Memoirs of a Geisha

[oceans_running]

Did anyone else hope she would end up with Nobu? I was so rooting for him through the entire book. The connection between him and Sayuri brings out the best in him, and isn't that more meaningful than the Chairman being wonderful to her because he is wonderful in general?
R.

[sleepydumpling]

I have to say that I was more than happy for her to end up with The Chairman. Nobu was a good man but he did lean towards self righteousness a little too often for me!

[kaytie]

For a lot of the book I thought she'd end up with Nobu, but when she didn't I was relieved. She didn't love him, for one thing, and he seemed only to love his perception of her. And he never really evolved as a character.

After everything that happened, I was glad she got her happy ending!

[sleepydumpling]

Me too Kaytie, I'm an old romantic and I love a happy ending.

[megustaleer]

Do you really think that was a "Happy Ending"?
After all, Sayuri ends up as the Chairman’s mistress, but she is never promoted to the position of wife, so her future is always dependent upon her continuing to please him. She has no more status or security than any other geisha.

[sleepydumpling]

That's not how I saw it at all. I saw her as his great love, and the wife as the one that has to keep in his good books to keep her status. Sayuri spoke as though she felt loved and fulfilled, not like a kept woman.

[kaytie]

And, the book followed her whole life, so we know she got what she wanted and he never stopped loving her, and she lived the rest of her life in New York with her own salon.

I think the chairman's wife proves there is no security in that title--financial, maybe, but not in love.




It's not a Western Happy Ending, that's for certain.

[Batspice]

I didn't read the back cover before I started this book and was under the misconception that it was a true story until I got quite near to the end.

Oh the shame of admitting that!!

[Sine_Ni_Ceallach]

I've only watched the movie... This thread reminded me that I want to read the book!

[Linkhorn]

This was a good read, I would strongly recommend "the concubine of Shanghai" by Hong Ying if you liked it.

[feyindie60]

Memoirs of a Geisha can be taken from many sides depending on the culture you are viewing it from. Often we view freedom, especially women's rights, as equal. In many other places it's separate, but equal.

Memoirs is one of my favorite stories. It's theme is close to me as a woman, but I will hold any opinions about the story because it's one woman's way of living her life in a fictional story.

[Dream Catcher]

I haven't read it, but I want to

[honeybunny]

I liked the 'realism' of the happy ending though. It wouldn't have fit the tone of the book if it just ended with "and then we lived happily ever after".

[Clarbear13]

I'm happy she ended up with the chairman. I wanted her to be with him through the whole book.

[sissybear]

To be honest I thought the book would be better, I thought there would be more to it.....