Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 31-35

I thoroughly enjoy the Minister. He's a horribly crude man but hilarious. The first encounter Sayuri has with him he ends up puking off of a little porch thing and then falling off the porch into his vomit. I laughed pretty hard while reading that part. Drunk people are usually pretty entertaining. Sayuri was confused as to how the Minister could possibly have had a good time, but he requested for her company again. It was bright of Sayuri to ask Mameha and Pumpkin to join them. I was sort of surprised to find out how crude Pumpkin was. I wasn't exactly expecting that because she was always such a cute little girl. She is now thoroughly enjoying all the American soldiers, though. Mameha was reluctant to join Pumpkin and Sayuri in their entertaining, which I found strange. When they rode on the plane and Sayuri started developing her plan to betray Nobu San, I felt a little sick. Nobu San was a good man and even though he could be a little mean had always treated Sayuri kindly. I think Sayuri just should have let him be her danna, but no, she had to devise a whole plan to get the Chairman instead. If I was Sayuri I would have given up on the Chairman altogether. He doesn't even show very much interest in her. When they all bathe together I was a little creeped out. Once again, though, its a difference in culture. They treat their bath like its a hot tub. Sayuri's idea to frame herself with the Minister is just gross. I'm not sure why she would want to portray herself in that way. I was surprised that Pumpkin betrayed her, but not too surprised. Sayuri had taken a lot away from Pumpkina and Pumpkin seemed to be quite a jerk nowadays. I guess at least Nobu San still found out about the whole encounter. I was surprised that the Chairman wanted to become her danna after he saw what she was doing. He must have loved her just as she had loved him. Their life is like bittersweet, though. Sayuri says how she's not really his wife. I imagine she would have loved to be, but thats not her job. I believe that they loved each other, even though it was never mentioned in the book. It was strange that they sort of mentioned that they had a son together. She said she couldn't say whether they had a son and whether or not they Sayuri had to move to America because of that. I'm not sure I would like to move to America. It would be quite a different lifestyle. Sayuri surely seems to enjoy life as an American, though. I suppose when the Chairman died Sayuri wouldn't have been too old. I enjoyed this book a lot. It was interesting to read such a detailed story about a lifestyle that is rarely explained. I liked the book and read the whole thing in a day shortly after I chose the book. Its funny because I chose the book because the girl on the front had such pretty eyes, and thats sort of how Sayuri become such a popular geisha. I watched the movie that was made after the book and I enjoyed that, too. I think it portrayed the book very well. I'm glad I chose this book for my Asian reading assignment.

Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 26-30

When Sayuri was given Hatsumomo's bedroom, I was so happy. Hatsumomo is crazy. She gets what she deserves by being kicked out of the okiya. She attacked another geisha because the man she was entertaining wasn't paying enough attention to her. I sort of feel bad for her, though. She was crazy, but she didn't pick that lifestyle. She was sold when she was young just like Sayuri and Satsu were. Hatsumomo just didn't adjust to the lifestyle as well, or maybe she adjusted too well. She liked having everything her way and when Sayuri messed that up for her she just lost it. I suppose it was actually sort of smart to choose General Tottori as Sayuri's danna because when the war finally breaks out he keeps the okiya up and running for a couple years. He gets arrested though, and the okiya has to fend for itself. Soon the rations get the best of Gion and the entire district is shut down. All the geisha's run to their dannas to try and get help. General Tottori, though, says that he can't help Sayuri and that she'll have to fend for herself. That made me pretty angry because he is supposed to take care of her, thats basically his job. I never liked the General, though, so my opinion is rather biased. Most of the geisha's seem to have the same problem, though. Even Mameha's danna, the Baron, leaves Mameha to fend for herself. Many of the geisha in Gion are sent to work in factories and many die from bombings. That would be quite a shock to go from being a geisha to a factory worker in one days time. Luckily Nobu San comes out of nowhere to help Sayuri. He sends her to live with someone he has known for a long time until the city is safe for her to return to. While she lives with Nobu San's friends she works as a fabric dyer. I'm proud that Sayuri is a pretty good sport about the whole thing. She doesn't act stuck up like Hatsumomo would have. She is still a good worker. It would be awful to have to see a war. I know that the United States has been involved in quite a few wars, but I have never had bombs going off in my backyard. Sayuri had to witness American soldiers invading and other soldiers dying. She saw factories and whole towns destroyed. That would probably horribly depress me, but she just keeps working until Nobu San comes back to get her. He isn't very kind to her. All he can see is how she doesn't look very pretty and he's disappointed in her. I was glad that he came back to get her, but at the same time it's very sad. It would be hard to go back to a city completely changed. Also being a geisha would never be the same. The city was filled with American soldiers who were much more disrespectful than the men geisha were used to entertaining. Nobu San needed Sayuri's help, though. He is trying to win over the support and financial aid of a man in order to get their electrical company back up and running. The minister is reviewing their company and he needs to give his approval to have the company reopen. Sayuri doesn't really want to help Nobu San because he doesn't want him to be her danna, but she basically owes him her life. Sayuri is also excited to see the Chairman. Reading about her love for him sort of got annoying. She wanted to be with him so bad, but she couldn't really do that much about it. I still find it strange that she devoted everything she did in her life to him. He must have been really great..

Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 21-25

Nobu San gives Sayuri a ruby and Sayuri has to give it directly to mother. I suppose that is obviously a very smart decision since Sayuri is severely in debt, but that would still stink. Sayuri has never seen anything as beautiful as the ruby and she has to hand it right over. When the betting for Sayuri's mizuage was finally over and Dr. Crab was announced the winner, I was horribly disgusted. Dr. Crab is seriously such a creep and I do not think he is a nice man. Its even creepier, though, that the man he was betting with wasn't Nobu San, but the Baron. The Baron is probably more creepy than Dr. Crab, though, so I suppose it was best that he wasn't the winner. If the Baron would have been the winner that would have been awful for Sayuri and I think she might have committed suicide. I was also surprised to learn that even though the Baron had actually won the bidding, Mameha had chosen Dr. Crab. And even though it wasn't the highest, bid, it still made history. Sayuri's mizuage sold for 15000 yen, which apparently is a lot because it was the highest a mizuage had ever been sold for, with Mameha's being the second highest. I know nothing about yen, but Sayuri doesn't get to keep any of the money anyways, it goes straight to the okiya. The whole process is disgusting and horribly awkward. Its strange that Sayuri didn't really think it was that big of a deal. She just sort of went through with it. I suppose as a geisha she didn't really have a choice, though. Plus the large sum of money she made finally convinced mother to adopt Sayuri as her daughter instead of Pumpkin. Of course Hatsumomo was very angry. She flipped out on mother, which probably made her look even worse. I think that was probably Hatsumomo's breaking point. Pumpkin was also very upset, too. Becoming mother's daughter was all that Pumpkin really wanted in her life and Sayuri took that away from her. I think its pretty sad when Mameha goes to collect her money from mother, since she had won the bet, and mother tries to trick her. Luckily Mameha has her "accountant" with her who has record of the original bet. Mother's a sly little fox. Also, I figured that Nobu San would become Sayuri's danna..but apparently not. General Tottori that actually becomes her danna just comes out of nowhere. It is no longer Mameha's choice, though, so Sayuri has to deal with the general, whom she doesn't particularly like. I have no idea why at such a politically unsafe time, mother and Mameha would think it would be a good idea to choose a general as a danna for Sayuri. They both just agree that its a great idea because he will keep Sayuri safe. They are very wrong, though. Sayuri deals with it, though, and continues to dream about the Chairman. Also, Nobu San basically stops talking to Sayuri or seeing her. He basically doesn't even exist to Sayuri anymore.

Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 16-20

Mameha finally decides to go to a few parties that she's sure that Hatsumomo won't know about. She takes Sayuri to a sumo match and with the owners of an electric company. Sayuri soon discovers that one of the two owners happens to be the Chairman. Despite what Mameha thought about Hatsumomo, Pumpkin and her found their way to the sumo match. I felt bad when Sayuri was instructed to tell flirt with Nobu San instead of the Chairman. Its unfortunate that Nobu San is horribly burnt and missing an arm, but he's still funny and nice. Okay, so maybe he's not really that nice. He takes a liking to Sayuri, though, which is good for her career. Nobu San is a very successful man and Hatsumomo won't bother Sayuri anymore if she knows that Sayuri is flirting with "Mr. Lizard." Sayuri wants to be talking and entertaining the Chairman, though, and not Nobu San. She doesn't have a choice, though, she has to do what Mameha tells her to. Its so weird how Sayuri meets Dr. Crab. I don't think I would be very happy if my "older sister" held me down and had someone cut my leg just so I could meet a creepy looking doctor. I would much rather have to enterain Nobu San than Dr. Crab. He sounds so creepy and has to operate on a cut in a rather awkward place. Its all part of the plan, though, to sell Sayuri's mizuage for a great deal of money. Mameha wants two wealthy men to bid against each other, which is good business I guess. I thought it was very smart of Mameha to introduce Sayuri to the artist. He's a very very strange man, though, and I definitely would have been scared of him if I was Sayuri. The way they describe his mole made me sort of cringe. I didn't really enjoy having the visual image of someone trying to eat a mole off their face in my head. I loved reading about Sayuri's performance in the festival. Her dance sounds very beautiful and I love that the artist painted her on the posters for the festival. I would really like to know what Sayuri looks like because everytime her eyes are described they sound fascinating. The Baron is a creepy man, hands down. He also sounds like a big jerk. Even though he is Mameha's danna he still tries to seduce Sayuri. I would never have went to that party at his house by myself. Also I can't believe Mameha would let her go alone, but it was ultimately Sayuri's choice, I believe. It is sad that Mameha had to get an abortion. If she would have kept the baby I wonder what the Baron would have done. Sayuri didn't really get raped, but I would say she was definitely violated in some way. Its very strange that Mameha didn't respond in any way. Apparently the Baron's behaviour was considered normal. He must frequent in forcefully undressing young geisha.

Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 11-15

I think this may be horribly sick and twisted of me..but I laughed hysterically when grandmother was burnt to death by her heater. Well, I guess thats not really how she died since she was estimated to have already been dead before her face hit the heater, but seriously? Her face got burnt off for goodness sake. Chiyo found her because she smelled it, which is just gross. I hope I never find someone by the smell of their face burning off. When Mameha talked to Chiyo I was so confused. I definitely didn't think she would get in trouble for the kimono that she ruined, but I figured it had something to do with Hatsumomo. I wasn't expecting her to want to be Chiyo's older sister or for her to make such a dangerous bet to mother. Mameha must have been very confident that Chiyo would be a very successful geisha or just plain crazy. I love Mameha from the first scene she was introduced. She was kind to Chiyo, but strict when she needed to be. I believe that her and Chiyo became like real sisters in the story and that it wasn't just a title they were given. They looked out for each other and Chiyo did whatever Mameha told her to and didn't question it and Mameha usually always did what was best for Chiyo. Her and Hatsumomo were polar opposites. I felt bad for Pumpkin, which I haven't even mentioned until now. Pumpkin is adorable and sweet, but slightly stupid. I didn't really see a future for her as a geisha, but Hatsumomo took her under her wing. Of course she only did it to try and even the playing field with Mameha. Hatsumomo never stood a chance, though. Pumpkin may have been kind hearted, but she didn't have Chiyo's eyes or charm. I love that Chiyo is doing well with her geisha lessons. I do believe in the book, though, that she was being overly modest. She said that she was a mediocre dancer and guitar (not really a guitar, but I can't for the life of me think of what its called, I think it starts with an s, though) player, but if she would have just been "mediocre" she would never have become such a successful geisha. I'm not sure why Chiyo is so jealous just because Pumpkin premiers first. Its obvious that Chiyo has the better instructor. When Chiyo finally takes Mameha as her sister, I love the knew name they choose. Sayuri is pretty, and even though most of the time sisters have similar names, I'm happy Sayuri's isn't like Mameha's name because I don't really like it. It would not be fun to parade all the time in those clothes. I thought getting my hair done for prom was annoying and took forever (it was less than an hour) but I'm very glad that I didn't get wax poured on my head and then brushed. Also I complained about my heavy dress, but I didn't have like seven layers of robes and complex tying required. I also didn't have to wear strange wooden shoes or paint my face white and use charcoal to draw on my eyelashes. I was fascinated that they could sit in that attire for so long and walk around in it. I would be sooo uncomfortable. Its also ridiculous that when the geisha are entertaining they should show a little bit of wrist to the men. That is so much different from what the girls do in America. Hatsumomo is so annoying. It seems like she'll never leave poor Sayuri alone. She followed them around to every placea they went. She also told horrible stories about Sayuri, even though she never said they were about Sayuri she hinted that they were. The stories were definitely made up, too, and barely believable at all. I was expecting a cat fight, but I guess thats not very geisha-like. Hatsumomo needs to get a life, which seems strange to say, but she should worry more about debuting Pumpkin properly instead of just solely trying to ruin Sayuri's career. Mameha was upset about Hatsumomo following them, but she didn't steep to Hatsumomo's level, which I love. Mameha is so much better than Hatsumomo.

