I stayed up half the night finishing Peony in Love by Lisa See. What a book! Not only are you drawn into a dramatic love story, but along the way you are able to feed your mind with information of ancient Chinese history. I learned about the Manchu invasion, foot binding, abandonment and the many beliefs some Chinese have of the afterlife. It was a page turner for sure and I was sorry to see those words, The End.
The tradition of foot-binding has always puzzled me. In this book, I finally understand it a little more.
Here is a favorite excerpt:
My bound feet were extremely beautiful–my best feature–and I took great pride in them. Ordinarily I paid strict attention to Willow’s ministration, making sure that my deep crease was fully cleaned, calluses cut down, and my nails kept as short as possible. ……A woman’s feet were her greatest mystery and gift. If some miracle happened and I married my stranger, I would care for them in secret, powdering them to accentuate their odor, and rewrapping them tightly so they would appear as small and delicate as possible.
If you want to cry, laugh and celebrate with Peony, you can buy the book here:
