Memoirs of a Geisha

By: Arthur Golden

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Nitta Sayuri tells us in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate of her life as a geisha. Her story begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion.

It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable.

©1997 Arthur Golden; Copyright ©1998 by Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Astonishing...Breathtaking...You are seduced completely." (Washington Post Book World)
"...a bravura performance, a first novel that provides a vivid view into a largely lost and secret world." (The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review)

Love the book!

This was by far the best audible book I've listened to soo far!! I am a big fan of the book and movie, listening to it was a really beautiful!!!! I don't think I'll forget the narrator's voice!

Get it and enjoy!!!

Compelling

A accurate description of the Japan of 1940's and compelling story to boot.
The narrator give a nive "oriental" feeling
Already listened a couple times

Wonderful book!

I loved every bit of this book. I believe listening to it on audio enhanced the story. I went into the story thinking it was true, and came out wanting it to be true. It was well narrated and a truly great, great story. It had everything I look for in a book. It was very well rounded and lacked nothing. I recommend it to everyone.

A wonderful Listen

I was enchanted with this book, which had a very spiritually uplifting effect on me. I found the story of a young girl sold into slavery who wins through in the end despite the repression of women, very inspiring. I recommend this to all kindred spirits, both male and female. I have recently discovered Zen and wonder if the two are linked.

A most civilizing book

There is a reason this book sold 4,000,000 copies, at least. It is a very moving story even for a "man". Really, the most interesting character to me beyond the heroine was her love interest, the "Chairman." In this book the Chairman is a the head of an electrical appliance manufacturing company. He is the most decent man I have run across in fiction or non-fiction anywhere. The closest example I could think of today that reminds me of the Chairman is our Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. I can imagine Mr. Powell's only problem is that there are not more civilized, thoughtful, effective people around like himself. He and the "Chairman" are what the world needs today.

Our geisha heroine in the book explains how presence of mind can help us get through to difficult people. She is also one of the finest examples I have seen in literature of the civilizing influence of women upon men.

Kudos to the author Arthur Golden for presenting such fine characterizations. It takes some brilliance just to put them into plain words, like he does.

I should hope that one day we will have women, as well as men, who can combine the great qualities of the main characters of this book.

I can only imagine what it would be like to have our great corporations run by people such as the Chairman, and I believe it should and could happen.

Ben

P.S. I really stepped into something when the next book I listened to was "Hiroshima" by John Hersey. My life cannot be the same after these two books.

Paula from Mississippi

May be too slow for some but very hypnotic and poetic. I was thinking about the characters weeks later. I love it when a book does that to me!

A note for those who listen in their cars

Wanted to write a quick note to those who listen while they drive to and from work: this is a best practice in audiobooks. The volume is consistent, the voice clear and easy to understand. The reading is unhurried so that you can savor every word. The story of course is totally absorbing. The end result: noisy highway or quiet streets don't mean you have to constantly adjust the volume controls. You can cruise along completely immersed and happy. Wish more audiobooks were read like this one! (Obviously I am not a big fan of stage-worthy "voice acting.")

splendid and refined

as one of my first audible buys, it was a great pleasure listening almost addictive. every day i listened a part just before bedtime,enjoyable.

My Favorite Book Ever

What was one of the most memorable moments of Memoirs of a Geisha?

I love the description in this book. You can really imagine everything and you know the characters so well!

Great cultural story

What did you love best about Memoirs of a Geisha?

Even though it wasn't a thriller, I learned much cultural and historical information about Japan.

What about Bernadette Dunne???s performance did you like?

Different voices were used. It was easy to tell when she switched characters.