Reviews tagging 'Death'

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

11 reviews

hazlenut's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abortion, and Alcohol

perth_is's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

merri217's review

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, and Blood

tomnoor's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Trafficking, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Abortion

ladybirder's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and War

dannilmp's review

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I picked this book up hoping to learn something more about a culture's history and I wasn't dissapointed. Here we follow young Sayori through the trials of her life that lead to her becoming a Geisha. A heartfelt story with plenty of heartaching moments to follow.

Golden really did his research to be able to write such a detailed piece of historical fiction. I felt as though I learnt so much more about Geishas and Japan's history while also coming to understand more what the Geishas roles and functions in society were. 

I don't typically read historical fiction so this was a venture outside of my usual comfort zone, and while it was written very well (bar young Sayori's obsession with a certain character feeling icky) it is not something I would rush to read in a hurry again. But parts of the story have still stuck with me months later, so I have to give the book credit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Slavery, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

hanniquinn's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Confinement, Physical abuse, Grief, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Child death, Death, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism

memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, War, and Classism

suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I honestly went into this book hesitant because it follows the plot of a young Japanese woman in WWII but is written by a white man. Because of this, the book has no real narrative for Sayuri. And this is a shame because the book is written in the first person and could have been used to portray a powerful story about the transition from girlhood to womanhood, how concepts and the idea of what a woman changes when this geisha role is assigned to her. As for the war, this was only really added at the end and just sped past it-- which again is a shame because it had the potential to cover grief, rage, imperialism, violence, and all the other big things that come with the war in such a powerful way. All this to say, I would not recommend this book to anyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

tardycreative's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death