Bound

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

Published in 2004 by Simon Pulse publishing

186 pages

Warning: This novel contains abuse towards children, language, mild violence, mention of sex and mild sensuality.

Genre: Multicultural, Donna Jo Napoli, Family, Body Image, Death

Bound is the retelling of the Cinderella story with a twist; it takes place in China during the Ming Dynasty (mid to late 1600's). Xing Xing is bound to her late father's second wife. She is the servant for her stepmother and stepsister. She takes care of her stepsister who is amidst binding her feet, in hopes of finding a suitor. In the meantime, Xing Xing spends time working with calligraphy and poetry; it is something she loves and is very good at. The time finally comes for the event which every Cinderella story centers on. The great ball! Will Xing Xing go? Or will Wei Ping, her evil stepsister, take her spot at the ball.

This is a beautiful novel. What a fascinating insight to the Chinese culture! I was exposed to ideas of reincarnation, poetry, foot binding and importance of marriage to the Chinese people. Napoli wrote very matter of fact, which made this novel easy and simple for me to understand; when learning about a foreign culture, I appreciate this style of writing from an author. Napoli exposed the myth that foot binding was to me; I never realized how real it was until I read this novel. I know understand the Chinese culture more and the lengths they are willing to go to to find a suitor. It makes me think about our culture and what we do; I can't help but think of the hundreds of ridiculous fad diets which exist that entice people to be skinny and beautiful. It's interesting because in the end of the novel, we see who "wins." In our society, we often feel like those who win shouldn't, when it comes to the skinny girl getting the job or the boy, but in this novel it feels like the winner should win. After reading the novel, I was unsettled about the Chinese culture and certain aspects; but the ending made up for all of it. Great book.

Following is my favorite excerpt I hope will lure you in. It illustrates the extremes of foot-binding:

Wei Ping knelt with one knee on each stool and took a loud, deep breath. Then she threw her weight on one knee and moved the other stool forward with her hands. She threw her weight on the other knee and moved the second stool forward with her hands. In this manner, she worked her way over to the kang, never putting weight on her feet. The kang was the most-used piece of furniture in their home-- where one could eat and talk and sew and even nap. It was adjacent to the stove, with a fire passage inside its stone slabs. Heat from the cooking fire passed under it, then out through the chimney in the roof of the cave. As Wei Ping passed Xing Xing, she spat on her toes. "No one will find you a husband." (page 6)