Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

"Would I really have to take each of my hopes and put them away where no one would ever see them again, where not even I would ever see them?" (296) When you are a geisha, you cannot fulfill your own dreams and goals in life. You must follow the rules that are set out for you when you begin your training. Work hard. No boyfriends. Don't leave the okiya without permission. Learn to cope with pain. Chiyo-san, geisha name Sayuri, broke many of these rules and lost all hope of ever becoming a geisha. Then, one day, everything changed while running an errand in town. She came across the Chairman on a bridge. He showed her great kindness by giving her a few coins, enough to let her leave Gion forever. Instead of doing that, Sayuri ran to the Gion Shrine. She then threw the coins into the offertory box and prayed. She prayed that someday she would become a geisha. Also, she prayed that she could attract the notice of the Chairman once again.

Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden, was a great book. I really enjoyed many aspects of the book, including the characters, plot line, and the moral of the story. I thought that the characters in this book were outstanding. They were all very different and complex; you never knew what to expect from each character. My favorite character in Memoirs of a Geisha would have to be Mameha, Sayuri's "older sister." I thought she was a great character because she was very mysterious, independent, and clever. Throughout the book she came up with many schemes and tricks to help Sayuri climb the ladder to become a geisha. Another character that I found interesting was one of the main adversaries, Hastumomo. Without the many controversies that Hatsumomo created, the book wouldn't have been as interesting.

The plot in Memoirs of a Geisha made the book very suspenseful. So many problems arose on Sayuri's quest to become a geisha that the road ahead of her looked very doubtful. I enjoyed how the author set up so many twists and turns to keep the reader's interest throughout the book. Another great thing about the book was that not only did it educate readers about the geisha lifestyle, but it also revealed a story of determination and love.

The moral in Memoirs of a Geisha was one that really stuck with me. Throughout the book, Sayuri showed that she was determined and would never let anyone crush her dreams of becoming a geisha. I thought this was a great moral because when you truly believe that you can do something and work hard enough to get it, it can happen. I also think that there was another moral hidden in the book. The second moral dealt with karma, destiny, and fate. Many things that you do in your life can help shape your destiny. For instance, if someone treats others badly, their behavior could potentially come full circle, and could even change their destiny.

I strongly recommend the book Memoirs of a Geisha. Not only was it interesting, it grabbed my attention and never let go.

Written and published by Hannah Martin