At nine, Chiyo is sold from a poor fishing village to a geisha house in Kyoto. There she is taught by Mameha and tormented by the senior geisha Hatsumomo, while hoping to become a geisha in order to meet the Chairman, who showed her kindness. As the geisha Sayuri, she must negotiate the competition for patrons such as Nobu and the baron, and survive the hardships of World War II, which closes the teahouses.
If you like historical fiction with a strong sense of place and tradition, this suits you. It offers a window into Gion's customs, built around one woman's long fight for her own future.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Language
- PT
