A birthday present from a friend...It looks promising and I am hoping to read it as soon as the rings/rays slow down.

Reserved for a trade with valerief

This book ended up being far more facinating that I had anticipated. It was an interesting glimpse into another world that is difficult to imagine. It had so much information on foot binding, that I felt compelled to google it to see what it actually looks like,,,pretty horrific. The main plot and characters were compelling. This is easily one of my favorite books of the year, so far!!!

I am mailing this out to Valerief this week. Enjoy!!!

Received this a while ago in a swap, catching up with my journal entries today. Thanks Karenlea!

At the beginning I was worried this book would get way too sappy and girl-crush romantic. However, it seemed to develop as a fictional description of women's life in rural imperial China and how they coped with and overcame oppression and marginalization. The concept of nu shu seems fascinating, especially since people generally poo-poo female intelligence.

Is it me, or did there seem to be an undercurrent of a lesbian relationship between Lily and Snow Flower? I felt as if it was alluded to in a couple of passages.

Trying to find someone or somewhere appropriate for release...

RELEASE NOTES:

Sending to jennannej, winner of my first Trivia RABCK

Arrived this morning! I look forward to reading this. Thanks, valerief.

Wow! I don't think you can read this story and not be impacted, whether it be by the graphic description of foot binding, or the depth of a friendship, or by the tradition of Nu Shu, or by the formal lives and oppression of women in this story.

Lily was finally able to take some control of her destiny by the position of power granted to her by her husband, but Snow Flower's resignation to her fate as a woman was hard to watch.

A very interesting read, which taught me a bit more about the history of Chinese women.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off in a big envelope of books to hostile17.

Received this "book for postage" in the mail today.
TYVM.

Such a beautiful story about the very special friendship between two women, that takes them from early childhood through adulthood, and finally to old age and the last breath.

Sending to my niece in Colorado.