Journal Entry 1 by ravencat from Lancaster, New York USA on Monday, January 25, 2010

From the cover: In nineteenth-century China,in a remote Hunan county,a girl named Lily,at the age of seven,is paired with a laotong,or "old same",in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower,introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she has written a poem in nu shu,a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret,away from the influence of men. As the years pass,Lily and Snow Flower send messages of the fan and compose stories on handkerchiefs,reaching out of isolation to share their hopes,dreams,and accomplishments. They both endure the agony of footbinding and together reflect upon their arranged marriages,shared lonliness,and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace,developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises,their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

I was mesmerized by this beautiful and heartbreaking story of what the young women of nineteenth-century China had to endure with the custom of 'footbinding' and the portrayal of female frienship that lasts a lifetime. This book is too good not to be shared and I will offer it as a bookring.

Update12April10:
There are nine participants for this ring.

No special rules for this ring but please be considerate of the next person in line. Here is the list:

1. wendyv (Victoria,Aus.)
2. disneyfreaksam (Wiltshire,U.K.)
3. Jenetix (London,U.K.) T
4. Appelsiini (Valkeakoski,Finland)
5. jumpingin (British Columbia,Canada)
6. lauraloo29 (Alberta,Canada)
7. minesayn (Ohio,U.S.)
8. dabercro (Utah,U.S.) Asked to be skipped
9. FeistyPom2Love (California,U.S.
10.ravencat (New York,U.S.)~~~~Back Home 20 November 2010




 

Journal Entry 2 by ravencat at Lancaster, New York USA on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/22/2010 UTC) at Lancaster, New York USA

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Sent on its way to the first participant in this bookring. (wendyv) 

Journal Entry 3 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 29, 2010

This book arrived today, thank you Ravencat! I am so looking forward to reading it. I will start it tonight, I finished Mothers and Sons yesterday - perfect timing. It looks like a beautiful book. I predict I will like it, alot. Thank you for sending it so quickly. 

Journal Entry 4 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 29, 2010

Well, I took this book to bed with me last night thinking I would make some advance on the 5 or so pages I managed to squeeze in yesterday. I finished it at around 12.30am, completely oblivious to the time until my son woke for a bottle as I finished the last page. You see, for that few hours I was in nineteenth century China, I WAS Lily, and I was a fallible protaganist who was human, in all her failings and successes.

The novel is concerned with femininity and the nature of friendship and - sadly - betrayal. There are many, many references to the traditions and rituals of nineteenth century China, these compound the story and are fully explored by See in the context of the story. They actually enhance the narrative and draw the reader into the complex society which was China at this period of time.

The narrator is candid, human and likeable. I found myself in tears as I realised the extent of the betrayal in the story - so much more than I had thought as the 'Letter of Vituperation' commenced. I wont spoil anything, but needless to say it is quite heart wrenching. The nature of relationships between, and with, women is explored thoroughly against the fascinating and intriguing background of China.

The male characters were also interesting, they seemed to 'soften' as the novel went on. As Lily became more and more aware as she grew older they also became more 'known' by the reader and subsequently understood, to a certain extent.

The secret language, nu shu, I had not heard a great deal of until this novel and I am intrigued by the concept of a written language purely for women and solely understood by woman. The narrative of the novel is fluid and after a little getting used to immensely enjoyable.

So, all up - I loved it. Thank you so much Ravencat for including me in this ring. I absolutely relished it and highly recommend it to any reader. I have suggested to other readers I knwo that they join this ring. Possibly the best book I have read for some time.

Thank you! 

Journal Entry 5 by wendyv at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 29, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (3/29/2010 UTC) at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia

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This book will be posted today to DisneyFreaksam, the next person on the ring list,
who I hope enjoys it as much as I did!
Thanks Ravencat for organising the ring. I loved it!

2.20pm - posted, via sea mail but am assured wont be too long... 

Journal Entry 6 by disneyfreaksam from Warminster, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Thank you so much for the book. As soon as I have finished it I will pass it onto the next reader

xx 

Journal Entry 7 by disneyfreaksam from Warminster, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 12, 2010

What a beautiful book. Gorgeous story and the way that the women lived was amazing. So regimented and cut off from what we know. I was crying at some points. Will be investing in a copy for myself.

