Memoirs of a Geisha

Hi y'all, I just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden and I just wanted to share some of my thoughts, hope that's ok!

First of all, I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a delightful read and I would recommend it to anyone 16 years or older who is interested in art, history, or beauty, 10/10.

I find it really interesting how Sayuri’s life could’ve been completely different. If, for example, Hatsumomo had become her older sister and not Mameha, she could have easily become just like her. Just as she molded Pumpkin, Hatsumomo may have molded Sayuri, too. In the end, I didn’t really like Pumpkin anymore. Hatsumomo made her mean and nasty, which is kind of sad to me. She and Sayuri grew up together, they were friends, and before the end, Sayuri tried to get Pumpkin to remember that. I don’t really want to blame Pumpkin, though; she had a hard life. With Hatsumomo’s cruelty, Sayuri replacing her as the Nitta Okiya’s adopted daughter, and then having to work as a prostitute for two years during the war? That’s enough to turn anyone a bit sour, I suppose.

And it kind of makes me wonder, if Sayuri didn’t have those beautiful blue-gray eyes of hers, how different would her fate have been? Would the chairman have taken notice of her crying at the river and showed her kindness? Would Mameha and Mother or the countless men that she entertained have been so kind, or patient, or generous with our flawed character, without her stunning, one-of-a-kind gaze?

Also, I had a myriad of mixed emotions when I learned that the chairman had a wife. I mean, come on. You've been obsessing over this dude for over a decade, and he has a wife?! And children?! It just really took some of the wind out of the sails in the whole love story if I'm being honest. But I also found it hilarious and, in a way, perfectly fitting. At one point in the story, Mameha tells Sayuri that women become geisha not because they want to, but because they have no other option. I think this unexpected romantic twist really fits in perfectly with these themes of acceptance and managing expectations that we have going on here.

Again, I just loved this book. Please feel free to share any of your thoughts with me, as well as recommendations for similar books for my next read. Thank you!