Memoirs of a Geisha

By: Arthur Golden

Narrated by: Elaina Erika Davis

Length: 2 hrs and 58 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 (P)1999 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Rarely has a world so closed and foreign been evoked with such natural assurance." (The New Yorker)
"Captivating, minutely imagined...You are seduced completely." (Washington Post Book World)

Short and Sweet

This is the shortest book I've ever listened too and it packed quite a big punch. The story is intriguing, the narration was so good it transported you to a whole different world. I chose to listen to the abridged version of this book because it is not really the type of book I am interested in, but the reviews are so good I didn't want to miss it completely. This was a good compromise, I got a good taste of what the book was about without having to listen to 14 hours of it. Enjoyable and educational at the same time.

Wow

I waited a long time to read this book because I didn't think I'd like it. I really enjoyed it an would encourage others to check it out!

A spell-binding book

I listened to this audiobook on a ski trip with my then 18 year old son to Colorado. I often listen to audiobooks on long trips but my son generally tunes them out or listens to his own music. He was so captivated by this one (me too) that when the chance came to ride with his long-time-no-see friend in a different car, he declined because he was afraid that I would move ahead in the story and that he would miss part of it. This book is probably at least part of the reason my son is now studying japanese at college and planning to spend a year studying in Japan next year
The narrator is excellent and I felt the book gave a real insight into the japenese mind and a world that was hidden even from the japanese for hundreds of years.

Great audio book

Great audio book and the narrator makes the story so vivid and so pleasant, loved it.

Tugged at every emotion

It felt so personal hearing it. Anyone who enjoys getting to really know characters in a story, must listen to this. Beautifully read. How I wish I could have known this amazing woman. I felt I was walking there beside her throughout her entire life.

I love listening to to the book it bring peace

à place in time Conway or a rice I like to think we all have been there

A peak into a strange world!

I am not surewhat I expected from this book but what I found was a wolrd very unfamiliar to me. The wold of someone doomed by fate that survived by chance.

Great Narration. and beautiful story

What made the experience of listening to Memoirs of a Geisha the most enjoyable?

The way Elaina Erika Davis narrate the book, is really incredible, unbelievable. She has such an ability on controlling the accent she is using, to help our imagination in illustrating the characters. She has the power to hold every word she is saying, and shoot it, like a Bullet, aimed to the target in each sentence.My admiring increased, after I searched for other books she had narrated. I Noticed she is very different, in each book she narrated, entirely different.Amazing reading, with great simple act, logical feelings during all the readings.I call the style of narrating this book, is an artistic Narration.I recommend to read this book for many reasons, on top ofall reasons, is the way Elaina Erika Davis Narrated Good luck

Lovely

l adored the story. The narration was excellent. I was transported back to ancient Japan

Enchanting, Melancholy, yet so lovely I adore it

This is a story that I imagine many intelligent individuals who have grown up in somber circumstances can relate with most especially those who have low self esteem not knowing that they are quite lovely. The cruelty the world bestows on these girl's either gives them the same matching beauty inside, however, in other cases like Hotsimomo (sp) [ Main characters "older sister/rival in home] That same cruelty can awaken what they call the tiger making them just as cruel. This book is a one of a kind accurate personal account of the history and culture of The largest and most famous city in Japan. It educates all while telling a tragic tale of a young girl that to me seems a fairy tale in a strange land. Beautiful and beautifully written. I can not help but feel that this is true, but maybe that's just the romantic in me. The movie is different I reccomend both. The film is true art just as the book. but you must listen or read before you watch. The cinematography and watching the Geisha entertain when they were in their prime was like being taken into another realm. Even their everyday life. I adore Geisha and am infuriated when people think of them anything less than gorgeous famous entertainers. We have nothing to compare them to in Western society. No matter your opinion of Geisha you should read this book at times it's poetic also engaging accurate descriptions of all things mentioned in the book including the effects of the war and on the people but through the eyes of a beautiful young woman intermingled with emotions. I was so surprised to see how much I related to this book. I honestly couldn't get enough. If there is anymore please let me know. also you must see the movie as well.