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Memoirs of a Geisha
Arthur Golden. Vintage Books: 1999. ISBN: 0679781587. 434 pages.
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About the Author
A page of detailed biographical information on Memoirs of a Geisha, including excerpts from
interviews in which Golden interprets his own work.
When asked about why he made the unusual decision to write Memoirs of a Geisha in first person, Golden responds, “I
did it in third person twice, and really only went to first person when I realized that I wasn’t going to get the book
written that I really wanted to write, unless I made this kind of imaginative leap into the mind of the character.”
All in the Family
A synopsis of the literary traditions and genres with which Memoirs of a Geisha is affiliated and
a brief explanation of these connections, giving your book group the opportunity to understand Golden’s novel in a larger
literary perspective.
This section includes a brief history of Japan’s geisha culture and a quick synopsis of an intriguing controversy
surrounding Golden’s novel. In May 2000, Mineko Iwasaki—the former geisha on whom Golden bases his novel—publicly revealed
that she felt betrayed by the book and that and she intended to sue Golden for libel. You’ll have to make up your own mind
after learning about both sides of this acrimonious debate.
Character Tree
A list of major characters and their dominant characteristics and values, showing characters’ relationships
to each other.
You’ll read about the geisha, the geisha’s men, and the members of the Sakamoto family and the Nitta Okiya. (A quick
reminder: in Japanese, a person’s last name, or family name, comes first,while the first or personal name comes second.)
Streams of Themes
A breakdown of potential major discussion themes in Memoirs of a Geisha, including ways these
themes are interconnected.
The themes in Memoirs of a Geisha are as elaborate and stylized as the traditions of the geisha. In addition to
themes of money, power, and that age-old conflict between East and West, you’ll read about themes of artifice, deception,
and intrigue.
Talk Back to the Critics
Excerpts of some major critical reviews of Memoirs of a Geisha from authoritative journals,
newspapers, and magazines. We encourage your book group to enjoy the opportunity to argue with expert opinion.
It seems like back in 1999, everyone was reading and talking about Memoirs of a Geisha. There was a huge buzz
surrounding Golden’s debut novel, and most reviewers praised his portrait of Japanese geisha culture. Not all critics,
however, are impressed. “The author’s habit of limiting Sayuri to exclusively Japanese imagery is disconcerting,” one critic
claims. “The constant, heavy emphasis on Sayuri’s Japaneseness ultimately serves to render it artificial.”
Doorways to Discussion
A chronologically and thematically organized list of discussion questions, which function to
explore, in a logical and thoughtful manner, the questions and possibilities that Memoirs of a Geisha evokes.
There’s lots to discuss in Memoirs of a Geisha, and here’s one example of the 28 questions featured in this section:
“What do you think of Golden, a white American man in the last half of the twentieth century, writing from the point of view
of Sayuri, a Japanese geisha woman in the first half of the twentieth century? Are you convinced by Golden’s narrative
voice? If Golden is the ventriloquist and Sayuri is his dummy, can you see his lips moving?”
Taste Test
A selection of other books on subjects similar to those in Memoirs of a Geisha to consider for future
book group meetings or for private reading.
If you’re interested in Japanese culture, if you want to follow another strong female character’s pursuit of happiness, or
if you’d like to read another sweeping, historical novel, we’ve included lots of books we think you’ll enjoy!
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