Questions About Geisha, a Life

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Answered Questions (4)

How certain can we be that what Mineko wrote in the novel about herself is true? A. Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha is subjected to such scrutiny even though it is historical fiction, not historical fact, but a former geisha’s claim to be the greatest of her time isn’t? Why’s that?

Heather McAlister White male privilege at its finest: Golden can interview a woman from another country and culture from his own about her own life, mess around with th…moreWhite male privilege at its finest: Golden can interview a woman from another country and culture from his own about her own life, mess around with the details to make his story seem more spicy, lie to her about keeping her anonymous and then publish her name to give his own writing more credibility anyway, and people still assume that his word is more trustworthy than hers. Iwasaki Mineko is just a woman born and raised in Japan, who joined the geiko when she was a small child in the 1940's, and spent decades working as a geiko in Gion; why would her account be more credible than Aruthur Golden's? A straight white male American professor who it's doubtful ever set foot in Japan?(less)

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Is this the same book as Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki?

Rebecca Yes, Geisha a life is simply the title for the American release.

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is the book the same with the movie Memoirs of Geisha?

Ronny De Schepper And so here is mister Golden again. In the first answer he's mentioned as the "interviewer" of Mineko Iwasaki, but in my book this is a task by Rande …moreAnd so here is mister Golden again. In the first answer he's mentioned as the "interviewer" of Mineko Iwasaki, but in my book this is a task by Rande Brown, a woman by the way...(less)

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Is this the same book as Geisha, a Life by Mineko Iwasaki? If not then which one is better?

Jeremy Paterson Yes, same book. For some reason, the UK version was named "Geisha of Gion" and the US version was named "Geisha: a Life."…moreYes, same book. For some reason, the UK version was named "Geisha of Gion" and the US version was named "Geisha: a Life."(less)

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