The Lotus Shoes

Yang debuts with a fascinating portrayal of ambition and cruelty in 19th-century China. Little Flower, a young woman with bound feet is sold to the Fong family and forced to serve their spoiled daughter, Linjing, who comes to feel threatened by her mother’s affection for Little Flower. Part of Little Flower’s appeal lies in her bound feet, or “golden lilies,” which are coveted by members of the upper class. She also charms with her embroidery skills. Both attributes are bruising to Linjing, as her feet were never bound and her own embroidery pales in comparison. In retaliation, Linjing forces Little Flower to destroy a beautiful wedding quilt that took her two years to complete. Still, Little Flower attempts to please Linjing, hoping to remain in the family’s good graces and eventually make a good marriage. Yang skillfully depicts the tension between the two women, and even manages to evoke sympathy for the vindictive Linjing after her betrothal ends in a scandal that causes the two women’s fates to be linked. Yang’s expert plotting and nuanced historical details result in an exceptional story that enchants from the first page to the last. (Jan.)