-soldiers-are-heroes thing wasn't enough, he had to make her ADORE the USA in the epilogue. Please.
Oh how my heart breaks. This is my favorite book, Sophia. :( But at the same time, I realize it is not for everyone. For me, I adored the characters and I still do. Even Hatsumomo. But the writing style is not for everyone. You actually made me want to read it again. This is the only book I own that I try to reread once a year. At any rate, this is still a really good review and I can see where you are coming from on all your points. It just hurts to say that. *walks away sobbing* LOL.
Haha! You review made me feel like a child being tickled on their feet, like an audience member in a good comedy show, like a fast food employee after getting their first paycheck. Hehe, anyway, it was pretty funny! Good review! :0)
Kara wrote: "Oh how my heart breaks. This is my favorite book, Sophia. :( But at the same time, I realize it is not for everyone. For me, I adored the characters and I still do. Even Hatsumomo. But the writing ..."
Oh no Kara. I'm heartbroken. Your favourite book, really? (view spoiler) I suppose we can't agree on every book, but that'd be nice, wouldn't it? Haha. But I still love you, though :)
Anyway admittedly the book was readable, I mean, I did give it 2 stars so somehow it's okay. But definitely not my thing.
@ Rebecca : Oh thankss haha:)
Yeah, I felt for Hatsumomo because of her situation. She was desperate with no other options. Admittedly, she is a horrible person, but I kind of feel like she was backed into a corner with no way out.
And I totally understand that you didn't like it. I actually don't mind reading negative reviews of books I love. I like seeing different points of view. I know I see this book through rose-colored glasses. I'm okay with that. LOL.
omg i didnt know there ws another viewpoint until i read ur review..bt it opened my eyes as to how others see it.. i agree that its not in evryones temperament to bow n kneel n satisfy and what not, but sch ws their culture back then, n they took it very seriousyl.. it was a respectable job.. also sayuri's earning for the chairman was the only piece of hope she cud clung on in her entire life.. else she wud hv been a mess. yes the ending was seriously rushed!!! i mean if golden cud write so mch, did he gt tired at the end of the book?? :P
mameha was the best i believe.. the only one who has not been tarnished.. and the world war thing was also not in the proper light.. the true suffering misery and loath towards the bombings were not at all described... such is the golden bias :(
but nonetheless its a pure historical rich read if u cn go thru it again with a new outlook..that of feeling a part of the exotic past...
I totally agree with you about relating to Chiyo and not to Sayuri! Also I thought that the book was going to be well-paced from when she was like eight to when she was an old woman, but like you said, the end was all rushed and then for more than half of it she was like fifteen!
I just want to explain that a Japanese woman would not have tried change her fortune. Duty, honor and obedience were very real.
And comparison to nature would have been how they described their feelings and thoughts. It was very important.
I agree with Meghan. You really have to understand the culture before you make your judgements. Nature is extremely important in Japanese culture, and it wouldn't be unusual for Sayuri, who is often described as clever, to make many comparisons. And, yes, the culture also values duty and responsibility over self-determination. It would have been not only inaccurate but anachronistic if Sayuri, at any time in her life, had approached someone and told them what SHE wanted--that just would not have been done. It also has to be considered that back then women were of lower status than men. Why is it never questioned that married men took mistresses? Why are the mizuage of apprentice geisha sold to the highest bidder? Women were not respected, and nor were their wishes. Sayuri did not ask for help or try to better her situation on her own because she is restricted by the cultural values that have been instilled in her since birth. And as for the American soldiers--it was stated several times that Kyoto, in the beginning, did not feel the effects of the war as the rest of Japan did. But it also has to do with Sayuri herself. The way she perceives the American soldiers determines their role in Memoirs of a Geisha, because as the narrator of the story she dictates what is good and what is bad. She only tells about good experiences with the soldiers. Naturally that would translate into the soldiers being good themselves. I am not disreputing the review or its author; I am just saying, you have to really consider something before making any judgements.
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Sep 30, 2012 11:07am
That was painful, haha, wow!
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I think too, that this book is now "like a mouse expecting sympathy from a snake" ROFL lol. Great review :)
SubterraneanCatalyst wrote: "I think too, that this book is now "like a mouse expecting sympathy from a snake" ROFL lol. Great review :)"Hahaha,I was going to say something about feeling like that rock who gets beaten by the waterfall, but after reading all of those I couldn't bring myself to do it, haha!
Hahaha, and imagine how I felt after reading the book. I was like a dam that had exploded, like a cat that wanted to sleep, like a butterfly that wanted to fly away hahaha. It really, really is painful.
Great review! I read this a long time ago, but I remember next to nothing about it. All of my memories of plot, etc., come from the movie. Maybe I should reread it and re-evaluate my opinion, because those descriptions really were annoying, like a fly that you can't shoo away. :)
Oh wow! I've never read this but it's supposed to go down as a classic from what I've heard of it! But then again, Fifty shades of shit is getting equally good reviews and how disgusting is that? So, it goes to show, bestsellers are a lie.