Memoirs of a Geisha; Chapters 6-10

These chapters made me soo angry. I agreed with mother and grandmother at first when they said they could tell how clever Chiyo was, but these chapters made me question that she was even in the slightest bit intelligent. Why in the world would she believe anything that Hatsumomo told her? All she ever does is manipulate Chiyo into getting what she wants and getting Chiyo beaten or in trouble or more in debt. I was surprised, though, when Hatsumomo wasn't lying about where Satsu was. Hatsumomo really does want Chiyo out of the okiya, though. Whenever Chiyo left to find Satsu, I was so nervous for her. She was still just a little girl. Weren't the streets a dangerous place for a pretty little girl? Also she was in the bad part of town going to a whore house, I really don't know how thats safe. When she found Satsu and discovered the sort of conditions she was in, I was sad for Satsu. Satsu never seemed to be the brightest and did enjoy being a little scandalous back in their home town, but there is no way that she deserved to be ripped from her family and made into a whore. I was sort of excited when they decided to run away, but I obviously knew that it wouldn't work out for Chiyo because otherwise the rest of the book wouldn't really exist. The fact that I knew their plan wouldn't work made me sort of sick to my stomach. I definitely thought that Chiyo being the "clever" girl she was would have a better escape plan than crawling over the roof. She didn't even really inspect the roof before she planned the escape, either, so she just ended up exploring it in the dark. She was horribly clumsy about it, also. I realize that roofs aren't exactly the easiest thing to climb on, but seriously? She fell off and broke her arm. She didn't even make it to the other side or anything. And of course now that she fell back into the okiya with a broken arm she was going to get in even more trouble and beaten like crazy by auntie or maybe mother. As if her being beaten with wet bamboo isn't bad enough, mother takes away Chiyo's schooling. Basically all Chiyo can do now is chores and she obviously will never be able to pay off all of her debts that way. Especially since Hatsumomo also framed her for stealing that brooch and money all because Chiyo caught her with a boy. I have no idea why Chiyo didn't see that one coming, but she is only a village girl and still mostly scared to death. When auntie read the letter that Chiyo's parents both died I felt even worse for her. As if it wasn't bad enough that she had been sold away to become a geisha to an okiya with the meanest girl on the face of the planet, now the man who sold her writes her a letter to tell her of her parents death. Her father must have been older than I thought because her parents seemed to die pretty close together..or maybe they didn't and he just didn't write the letter until Chiyo's father died. I think its very strange that as soon as Chiyo meets the Chairman she is basically in love with him. She's still very young and he treats her like a little child, but she wants to be a geisha by his side. He's quite a bit older than her and its just strange to me that she would think that about him. I suppose at least meeting the Chairman has knocked a bit of sense into her. She finally sees that she's basically stuck at the okiya, no matter how much she hates it, so she had better just get used to it and work as hard as she can to get her geisha lessons back and become successful. Becoming a successful geisha is Chiyo's only shot of living any type of good life. I still find it so strange that the age difference between the two of them doesn't bother Chiyo. Once again, such a difference in culture. It is pretty cute, though, that Chiyo keeps his hankerchief. She doesn't really have anyone in her life so I guess it is her way of thinking she's doing something for someone.