Did anyone think it would have been better if it was really a memoir?

[[deleted user]]

OK, I read this book at 19, and the entire time I thought it was a true story. The epilogue that explained it was fiction was a COMPLETE letdown! In fact, I think that's what kind of turned me off of fiction to this day ten years later--I prefer non-fiction.

[Karen]

But the bullk of it was based on actual events as represented and recounted. Some of the best fiction I have read recounts and retells actual events.

[Sigal]

oh, I was so upset, when half way through, my mom told me it was fictional. totally better to believe it's real.

[Natalie]

I think it would have been better if it were a memoir, but if it was non-fiction, then the ending would have to be different. Because the "happy" ending would be rather unrealistic for geishas during that time.

[Rachel]

I knew it was fiction from the get go. But there were moments in it where I was very aware that an American man had written it. Not that he did a bad job... but I definitely think that a memoir from a Japanese woman would have been fascinating.

[John]

I thought it was non-fiction at first as well. She constantly referred to "my mizuage was the highest until such and such in 1935" or other key events sounded like an autobiography would sound. I thought that the obvious male "voice" in the story was explained in the first chapter where "Jacob-san" the close friend asks her to tell her story and she agrees to dictate her story to him, which she supposedly does over a period of 18 months. I was totally duped until well over half-way through. When I realized that the story was fiction it was completely ruined. It became a totally plotless monologue. The ending with "the Chairman" was predictable and very drawn-out. I actually enjoy historical fiction at times, but this guy is too clumsy of a storyteller for me.

[Andrea]

If you want to read a geisha's memoir that *is* nonfiction, try "Geisha: A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki. You'll learn way more about the reality of geisha life in Japan, though it may not be as warm and fuzzy. :-)

[Laura]

I was bummed out as well at the end because I thought it was a real story. It was a good read anyway though.

[Rebecca]

I didn't find out until I was almost finished that it was fiction, but I still thought it was beautiful. There were certain passages in the book that were so heart-felt, it didn't matter that it was fiction - the author had felt those things and found a way to commit them to paper. I loved it.

[Windy]

i dont care whether this book is fiction or not. the way he describe the detils was so explicit.

[Mary]

Tom Wolfe once said that writers today don't need to make up stories, they just need to open the newspaper for material. I think Dickens did the same. Russian writers certainly did. It was a "memoir." Who would have slogged through all the books to learn what you did about geishas and Japan's history? Not me. Golden made it possible for me to learn so much and enjoy the learning in the process.

[Debbie]

I think any telescope near or far into this fascinating world is interesting. Was I letdown - yes a bit - but uplifted more when there was a geisha that it was loosely based on.
I put aside the fictional part and put it down as a worthy read.

[Kathrine]

Yes and no. I felt it was beautifully written. Also, I didn't negatively respond to the fact it was fiction simply because of the authors artistic description of the kimonos and the hair fashions. That may sound lame. But I am an artist. I feel I could paint the kimonos.

[Kubukulupherz]

Well, I read it when I'm 13 (that's my age now) and I thought it was incredible, whether it was a fiction or not. I must admit, until I was almost finished it, I didn't know it was fiction. Though, I ever thought that it was too amazing too her to have a such a good life in such an era. But after all, I love it.

[Jiro]

I don't trust Arthur Golden to write about Japanese women who work in the entertainment industry in a way free of sexist and racist exoticism
jiro

[Mary]

Jiro,

It is as narrow-minded to believe that an individual cannot be racist or sexist as it is to believe that the characteristics of a person are inferior because of his or her race, religion, sex or orientation.

Both attitudes prevent discussion and opportunities to learn about individuals (which may make it possible for wrong-headed attitudes to change).

[Jiro]

Dear Dunderhead,
Who are we learning about, the geisha or Arthur Golden? The suspension of disbelief is more easily accomplished in subjects one knows little about. In fiction usually the reader trusts the author. Has Golden examined his attitudes towards his subject and purged his work of sexist and racist titillation? This is an area rife with societally accepted sexist and racist iconography.

[Maria]

It would have been interesting if it was a real memoir but I think Golden did a good enough job. I wasn't too greatly disappointed that it was fiction as I knew all along it wasn't a true story and the story wouldn't have been quite the same.

[Rose Ann]

I went into it knowing it was fiction, so I wasnt upset....more surprised at how well he painted a picture of a geisha's life
I loved it

[Mary]

But wasn't Japan at that time (and even now -- I teach a lot of Japanese.) rife with sexism? Racist titillation? Everything the geishas did titillated their sponsors and the men they served in the geisha house. While I don't consider myself an expert on Japanese culture, I've read enough and I found the author trustworthy. His degree from Harvard is in Art History, with a specialization in Japanese art, and he lived and worked in Japan. Perhaps he read a great deal about the geishas.

I don't agree with you, but I respect your right to your opinion

[Carol]

Check out "Geisha, A Life" by Mineko Iwasaki. Reading her memoir reminded me of "Memoirs of a Geisha". I wouldn't be surprised if her life was the inspiration for Arthur Golden.

