Lydia's Page

I read this book about a decade ago, right after it was published, in a mother-daughter book club. The story centers around the lifelong love, friendship, and sisterhood between Lily (the narrator) and Snow Flower. The two girls are bound in an eternal contract shortly after having their feet bound. The horrors of foot binding are put into context through an understanding of filial duty and Chinese traditions.

When I read this as a teenager, I was drawn to the ups and downs of the girls' relationship and the complicated mother-love Lily experiences. Now, as an adult, it's interesting to revisit this story and find myself connecting more to the later stages of the womens' lives and experiences. It's a lovely story of connection, loss, and the depths of our ability to forgive ourselves and others.