Opinions anyone? (showing 1-50 of 148)

[Michelle]

I'm nearly halfway through, have to say this really surprised me. I expected it to be dead boring but its exceptionally written so far. Would love to know what everyone thought of it x

[Miranda]

I absolutely love this book. It hooked me in and I couldn't put it down til I finished the whole thing it took me about 3-4 days to finish.

[Seana]

One of my all time favorite books!

[Schawn]

So far it has been very good.

[Randy]

I found myself wondering what I would have done in her place and I am still wondering..

Both the book and the movie are worth attention.

[Chrisie]

I have to agree. Both are well done though I have to say I do like the book more, simply because they are able to give more detail and past history than a movie.

[Michelle]

I watched the film the other night, its very well done but the book is better. I am only halfway through but in the film I found it caught up to where I am in the book far too quick- and all the little bits of Chiyos life are important.

[Maroulisa]

The book was great.It had suspence and love.She survived after all the difficulties and finally she found the love of her life.I saw also the movie (I enjoyed the last scene).the book was better.

[Jessica]

It was beautifully written. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading it again.

[Greengirl]

Loved it.... Recommend it all the time. One of my favor most favorites.

[Susan]

Not a big fan. Took forever to read. But it was years ago.

[Cherie]

I loved the book. I thought it was easy to read and had me hooked right away. I have not seen the movie.

[Jacki]

Beautfully written! It held my interest throughout. I didn't care much for the film. But the book...oh, the book!

[Julie]

Excellent book. I loved it

[Jasmine]

One of my favorites What a wonderful story!

[Terri]

I loved this book. It was great

[Jewel]

Michelle wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through, have to say this really surprised me. I expected it to be dead boring but its exceptionally written so far. Would love to know what everyone thought of it x"

Wonderful book! It's definitely one of my favorites.

[Schawn]

Its a decent book and interesting story. I did enjoy it.

[Zakaria]

Is it a true mémoire ?

[Shewanda]

It's marketed as a work of fiction so far as I know. I read this long before the movie, and started out a skeptic--mainly due to the idea of a white male serving as the voice of a young Japanese woman. But the story intrigued me and I took a bite. Glad I did. One of my favorites.

[Leah]

Love this book!! I still get chills from talking about it, made me cry, but love it, love it!!!

[John]

Wonderful book! One of the most enjoyable reads I've had.

[Angie]

I also love this book.

To think that she didn't want to become a geisha but for love she changed her mind.

The story made me think about how in life nothing is carve in stone, as long as you have the conviction and enough motivation for something, you can do everything.

[Zakaria]

Thank you.

[Kaye]

Read it years ago when it first came out but I loved it. Very well written, interesting and insightful.

[Michelle]

Zakaria wrote: "Is it a true mémoire ?"
Shewandas right- It is a work of fiction- hard to think that was written as fiction. Think he got alot of info from a former geisha or was she not sure on that bit but i definitely remember reading its fiction.

It is very insightful- the reader gains an awful lot of knowledge.

finished it last week- oh id read it again!!!!!

[Melissa]

I find myself reading it again and again just as a good go to book. Beautifully written

[Zakaria]

While I was reading it I said to myself : this can not be a mere work of fiction, and if it is, then it is unbelievably well recounted. I really got confused. Other than that, I enjoyed it. I hate the malicious Hatsumomo by the way.

[Karina]

definitely one of my favorite books of all time! It so beautifully gets into the character's head, as well as into the culture of Japan. <3

[Sharon]

Enjoyed this book very much and was so pleased to be reading it while visiting Japan. Years ago. I thought the location, culture and characters were very well written. The film was okay but not a shade on the atmosphere and involvement felt from reading the book!

[Meera]

This book has definitely got me interested in Japanese authors. Very nicely written, and the movie is a good visual treat too...

[Sharon]

Murakami's latest 1Q84 is being discussed under another discussion group.......

[Sharon]

Meera wrote: "This book has definitely got me interested in Japanese authors. Very nicely written, and the movie is a good visual treat too..."

