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Memoirs of a Geisha

By: Arthur Golden
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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Editorial reviews

After the death of her mother, a young girl from a rural fishing village is sold to a Geisha House in the Gion District of Kyoto. Her fate continually twists, along with Japan's, before, during and after World War II.

This listen captures with great detail the lush glamour of a geisha's world, as well as the brutal realities of indentured servitude. The experience is superior to that of the movie, because each moment is mined for maximum insight. Protocols and relationships, even food and finances, are also meticulously described. The result is total immersion in this fascinating culture.

The narration may seem reserved, but that is appropriate given the book's setting. The sexual content is also very discreet and appropriate. Watching the movie is only getting your feet wet; get the full experience through this listen, a bewitching strong step into not just another time, but another world.

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)

Featured Article: The Best Historical Fiction Audiobooks


Often based on real people, events, and scenarios, historical fiction gives us the opportunity to learn about worlds and times we will never experience while introducing fascinating characters and stories set in their midst. Sometimes, the genre can even give us a peek into hidden storylines that routinely go unmentioned in traditional history books, showing us that those of ages past are perhaps not so different from ourselves.

What listeners say about Memoirs of a Geisha

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful history

This is one of the most interesting, engrossing, sad, funny, incredibly historical book I've ever read/heard. Memoirs gives you insight into the life of a Geisha that has never been disclosed.

Beautifully narrarated, she gives the feeling of what this young Geisha was thinking and feeling. It's a shame that we will never get to meet this national treasure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Japan during war - Long love

Wonderful story of a little girl who is sold because her parents can no longer look after her. She evenually becomes a geisha in the hope to reconnect with a man that was kind to her. Throughout her life, she stands by her principles. Great story of great expectations fulfilled and resignation to what cannot be changed.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This book is my favorite that I've ever read.

This book is absolutely wonderful. It gives such an accurate and well researched look into the real world of the geisha all while giving you so many emotional twists and turns that you can't keep up. Memoirs of a Geisha is excellently written and utterly gripping. I recommend this book to everyone.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning-I couldn't stop listening

I was immediately drawn into the wonderful, gripping story!! It was so real, so vividly written, and beautifully narrated. The story line is compelling and the written is so descriptive. It is a great novel -- I loved this book. It is the best book I have listened to or read in a long time.
I also have to say that it is incredible that a man wrote this book. What a great story. I got totally lost in it. You are tempted to believe it is an actual memoir, then have to remind yourself it is a work of fiction. Amazing!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Must have

One of the best books I've ever read in my life. I enjoyed it so much and the narrator did an outstanding job.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful story of the cruelties and magic of life

A beautiful and moving story that has some of the most beautiful quotes I’ve ever heard. While the inspiration of the story is complicated and may be tainted in how it was obtained, the story itself is moving and has moments where the life of the main character feels very cruel and real and other moments where it feels magical, mimicking the emotions of a real person going through the highs and lows of an extraordinary life.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Not sad until conclusion then hit hard at the entirety great great great great great

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My #1 favorite audiobook of all time.

This book immediately transported me to another place, culture and time. I was sucked in by the reader (amazing) and mesmerized by her story. What added to my experience, however, was that I thought this was a true story, as it read like one, told by the woman herself. The story is painful, beautiful and ultimately satisfying. I don't think I've listened to 18 hours of audio faster than I did with this book. I've listened to it 2 more times since. Absolute gem.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Started Reading in 2001, Finished Today

Had not realized I hadn't finished the book while on vacation in 2001, but it had made such an impression on me. Devoured it this 2nd time and since I finished it, in my mind it was like enjoying the sequel.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

SO much better than the great movie!

there is so much more to the book than there was in the movie. I literally couldn't stop listening to the boom

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