Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha
by: Arthur Golden

The strikingly pretty child of an impoverished fishing family, Chiyo is taken to faraway Kyoto and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house where she is renamed Sayuri. Initially reluctant, Sayuri must finally invent and cultivate an image of herself as a desirable geisha in order to survive in Gion’s cruel hierarchy. Through her eyes, we are given a backstage view of the ancient and secretive geisha district, Gion, and of the lives of the women who learn and practice the rigorous arts of the geisha.

Behind its facade of haunting beauty the district turns out to be a viciously competitive place where women vie desperately for men’s favor and largess, where a young girl’s virginity is auctioned off to the highest bidder, where personal trust is almost nonexistent, and where no woman can afford even to dream about love or happiness. Memoirs of a Geisha is a treasure of a book, an unparalleled look at a strange and mysterious world which has now almost vanished. It is also, and unforgettably, a dazzling portrait of a singular and most seductive woman who tells her story in a compelling first person voice.

I saw the movie before I ever read this book, but I think it is a very good book. It was a good movie too, actually.**There is some sexual content that I think would equate to a PG-13 movie. Also I was confused when I first read it and wanted to mention that it is not a true story, but in the author's acknowledgments he does say that the portrayal of a Geisha during that time is supposed to be accurate. He did talk to a real Geisha when researching this novel.
So this is December's book club book I think? Enjoy!