El Tango de Roxanne

"It is not for Geisha to want. It is not for geisha to feel. Geisha is an artist of the floating world. She dances, she sings. She entertains you, whatever you want. The rest is shadows, the rest is secret."

I have always been interested in the concept of Geisha's. Whether it is Japanese culture or the many other names women of art and pleasure go by in other areas of the world: courtesan, mistress, concubine, companion, paramour, courtier . Despite race or region they all seem to straddle the thin line between desired, entertaining women of the world and common, red light district prostitutes.

But regardless of how high or low a women is positioned on the scale they all seem to share a common, seemingly unattainable dream: Freedom to Love. This is a constant theme that runs through Arthur Goldon's Memoirs of a Geisha.

Chiyo becomes Sayuri to be a part of the Chairman's world. After having love taken from her Hatsumomo grows even more destructive and cold. Even Mameha has love pains from the past that affect her present. It must be so hard to function and live in the "world of love" but not actually be able to truly love.

So, I am not all that surprised by the cruel rumors or the constant need to take out your competition in the Geisha world. I truly believe that a woman deprived of her basics needs and wants becomes more dangerous then a man. Men will take by force what is denied them. But women on the other hand will destroy what they can't have and all who have or currently posses it. If you obliterate your desire then you won't have to worry about craving it or feeling jealous should someone else posses it.

These women are being forced to participate in a very beautiful but dangerous dance so to speak. And hardly ever end up with the partner they truly desire. Hence, El Tango de Roxanne:

Geisha Sumo

Watching Hatsumomo do everything she could to destroy Sayuri from becoming a geisha is interesting. It's amazing how competitive and ruthless this world is. Mameha had the right connection when she realized their competition is much like that of a sumo match.

I pity Pumpkin because, while she won the apprenticeship award, she's just a huge pawn. At the same time, I have to wonder of Sayuri is one as well. Part of me believes that Mameha truly wants to help her because of all the monetary benefits that will come her way if Sayuri succeeds. At the same time, I have to wonder if Mameha is also trying to stick it to Hatsumomo too. I think Mother is going to be choking on her tongue before long truthfully. She's underestimating Sayuri's appeal and because Hatsumomo is vicious in her attempts to keep Sayuri down she's only seeing triumph in her bet with Mameha.

In part, this kind of reminds me of high school. Maybe not our high school, but if you watch the teen soaps they have out these days, you'll understand what I mean. The girls in there are so petty when it comes to boys and such, they'll go out of their ways to spread rumors and destroy the girl's rep. Granted, we could have had this going on at our school, but since I was never part of the popular crowd, I can't say. The world of a Geisha reminds me of this, just with a more business-like atmosphere given all the money that goes into a girl becoming a geisha.

Hatsumomo really delivered a bad rumor by insinuating Sayuri isn't a virgin. It's really upped the stakes for Mameha to see her succeed, which looks like may happen since they've agreed for Sayuri to have her mizuage. I think Mameha is planning to see a bidding war for Sayuri, the way she had when it was time for hers.

But it's time for a dance, which will undoubtedly help them, and hopefully bring Hatsumomo down.

And FYI, their explanation of sex was just...interesting. I'm a little speechless in how it was explained because I never would have considered explaining things with eels and caves...that's just me.

The heart dies, a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves...

I'm so glad Katie picked this book! I read it when the movie came out, but I'm happy to revisit it, since it has been quite a while. Also bare with me, I have seen the movie, which I love so I might cross them lol.

I love the world that Golden has created with regards to Japan prior to the outbreak of World War II. I find his language beautiful and easy to understand as well.

I was heart broken when Satsu and Chiyo were separated, and that Satsu was forced into prostitution. I have to comment on the sheer contrast between prostitution and being a geisha. While Satsu is forced to have sex, Chiyo is sent into a okiya to study to become a Geisha, a woman who is desired for her beauty and artistic abilities. While I'm not sure yet if they have sex with the men they entertain, they both are in the business of pleasure, yet with different ways of being treated.

