Geisha, a Life
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Geisha, a Life
Buy Now for $22.26
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Cindy Kay
-
Written by:
-
Mineko Iwasaki
-
Rande Brown
About this listen
Celebrated as the most successful geisha of her generation, Mineko Iwasaki was only 5 years old when she left her parents' home for the world of the geisha. For the next 25 years, she would live a life filled with extraordinary professional demands and rich rewards. Through great pride and determination, she would be hailed as one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, and one of the last great practitioners of this now fading art form.
In Geisha, a Life, Mineko Iwasaki tells her story, from her warm early childhood, to her intense yet privileged upbringing in the Iwasaki okiya (household), to her years as a renowned geisha, and finally, to her decision at the age of 29 to retire and marry, a move that would mirror the demise of geisha culture. Mineko brings to life the beauty and wonder of Gion Kobu, a place that "existed in a world apart, a special realm whose mission and identity depended on preserving the time-honored traditions of the past."
Geisha, a Life is the first of its kind, as it delicately unfolds the fabric of a geisha's development. Told with great wisdom and sensitivity, it is a true story of beauty and heroism, and of a time and culture rarely revealed to the Western world.
©2002 Mineko Iwasaki (P)2020 TantorWhat listeners say about Geisha, a Life
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2024-01-17
Beautiful story of the life of a formidable woman
I read this before my trip to Japan and learned a lot from her story of Japanese life and Japanese culture. It's a shame that Memoirs of a Geisha convoluted her description of her culture but I'm happy she got her chance to tell her story and the story of the geiko herself.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Samantha Pruden
- 2023-07-19
Intriguing read!
I was hooked on her story. I listened to it when I had some free time, and was so excited to find out what came next. I felt as though I was there to witness her rise as Japan's most famous geiko and everything that came with it.
I'll be listening to it again!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emily Colin
- 2024-08-13
compelling read
If you're like me and ended up reading "Memories of a Geisha" and looking online for more details and upset with what you found; this is what you should be reading instead. Compelling and emotional. I love how there are moments where Mineko will point out a common misconception (like those propelled in books like MoaG) without outright calling someone out.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Myriam Gervais
- 2024-11-05
Fascinating
Very interesting overview of an other world. I loved how the author narrated her story true to life without embilisi
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Crystal H B
- 2020-10-10
Okay
The story was ok. Just okay. I loved reading about her life as a Geisha, but I was also annoyed by her character. Almost whining too much at times.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!