Right, I know I'm a day early, but I'm off sick with the lurgy so I'm going to open this up for discussion today, so there!

I loved this book. I find it fascinating when you get a well written book which gives you an insight into such a totally different culture.

Most fascinating of all for me has to be the footbinding. I guess we've all heard of this practice, but I think I had it in my head it was just tight bandaging to prevent growth ... not breaking all the bones and ending up with feet which were so tiny. The descriptions of the foot binding made me feel quite ill.

Had to laugh at all the singing ceremonies though, could hear it in my head as I was reading as the most dreadful caterwauling.

Marina

I am so rubbish :( I haven't even bought it yet. I have the one before but I haven't read that yet! I think I need to start again. I love reading but I have NO time at all - and I still want to be part of the book club. What a dilemma LOL

LOL, suppose you have got a few kids, dogs, horses etc. to keep you busy.

Must try harder. (stern face icon!)

M.

I blame Willis :D

O.K...........so we are a day earlier with the discussion? :)  I loved this book and like you, 'Brihow Collies', I too was under the impression that the foot binding procedure was just tight bandaging, more of an 'old Wives' Tale' than actually changing the make-up of the foot.  I found the description of the procedure so disturbing that I could hardly bear to read it (images of my three beautiful Grand-daughters who are around the age that Lily and Snowflower were, kept springing to mind and thinking of them, I did shed the odd tear!)   however, I am glad that I did read about it because otherwise a lot of the other things that happened in the book, would probably have not made much sense!  I think that we can all learn from Lily in that she did actually, in my opinion, get a bit 'too big for her boots' after her successful marriage only to rethink her opinions of Snowflower when it was almost too late!  (I don't want to elaborate just in case some of you haven't yet finished the book)  The author painted a very vivid picture of life in China in the early 19th century.........a real Eye-opener!  What are we reading for March???

I just can't imagine what an impact on the rest of your life it must have to end up with feet 7cm long!! It's no wonder the women spent most of their days in a single room, walking anywhere must havebeen a huge issue for ever more - it must throw the entire body out of alignment, causing no end of pain.

I had to go and Google it, because I couldn't begin to imagine what these 'golden lilies' were actually meant to look like. This page gives some more info and pictures, although where they saw the beauty in it I can't begin to imagine.
http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/History/China/04/hutchins/hutchins.htm

That aside, I loved the way the book was written - I thought she managed to bring beauty into what was no doubt a very ugly life. I loved reading about the traditions - the sworn sisters and the laotongs, the preparation of the clothes that the girls would wear for the rest of their lives, to be taken with them when they went to their husbands homes.

M.

What did you make of the relationship between the laotongs?  I can't imagine ever being that 'close' to any of my friends!  I wish you hadn't found that website, I had to look.......how horrible are those feet??? :)  I think I would have preferred to have been a maid than to go through that!!

Horrible, isn't it. Various of the websites also refer to the fact that the posture keeps 'other bits' tighter, which no doubt held attractions for the husbands too. :rolleyes: Give me pelvic floor exercises any day, LOL.

I must admit that I too had the same ideas about foot binding, that it just was bandages wrapped around the foot; I had no idea what it actually involved
I don't find the bound feet pretty, they look like hooves to me! but, I can see that the slippers made for the bound feet were lovely and so ornate.

I'm not officially in the book club (sorry! :P ) but was fascinated by the comments originally made on this book and so had to buy myself a copy. Glad I did, however I haven't finished it all yet. I'm at the bit where both girls are pregnant :)

Lindsay
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Well done Lindsay!  I am sure that you will enjoy the book as much as the rest of us did.  You can always add your comments when you finish it.  I hope that I didn't give too much away!

im not much past you lindsay, havent had much time for reading :(

That website is amazing, thanks for posting it, I really wondered what they looked like after they had been bound   They are really hideous, but the men find them a turn on :rolleyes:

This book was described as being 'achingly beautiful' which summed it up perfectly for me. With females being described as 'useless twigs' (or something like that!) we can only begin to imagine their lonely, sad, unfullfilled lives through the words of the author. I think it was extremely well written, so much so that I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days.

I actually thought it was sweet, the 'innocence' at the beginning of the laotong friendship. These were girls that were never to have any real affection or intimacy in their lives.

As for their bound feet - ouch! - it made my eyes water!! (Interesting website :)) How could any mother DO that to their daughters! I suppose they thought they were looking at things in the long term - prosperous marriage and all that.

All in all a great interesting read :D

Bouncing as today is the last day of the month and when we're actually meant to be discussing ... anyone else?

M.

No that's fine Oldilocks, I will continue reading and enjoying :)

Lindsay
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