I think their father honestly thought their lives would be better, I don't think he expected them to be sold into such conditions. But life was rough in rural Japan, especially for women. When he died they most likely wouldn't have inherited anything, and they would have starved or ended up being prostitutes anyway. Not that this condones his actions, but they were the actions of a desperate father.

Hatsumomo is a horrible person right down to her core, and the way she treats Chiyo is abhorrent. I think it was cruel of her to manipulate Chiyo into ruining the kimono, causing her to be disgraced and to become a mere maid in the okiya. For someone that age to learn that they owe payment to debts must be devastating. Not only does she have to pay for food, but now she has to pay back the money for the lessons she took, her schooling, and being bought in the first place.

I think this is a beautiful story, and I'm so intrigued to continue! I love this time period, and I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture. Kudos Katie for a wonderful read!! <3

From a little village to the geisha house

I'm loving this book and I'm really connecting with Chiyo's story.  I feel so bad for her and her sister.  I really wonder if their father had any idea what would happen to them.  Chiyo is luckier than her sister.  Satsu is forced to become a prostitute which makes me believe their father didn't fully understand what he was agreeing to or he was lied to about where they were going.

Then poor Chiyo is tortured by Hatsumomo pretty much from day one.  I am really interested to see what happens since Mameha has taken an interest in Chiyo.  I am sure Hatsumomo is going to try to bring Chiyo down somehow but I think Chiyo will learn to stand up to her.


It is interesting to see how much of a business being a geisha is.  The "mother" figure is backing a young girl hoping she will be a successful geisha and keeping track of all the debit she owes back even what it cost to buy her.  It seems there is a lot of risk because what if the geisha is not successful?  I think of Pumpkin with this; while she's sweet and nice, she doesn't have an ear for music so how can she sing and perform?  She even needs extra practice time.  


I can't wait to see more of what it is like becoming a geisha!

An Early Acquirement of Debt

First, I have to say, bravo Katie! You've chosen a wonderful novel. I'm on chapter 11 and I absolutely love it so far. I'm so very enthralled by everything Golden has done with Chiyo so far and the world he's showing us. I also think it's awesome that he was able to go into the mind of a young girl to tell her story. It's a brilliant move as a writer to put yourself into your characters like that, especially if they're the opposite sex. To me, it makes it more of a challenge, one which Golden is succeeding at magnificently.

The life of Geisha starts out in debt. It's hard to grasp that they would be in debt at so young an age. In our world, you don't usually (I stress usually) go into debt until you hit college where you acquire student loans and many students get their first credit cards, which is so easy to max out.

Chiyo's debt starts from the moment she's sold, even though she doesn't realize it. She doesn't even seem to find out about the debt until Hatsumomo forces her to destroy an extremely valuable kimono. Then comes the jewelry she's accused of stealing. This poor girl just can't win, especially with Hatsumomo out to keep her as far down as she can.  I'm hoping to see Chiyo rise above her in the end and have the final triumph. As chapter 10 ends, I think Mameha will be the one to help her do so.

I can't imagine starting my life in debt the way Chiyo does, but Golden shows us so well how much she struggles and when meeting the Chairman gives her a new hope to become a Geisha. I'm looking forward to seeing her succeed!

My what pretty eyes you have my sweet!

I have never started a book, and gotten lost on what chapter I was on that I did with this book! I thought I was on chapter 7 or 8 when I picked up my nook and started reading today.  I realized I was on chapter 11! When I started, it was a little slow for me and I thought I wouldn't be able to get into, but low and behold I did, what an amazing work of literature this book is.  I'm shocked at how well Arthur Golden writes as a woman, but then again if I had read the article Katie posted I would know!

I was thinking about it a little Inara from firefly would be considered a Geisha would she not? Maybe I just didn't catch it before and I'm a little slow on the uptake.  On another note, I feel so bad that Chiyo-san was taken from her family thinking that she would stay with Mr. Tanaka instead she was sold into the okiya, and man is Hatsumomo a bitch!

I really don't have much more to say, but I can't wait to see what you guys think of this book as well!