Ages since I read it but to best of my memory it was NOT written by a Japanese but someone very in tune with the culture and history.
This is a good old interview with the author....http://articles.cnn.com/199...

[Meera]

Sharon wrote: "Meera wrote: "This book has definitely got me interested in Japanese authors. Very nicely written, and the movie is a good visual treat too..."

Ages since I read it but to best of my memory it was..."

You are right, Sharon, it is written by an American... But, the setting is so completely Japanese that their culture intrigues me now...

[Sharon]

Meera wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Meera wrote: "This book has definitely got me interested in Japanese authors. Very nicely written, and the movie is a good visual treat too..."

Ages since I read it but to best of m..."

Do not have any info on this but it is on another post area GR's and may be something for you to google......
Murakami's latest 1Q84 is being discussed under another discussion group.......

[Meera]

Sharon wrote: "Meera wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Meera wrote: "This book has definitely got me interested in Japanese authors. Very nicely written, and the movie is a good visual treat too..."

Ages since I read it bu..."

Thanks, will check out. Picked up a Murakami for the first time...

[Lorenzo]

One of my female friends was on me for months to read "Memoirs" and I was like: yeah, yeah, yeah--I'll get to it one of these days, hoping she'd forget about it. She didn't! I finally relented--this was around 2005 or 2006--and checked out a dog-eared copy from the library.

I was completely blown away by the artistry of Arthur Golden. Rarely had I read a novel like this one: it seemed to transport me in time to the Kyoto experienced by Sayuri. Memoirs of a Geisha now shares the number one spot on my all time favorite novels list right next to George Orwell's "1984." Very different books, of course, but each is a masterpiece of literature. I've read it three times thus far. Undoubtedly, I'll read it many times more in the years to come.

[Christy]

Read it years ago and loved it - could not put it down. One of my all time favorites books. Along with Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

[Liz]

I loved this book. read it five or six years ago. I also thought the film was very well done - probably the best book-to-movie adaptation I've personally seen.

[Karen]

Having lived in Japan, I found this book just a tad shallow. The writing is fine, however, and I can see why people really love it. I would direct those who want to read more about Japan to Oliver Statler's Japanese Inn. Sorry to say, IMHO Memoirs of a Geisha does not hold a candle to Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

[Mona]

I was not a fan of this book. I have to say for the first time ever that maybe the movie would be better than the book. Because it's so visual, it's probably a stunning movie, but I found the book just so-so.

[Tanya]

LOVE.

[Meera]

Karen wrote: "Having lived in Japan, I found this book just a tad shallow. The writing is fine, however, and I can see why people really love it. I would direct those who want to read more about Japan to Olive..."

Will try to read them.

[Jaykumar]

i have read the book 4times or so by now... each time i find new meanings and a rare beauty which is a gift and a delight...

[Deb]

One of the best books I have read this year. It holds your attention and give a little history of the time period.

[Ingemar]

I loved it. It got to my heart.

[Emily]

Love, love, loved it! Beautiful love story. Movie was great too. I thought the cinematography was beautiful.

[Henry]

Great book. Really an amazing journey. You can't help but to connect emotionally with the protagonist. It's also a real depiction of the much misunderstood world of the Geisha. As for if it's a true story or not, I say don't worry about it and enjoy the story. You'll find out.

[Jacqueline]

I loved this book so much. I really got into it and could literally feel all the emotions of Sayuri. I also really liked the relationship between Sayuri and the Chairman

[Reina]

I had to study and analyse this book which I wrote my two pence for in here:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

At least for those who went into reading this based off seeing the movie or just going in blind, I also reccomend you try Mineko Iwasaki's "Geisha of Gion" who is the woman that Golden was inspired by gained his research from before writing his novel.

There was a fair amount of controversy with the way Golden had written (followed by the way Hollywood depicted it) from the Eastern side, but if you're just interested into knowing/hearing more about this secretive world, then you may also enjoy Iwasaki's work :)

I personally prefer to hear it from an actual pro from a world that most of us can only imagine and admire :)