This is a seductive and stunningly evocative epic on an intimate scale, which tells the extraordinary story of a geisha girl. Summoning up more than twenty years of Japan's most dramatic history, it uncovers a hidden world of eroticism and enchantment, exploitation and degradation. From a small fishing village in 1929, the tale moves to the glamorous and decadent heart of Kyoto in the 1930s, where a young peasant girl is sold into a kind of slavery, as servant and apprentice to a renowned geisha house. Transformed by one ...
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This is a seductive and stunningly evocative epic on an intimate scale, which tells the extraordinary story of a geisha girl. Summoning up more than twenty years of Japan's most dramatic history, it uncovers a hidden world of eroticism and enchantment, exploitation and degradation. From a small fishing village in 1929, the tale moves to the glamorous and decadent heart of Kyoto in the 1930s, where a young peasant girl is sold into a kind of slavery, as servant and apprentice to a renowned geisha house. Transformed by one man's act of kindness, she fights her way through hardship and jealousies to become successful as Sayuri the geisha girl. Then war breaks out and she has to escape and transform herself once again. She tells her own story many years later from the Waldorf Astoria in New York; and what is so utterly extraordinary about this novel is the way it exquisitely and unforgettably evokes another culture, a different time and the details of an extraordinary way of life. It conjures up the cruelty and the heartbreak, the perfection and the ugliness of life behind the rice-paper screens, where young girls learn the arts of the geisha - dancing and singing, how to wind the kimono and those elaborate hairstyles, how to walk and pour tea, and how to beguile the most powerful men.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. All items inspected and guaranteed. All Orders Dispatched from the UK within one working day. Established business with excellent service record.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Size: 19 to 25 cm tall, Octavo, (8vo); Scattered foxing. Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Ships from UK in 48 hours or less (usually same day). Your purchase helps support Sri Lankan Children's Charity 'The Rainbow Centre'. Ex-library, so some stamps and wear, but in good overall condition. 100% money back guarantee. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to provide a vast range of textbooks, rare and collectible books at a great price. Our donations to The Rainbow Centre have helped provide an education and a safe haven to hundreds of children who live in appalling conditions. We provide a 100% money back guarantee and are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest standards of service in the bookselling industry.
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Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Grubby book may have mild dirt or some staining, mostly on the edges of pages.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.
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Seller's Description:
Good. 2005. Film Tie-In. Paperback. Good copy with some shelf wear. Edges are slightly rubbed with some creasing to the cover. Remains a good reading copy.....We ship daily from our warehouse.
Loved it! Story line was quite different from the movie. It gives MUCH more details on the daily life of the Japanese people living at that time. As a whole; book much better than movie.
Littlehobbit
Jan 21, 2010
Loved it!
I was SO impressed by Goldens ability to capture a female perspective. Not only did I think the book was beautiful, it was powerful as well. I loved this story. I also thought that the movie was an astonishing interpretation of the book. Very unusual. Reading this book has since inspired me to learn about Japanese culture. [close]
SHIRLEY
Mar 23, 2009
VERY INTERESTING READ
IT READ THE SAME AS, IT DID THE FIRST TIME!! I WOULD READ IT AGAIN!!!
andysmom
Jul 29, 2008
Good Read
I was drawn into the story because the author described the lifestyle of a geisha very well. So this read is a good history lesson along with being a intriguing story about a young girl and her fight into womanhood.
BugEyeMidnight
Nov 6, 2007
And the movie left me feeling the same way...
This book was interesting, but I didn?t fall in love with it. The setting is beautiful, and I could feel the autohor's love for that time and place, but I have no feelings for the heroine. Mostly she gets acted upon instead of acting, which is (perhaps) the point but it?s not moving. I was very disappointed with the ending. I wanted to love it, but try as I might I just couldn?t. Overall it?s just ok.
