Discussion Time! (Memoirs of a Geisha - Day 1)

All -

Hello, welcome and I hope this goes well.

(Yeah, OK, I broke my own rule and I'm posting late.)

As a reminder, our first "assignment" on Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden) was the one touchstone story that (a) we had all already read or bought to re-read and (b) I am fascinated by the way stories I love to read are adapted for the screen, whether on TV or on film. Many of my favorite books have been made into truly wretched films and mini-series, while others have been done wonderfully.

I'm often of the opinion that I'd rather read the book version than see the film version of a "best-seller" unless I've received a non-Oprah recommendation from a friend (thanks Clodia!), in which case, I may actually give the hardcover version a shot.

Now, as I re-read the paperback and re-viewed the DVD, I really focused on why I felt both the novel and the film "worked" as both stand-alone and, oddly enough, as companion works of literature.

For example, I feel that you don't need to have read the novel to have enjoyed the film, but some of the "cut-scenes", which would have made the film butt-numbing, integrate into the whole work, when considered as both film and novel. Expository framing tricks, like translator Jakob Haarhuis, could have worked on film, but I think the brief voiceovers by Sayuri are really what we've all entered the theaters (or rented/bought the DVD) to "experience". . .especially, as in Jakob-san's introduction, he's been listening to a recording of Sayuri's voice as he worked through his translation.

The other big thing I found in the epilogue/dedication/acknowledgements in the novel, and really felt that the DVD extras had complimented, was the degree to which the facts of the daily life of a geisha had been studied, fact-checked and edited while Mr. Golden was writing his novel. . .and while Mr. Marshall was making his film.

I have so much else to say, but I'm starting to get sleepy and distracted, so I'll sign off until tomorrow!

- Lizzy -