[Eva-Marie]

I read this when I was younger also and I don't remember knwoing or caring if it was fiction or non. I prefer non-fiction also mostly and normally I would say that yes, in my eyes it would have been "better" if it had been true but with this book I have to say it doesn't matter for me. This is definitely one of the best books I've read in my entire life and I think it'd be hard to make it any better, no matter what. Great question- you had me really thinking! LOL As for the side discussion which I'll throw my two cents in- I trust Golden. How can you not? There is no reason that I know of to disbelieve him as an author or a person and so what's the point of reading anything if you'll tear it all apart and take everything as non fact?

[Pina]

It would be nice if it was real but it is not. Actual memoir written by Mineko Iwasaki. This book is fictional.

[Moon]

I had friends who told me to read it and I thought it was non-fiction until I went to the library and found it in the fiction section. I liked the writing style with the attention to details, but I found the plot to be rather dull.

[Pamela]

John wrote: "I thought it was non-fiction at first as well. She constantly referred to "my mizuage was the highest until such and such in 1935" or other key events sounded like an autobiography would sound. I t..."
I agree, John.

[Robin]

I second the recommendation for "Geisha A Life" (aka Geisha of Gion I think) for a real nonfiction but also a good one to counter balance it is Autobiography of a Geisha

[Atarah]

I never really thought of it being a real memoir but I really like the idea for sure

[Melinda]

Sigal wrote: "oh, I was so upset, when half way through, my mom told me it was fictional. totally better to believe it's real.

"

i was impressed, i thought all along it was real, and when i found out it wasn't, it really surprised me. i still love the book, and feel like the author did an incredible job of making me believe

[Mr.B]

The "real" stories are in a different section of the library. Your librarian can point you in the right direction.

[Robin]

If you want to read memoirs read The Pillow Book by Sei Shinogawa, or a myriad of others are out there in a different part of the library, as the above poster so eloquently put it.

[Mary]

I enjoyed the book. It gave me an idea of the time period and the culture which led me to do further research on it.

[Robin]

Sometimes that is all that it takes to spark ones interests in books.

[[deleted user]]

I read this book many years back. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line. It did give an insight into the life of a geisha and Japanes culture.

[Marlene]

I loved the fact that it was historically based. I really did think it was non-fiction. I had the audiobook version and was swept away by the first disk. It wasn't until the last disk ended that I realized it was all fiction! Sad, but still good. I loved the book Shogun too! This time period is always so interesting to read about.

[Robin]

I had the audio version as well. It was good, maybe I should have read the book, too.

[Carol]

THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN THE MOVIE. IN THIS CASE THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. STILL ENJOYED THE BOOK, THO THE MOVIE WAS BETTER

[Ana]

No, Arthur Golden is a white man, he wouldn't have made a great geisha with blue eyes. :P

[Roxanne]

it's a wonderful story...even an actual memoir would have it's share of fantasy...just enjoy

[Connie]

Liked the movie - LOVED the book. I'm crazy for all the detail and history of this exotic time and profession.

[Roxanne]

my parents lived in occupied Japan after WWII and brought home beautiful robes, obis, hair combs...this book just gave them all life

[Danielle]

it was amazing to read this unknown world and when I found out a man wrote it I was very impressed!! beautifully written and very engaging .. fab !

[Robin]

I think I need to read the book. At the time, I could only get the audio, but it was beautiful in its prose.

[Angie]

The story was so beautiful, although I knew it was fiction because of two things:

1. The author is American.

2. He researched and added other things so the plot would call more the attention.

It was so bad that the author couldn't respect the woman's anonymity. So she wrote her autobiography.

[Robin]

Risa wrote: "I was under the impression that he did respect her privacy, only that she w..."

That was my understanding as well. But honestly, I've read both and I think one needs to keep in mind that Mineko was a geisha during a very different time period (the 60s and 70s) from when Golden's novel takes place (30s and 40s). That's why I also recommended Autobiography of a Geisha because it's a very, very different story to Mineko's Geisha of Gion/Geisha: A Life and takes place earlier in history, around the same time Golden's novel does. The novel is sort of combination between the two autobiographies which is why it's important to read both.

[Melissa]

I was impressed that a guy wrote it. I knew before I read it that it was fiction and thought it couldn't be as good as I heard when I found out a man wrote it. It was enjoyable but the movie was not.

[Angie]

Risa wrote: "Angie wrote: "...It was so bad that the author couldn't respect the woman's anonymity. So she wrote her autobiography.

I was under the impression that he did respect her privacy, only that she w..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoirs_...

[[deleted user]]

I actually loved this book. I figured it wasn't non-fiction because of certain things in the story structure, they were just too, well, fiction, and life usually doesn't have a rosy ending. That was my biggest indicator, though I did like that everything worked out for her.

Great book, the author really knew his stuff, at least as much as an author really can. They're fallible and all that just like anyone else, especially if they weren't alive in that time period, in that part of the world, or was occupied as an actual geisha (kind of hard for a guy, haha). So yeah, I give him props.

[Carol]

I really liked the book. Reading, I felt like an on-looker within the story.

[Kiru]

Curiously, when i read it i thought it must have been based on a real geisha. Silly me. LOL

[Andromeda]

at first i thought it was a real memoir untill i got to the end and definetly it would be better as a real memoir