I read this book a few years ago and i fell in love. Since then I’ve been trying to find books as captivating. I’ve bought a bunch on geisha and a bunch with similar ish storylines…but I’ve yet to come across one as good. So if anyone here has read and loved this book, maybe you could recommend a book or two. (and if you havent read the book, but you have an awsome book to suggest, let me know)!
There is a great trilogy available on blowfish.com. I’m sorry, it’s not a work-friendly link, so I’m not posting it, but just go to the books section and you’ll find it easily enough It’s called In a Metal Web by Michael Manning, and it’s very very VERY captivating. The Beauty series by Anne Rice is there also, and although it’s more B&D than geisha, you may enjoy it.
The books being recommended by Maureen are more sexual in nature, whereas Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha are more meant to be, well…the memoirs of a geisha in terms of her upbringing and work as one, not the escapades, per se.
I don’t recall the exact name, but I do know that Golden interviewed a famous geisha as part of writing the novel. She then protested, saying his work was not an accurate reflection of her life and then wrote her own book. Shouldn’t be too hard to track down…
There is also that classic interpretation of Japanese history, Shogun. Sure, it is a bit pulpy, but it stands up surprisingly well and gives some great insight into the Japanese culture of the 17th century.
Aaaaaaahhhh!! I see. c_r_y_s_t_a_l, are you looking for fiction or non-fiction, erotica or factual stories?
well I am fascinated by geisha, i have the biography of madame Sadayakko, Lesley Downer’s Geisha, and Mineko Iwasaki’s Geisha, A Life. (thanks for suggesting shogun, i got that one too though).
I’m not looking for some erotic story, what fascinated me more than the life of a geisha is the way Golden wrote. I’m anxious for next year, the movie of memoires of a geisha should be out then…
I’m just looking for something good to read. fiction, or not fiction (if its non fiction though i do prefer that there is still truth to it, historical references, research, whatever). so really, any suggestions are appreciated!
I loved Memoir of a Geisha, too, so although this seems really different at first glance (different era, different culture, for a start), you might like The Other Boelyn Girl. It is about Anne Boleyn’s sister and is similar to Memoir in that it captures the time period perfectly, but is more about someone’s life than a typical history.
I found ** A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth** to be just as captivating.