Will pass onto jenetix on Friday.
 

Journal Entry 8 by disneyfreaksam at Warminster, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Monday, April 12, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/16/2010 UTC) at Warminster, Wiltshire United Kingdom

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Enjoy, it is a gorgeous book 

Journal Entry 9 by Jenetix from London , Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Arrived late last week but did not get to start it until last night - has me hooked after just about 5 pages. Will journal when done and send it off to the next on the list. 

Journal Entry 10 by Jenetix at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, April 25, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/25/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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I loved loved loved this book! Such a beautiful story which i was unable to put down once i started. Lily and the other characters in this book and are so able to be mentally visualised from this amazing story, and the intricacies of the relationships so beautifully captured throughout. I have sent this on to Finland for the next book crosser to read and pass on. Thanks for this bookring Ravencat... 

Journal Entry 11 by Appelsiini from Lempäälä, Pirkanmaa Finland on Thursday, April 29, 2010

Got it today, perfect timing as I'm leaving to holiday next week :) Thanks! 

Journal Entry 12 by Appelsiini at Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa Finland on Sunday, May 09, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (5/10/2010 UTC) at Valkeakoski, Pirkanmaa Finland

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Read this book during my holiday, it was just a perfect holiday reading! I loved the way the story was told, I found it at the same time beautiful and brave but also taughtful. I have never been so much into Asian cultures and this book opened some of the traditions I have been thinking and also told about the traditions which I had never heard of.

Thanks for setting up this ring! :) Now the book is heading to Canada! 

Journal Entry 13 by jumpingin from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Monday, May 17, 2010

It has just arrived in my mailbox, along with an adorable postcard. Thanks, Appelsiini!

With all the wonderful reviews here, I can't wait to read this. 

Journal Entry 14 by jumpingin at North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Friday, June 11, 2010

What a lovely, sad book. I knew little about footbinding or about how women in China lived at this time; this book painted a very vivid picture of a life so different from my own. I loved the writing and the characterization.

I'll be putting this book in the mail later today. 

Journal Entry 15 by jumpingin at North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, June 12, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/12/2010 UTC) at North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

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On its way to lauraloo29. Travel safely! 

Journal Entry 16 by lauraloo29 at Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Saturday, June 19, 2010

Arrived today. Thank you! Love the pretty card too. :) 

Journal Entry 17 by lauraloo29 at Edmonton, Alberta Canada on Friday, July 09, 2010

Sad, lovely, horrifying. Very vivid descriptions. Interesting on how formal this Chinese society was. A good read. I will be mailing this right away to the next person. Thank you for sharing! 

Journal Entry 18 by minesayn at Huron, Ohio USA on Monday, July 19, 2010

Received through the post from lauraloo29. Thanks ravencat for including me in this ring. Can't wait to read this one as my son now studies and speaks Chinese so will be interesting to compare the cultural differences.  

Journal Entry 19 by minesayn at Carpinteria, California USA on Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (9/8/2010 UTC) at Carpinteria, California USA

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Being sent to Feisty2Pom via USPS Hope you enjoy the book!

( enjoyed reading this book. Both compelling and at times a bit horrifying (the foot binding), but loved learning about the culture of China in the 1800s 

Journal Entry 20 by FeistyPom2Love at Carpinteria, California USA on Saturday, September 18, 2010

Just received this today in the mail. I have have 4 books ahead of this one to read so it may take me awhile to read this novel. Thanks for sharing this. 

Journal Entry 21 by FeistyPom2Love at Carpinteria, California USA on Sunday, November 14, 2010

Wow, I just finished this novel last night and found it to be a very captivating from start to finish. This is the 1st novel I've read by Lisa See. I'd been wanting to read one of her novels for quite awhile and now I look forward to reading more of them in the future once my to be read pile is greatly reduced....

I agree a lot with what wendyv said about the novel, so don't want repeat word for word what she had to say! 

Journal Entry 22 by FeistyPom2Love at Lancaster, New York USA on Sunday, November 14, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (11/16/2010 UTC) at Lancaster, New York USA

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Thank you for sharing this novel with me!! 

Journal Entry 23 by ravencat at Lancaster, New York USA on Saturday, November 20, 2010

Arrived home safe and I am so glad that everyone enjoyed this book! Thank-you to all that participated in this ring.