Memoirs of a Geisha

[Pumpkin]

[SIZE=1]I've loved this book for as long as I remember since my tutor gave it to me when I was 16 years old. I never thought that they would actually make a movie out of it. It's actually where I developed one of my usernames I go by (Mameha) which is based off my favorite character from the novel. It's a romanticish-kind of drama that involves a girl named Sayuri who gets taken away from her father and sold to a geisha house. She must then learn to survive and learn the ways of a geisha. It's also directed by the director who did Chicago.

I guess in a way it sounds like a chick-flick, but honestly I'm not the type that's into romantics or love storys. This is far from the happy ending fairytales that we're so use to seeing on screen and when I read this I actually found myself becoming emotionally attached on everything (which believe me, it's rare for me because I read a lot).

So anyways, enough of ranting about this, here is the trailer for the movie which you can find [URL=http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/memoirsofageisha/trailer/]here[/url]. If that one doesn't work for you, you can try[URL=http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/memoirsofageishaqt.html]here[/URL]. I was also curious if anyone else had read this book and what they thought of it.

Anyways this thread was mainly just to give everyone a heads up. I know I personally can't wait to see it. [/SIZE]

[kurin]

Yes I just barely finished the book I really enjoyed it. :catgirl: I love the Character Sayuri and what she has gone through is just tough :animecry: In a way this book partains to all of us because there will always be Hatsumomo's,Manhahe,Nobu's and even Chairman's in our live we go through the good and the bad but you just still have to have that little ray of Hope no matter what. :angel:

[Dagger]

Well, I went to see this last night. It was pretty good overall. The cinematography was gorgeous, and I thought the main female characters were well-cast in terms of looks. In my opinion, Hatsumomo was actually the most beautiful, at least in the parts when she showed up.

I kind of wish the whole thing had somehow been done in Japanese, but whatever. When she did speak Japanese, Zhang Ziyi's accent was pretty jarring; the same was true for a couple of other characters. I almost would have preferred for them to leave out the Japanese snippets and do the whole thing in English, because the fangirl-ish sprinkling of Japanese phrases was distracting.

The story was a little too neat for my tastes, although I'll admit that it left a lump in my throat in several places. I didn't like how Sayuri's entire world revolved around the Chairman, but I still found the ending satisfying, so I guess I can't complain about that too much. The one thing that really irked me was [spoiler]Sayuri's dance.[/spoiler] What the hell was that? It was almost embarrassingly bizarre, and by the end it wasn't at all attractive.

Anyway, they did a good job of matching Zhang Ziyi with the little girl from the beginning. Even their manner of speaking was similar.

~Dagger~

[celestialcharm]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][QUOTE=Dagger] I didn't like how Sayuri's entire world revolved around the Chairman,
[/QUOTE]


But, in the book, didn't it seem like her life did revolve around him?

I read the book, but I never watched the movie yet. Hopefully, I will get to watch it before Christmas break ends.

I thought the book was pretty good. It really made it seem like it was a non-fiction book.[/COLOR]

[Dagger]

I haven't read the book. So that's more of a complaint with the core story itself, I guess.

What I did read over the past summer was [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743444299/qid=1135454867/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-9913801-8800134?s=books&v=glance&n=283155][u]this[/u][/url] non-fiction work, and I keep getting it mixed up with Arthur Golden's novel... :p

~Dagger~

[OMNOMNOMALY]

[COLOR=DarkOrange][FONT=Palatino Linotype]I actually just finished the book today. I have to say, I was really sad to see it end because I was just so into it. I love love loved it, and I have everything pictured in my mind. When I go to see the movie this week, I really hope it matches up. I have very high hopes for it![/FONT][/COLOR]

[ChibiHorsewoman]

[color=darkviolet][font=lucida Calligraphy]I just finished reading Memiors of a Geisha yesturday. I loved the majority of it [spoiler]Pumpkin's betrayal near the end was a nice twist[/spoiler]

But the end was a big let down, I wish I knew if Sayuri ever found her sister again. Ah well, fanfic for me I guess.

The weirdest part for me was how Sayuri's given name was Chiyo. I kept thinking of the character Chiyo from Azumanga Diaoh :animeswea and had to flip to the cover to remember this Chiyo didn't have strange pigtails.

