The Lotus Shoes

 


Four stars.  I really enjoyed listening to this book - until the last couple of chapters.  The ending was disappointing to me.

But, before then....it's the story of a young Chinese girl sold into slavery so her mother can give her brother an education after the father dies.  It's also a story of the lot of women - both poor women and wealthy women....subserviant to their husband and his wishes.  It's also a story about having their feet bound.  Which women THOUGHT made them more appealing to a man and a future husband.  It's such a cruel cruel tradition and yet it persisted for so many years.

There are two main characters in this story: Lingjing - the rich pampered lady and Little Flower, her servant.  It's a story of jealousy, talent, poverty, pride and it is also a love story.  Both women end up, after a series of unfortunate circumstances, in dire circumstances.  Both are doomed to live a life of poverty working in a silk factory owned and run by the handsome hero.  

Of course, both women love the same handsome, rich hero.  The hero loves Little Flower and Lingjing does everything to thwart their love.  

The ending is so melodramatic and unlikely.  (In the credits at the end, I found out it is a Harlequin romance.  No wonder it's so melodramatic.)



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