This book is a wonderfullllllllll book. The best that I have ever read till date. It is written by Lisa See and describes in detail about the foot binding process in China and what importance it holds.
After reading this book, I felt oh my God how these people suffer just to look good and attract a good match for their marriage.
It is about two girls Lily and Snow Flower are a laotong pair. Laotong pair means they are friends cum sisters for life. They match it through their signs and and all sorts of stuff.
The worst is when the author describes the painful process of foot binding where the leg bones are broken so that the feet are made smaller to resemble a lotus. It must cause excruciating pain for these small girls.
Also, Lisa mentions a secret language Nu Shu used during that time to communicate between laotongs.
It is a wonderful book and definitely a must read.
Read more about foot binding here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding
The pictures itself are so frightening. I do not know how much patience and endurance a mother must have to do this to her baby girl :)
Happy Diwali to one and all! May the festival of lights illuminate in ur a desire for learning and a quest for knowledge. Have a safe and fun filled Diwali bursting crackers.
Labels: China, Foot binding, Lisa See
Hi .. I have finally made up my mind to start blogging after reading many people's sites. Some are fun and interesting, some provide valuable tips, some I use just to check what my friends are upto and some for recipes :)
I have decided to start a blog on my passion for life - Reading books!
Most people who know me know that I am an avid reader of all kinds of books, be it novels, historic books or science. They usually ask me for advice on what to read and what to start out with when they see me reading.
So for now, my today's book will be the one I just finished. "The Color of Water" by James McBride.
A wonderful novel and a lovely insight into inter racial issues. The book is meant to be a tribute to his white Jewish mom by him ( He is a black). He speaks in this book through two ways - one as himself and the other as his mom.
Reading this book makes you aware of the distinction in society and how people around you react to mixed marriages.
Are mixed marriages wrong? Do they work? I guess that is not for us to say or comment. It depends on the two individuals and the seriousness and commitment that they have.
Reading this book makes me change my thinking. Seeing the world and its persecution based on religion makes me wonder why we fight in the name of religion. What is achieved by it? At the end of the day, it's our belief in God that should make us want to be a better person or not...
Read this book for a lovely insight into blacks and whites of America. No one imagines that these things happens in America - the so-called land of freedom :) But it happens daily. The time we travel to office, the looks we give to "colored" people.
Let us hope that through such books, people get enlightened and realise that our color or religion is not who we are. But we are who we become through our various experiences of life and through our upbringing by our parents.
On this nite, I think this is enough philosphy for this day :) Take care and do comment on my blog with constructive critiscism.
Labels: James McBride, Racism, Serious