I was considering rereading this because I hated it the first time I read it. However, I attributed my dislike for this book as being more of a "I'm 13 and what is this!?" thing than a real critique of the writing. But even at 13 I found the use of simile and metaphor to be ridiculously heavy handed, from the get go (one of the first pages compares the limits of autobiography to a dog running through a field). I should trust 13 year old Lanika, this book was not good.
oh my god, your review killed me! :) I swear, I have the exact same opinion about that book, it was bleh and the ending was pathetically short and vague. This thing about worshipping Americans bothered me too - it was so painfully obvious that the author is from US...
Eve wrote: "oh my god, your review killed me! :) I swear, I have the exact same opinion about that book, it was bleh and the ending was pathetically short and vague. This thing about worshipping Americans bot..."
Ohh Thanks Eve.
I know right? As if the american-soldiers-are-heroes thing wasn't enough, he had to make her ADORE the USA in the epilogue. Please.
Oh how my heart breaks. This is my favorite book, Sophia. :( But at the same time, I realize it is not for everyone. For me, I adored the characters and I still do. Even Hatsumomo. But the writing style is not for everyone. You actually made me want to read it again. This is the only book I own that I try to reread once a year. At any rate, this is still a really good review and I can see where you are coming from on all your points. It just hurts to say that. *walks away sobbing* LOL.
Haha! You review made me feel like a child being tickled on their feet, like an audience member in a good comedy show, like a fast food employee after getting their first paycheck. Hehe, anyway, it was pretty funny! Good review! :0)
Kara wrote: "Oh how my heart breaks. This is my favorite book, Sophia. :( But at the same time, I realize it is not for everyone. For me, I adored the characters and I still do. Even Hatsumomo. But the writing ..."Oh no Kara. I'm heartbroken. Your favourite book, really? (view spoiler) I suppose we can't agree on every book, but that'd be nice, wouldn't it? Haha. But I still love you, though :)
Anyway admittedly the book was readable, I mean, I did give it 2 stars so somehow it's okay. But definitely not my thing.
@ Rebecca : Oh thankss haha:)
Yeah, I felt for Hatsumomo because of her situation. She was desperate with no other options. Admittedly, she is a horrible person, but I kind of feel like she was backed into a corner with no way out. And I totally understand that you didn't like it. I actually don't mind reading negative reviews of books I love. I like seeing different points of view. I know I see this book through rose-colored glasses. I'm okay with that. LOL.
omg i didnt know there ws another viewpoint until i read ur review..bt it opened my eyes as to how others see it.. i agree that its not in evryones temperament to bow n kneel n satisfy and what not, but sch ws their culture back then, n they took it very seriousyl.. it was a respectable job.. also sayuri's earning for the chairman was the only piece of hope she cud clung on in her entire life.. else she wud hv been a mess. yes the ending was seriously rushed!!! i mean if golden cud write so mch, did he gt tired at the end of the book?? :Pmameha was the best i believe.. the only one who has not been tarnished.. and the world war thing was also not in the proper light.. the true suffering misery and loath towards the bombings were not at all described... such is the golden bias :(
but nonetheless its a pure historical rich read if u cn go thru it again with a new outlook..that of feeling a part of the exotic past...
I totally agree with you about relating to Chiyo and not to Sayuri! Also I thought that the book was going to be well-paced from when she was like eight to when she was an old woman, but like you said, the end was all rushed and then for more than half of it she was like fifteen!
I just want to explain that a Japanese woman would not have tried change her fortune. Duty, honor and obedience were very real. And comparison to nature would have been how they described their feelings and thoughts. It was very important.
I agree with Meghan. You really have to understand the culture before you make your judgements. Nature is extremely important in Japanese culture, and it wouldn't be unusual for Sayuri, who is often described as clever, to make many comparisons. And, yes, the culture also values duty and responsibility over self-determination. It would have been not only inaccurate but anachronistic if Sayuri, at any time in her life, had approached someone and told them what SHE wanted--that just would not have been done. It also has to be considered that back then women were of lower status than men. Why is it never questioned that married men took mistresses? Why are the mizuage of apprentice geisha sold to the highest bidder? Women were not respected, and nor were their wishes. Sayuri did not ask for help or try to better her situation on her own because she is restricted by the cultural values that have been instilled in her since birth. And as for the American soldiers--it was stated several times that Kyoto, in the beginning, did not feel the effects of the war as the rest of Japan did. But it also has to do with Sayuri herself. The way she perceives the American soldiers determines their role in Memoirs of a Geisha, because as the narrator of the story she dictates what is good and what is bad. She only tells about good experiences with the soldiers. Naturally that would translate into the soldiers being good themselves. I am not disreputing the review or its author; I am just saying, you have to really consider something before making any judgements.