HEy Pumpkin- now Mameha was [spoiler]Pumpkin's little BF and the part where she's mad at Sayuri for taking her place as adopted daughter why you changed your Screen name? Or did you really like Mameha a lot better[/spoiler]

Okay that's it from me, I hope I can see that movie soon[/color][/font]

[Pumpkin]

[quote name='celestialcharm][COLOR=DarkOrchid']But, in the book, didn't it seem like her life did revolve around him?[/COLOR][/quote][SIZE=1]Yes your right. It does. But if you listen in movie (which I just saw last night and it was awesome), this also gives you hints as why the Chairmen is so important. Before him, [SPOILER]she felt like she had no other reason to live for because her sister was gone and she couldn't leave. Therefore he had been the only person to show her kindness and at first it started out her just wanting to see him again to wanting to be with him romantically the second time they met. [/SPOILER]

Also, for those of you who saw the ending [SPOILER]she states "This is not memoirs of an empress or queen etc". When they were under the cherry blossoms the chairmen says "You always expect happiness to last forever, but happiness comes in small doses" (something close to that) the moral I suppose of the story was Sayuri got what she wanted, it wasn't something spectacular or a hero's story but it was what made her happy. [/SPOILER] I felt bad for Nobu though, in the book, he was always much nicer to her and was willing to become her [SPOILER]husband instead of her just having a Dana (be a kind of mistress since the chairmen already has a wife and kids).[/SPOILER]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet][font=lucida Calligraphy]But the end was a big let down, I wish I knew if Sayuri ever found her sister again.[/color'][/font][/quote]I don't think [SPOILER] she ever does because in the book she moves to New York or some place with the chairmen. In the movie she quotes "And that was the last time I would see my sister again". [/SPOILER] It's a mystery that I would love to know especially since Sayuri became so famous and her sister never once seemed to sought her out again.

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet][font=lucida Calligraphy]Hey Pumpkin- now Mameha was [spoiler]Pumpkin's little BF and the part where she's mad at Sayuri for taking her place as adopted daughter why you changed your Screen name? Or did you really like Mameha a lot better[/spoiler][/color'][/font][/quote]
Actually the funny thing is I choose the username pumpkin not 'cause of the book, it was only later that I remembered there was a pumpkin in memoirs of a geisha. Actually to anwser your question, it would have to be a tye between Pumpkin and Mameha.

I liked Mameha's character in the book, but I loved how Pumpkin made such a difference. You have to admit she really added to the book & movie with her [SPOILER]betraying Sayuri her childhood friend and the irony of it because it was like they switched places.[/SPOILER] I just wanted to change mine and I couldn't really think of anything else but Mameha which I've used on many other forums. OMG, now you've got me thinking of changing back, see what you did? J/K. Good question I didn't think anyone noticed.

[quote name='Dagger']Hatsumomo was actually the most beautiful, at least in the parts when she showed up.[/quote]She's actually the most gorgeous in the book too. Sayuri just builds up popularity. Despite her meanness, I find her character to be unique and ironic.[/SIZE]

[celestialcharm]

[COLOR=DarkOrchid][QUOTE=Dagger]
What I did read over the past summer was [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743444299/qid=1135454867/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-9913801-8800134?s=books&v=glance&n=283155][u]this[/u][/url] non-fiction work, and I keep getting it mixed up with Arthur Golden's novel... :p

~Dagger~[/QUOTE]

I think I read that book before too.

I finally watched the movie today! I liked it! I thought they could have made her eyes more of a silvery blue though. Also, didn't Nobu [spoiler]only have one arm?[/spoiler]

But, other than that I really liked the fan dances and the costumes. [spoiler]But, wasn't it crazy how outgoing Pumpkin became? Also, didn't it seem, when she betrayed Sayuri, that maybe she could have been channelling Hastumoto's spirit? We have no idea what became of her, because, she went crazy and left town...[/spoiler][/COLOR]

[luzkage]

Gorgeous book, heart breaking movie.

I especially loved the detail and care emphasized in the clothing of the geishas. Absolutely breath-taking. Had I the chance to touch one of the costumes I would dare not, least I taint its beauty and perfection. lolz.

The main character had a heavy accent which is a minor setback but I stil loved the movie.