The Lotus Shoes
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
"Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time." --Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.
1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant--a muizai--to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.
Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower's escape.
But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower's artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status, but her life--the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?
"Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time." --Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz
An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.
1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or "golden lilies," are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When Little Flower is sold as a maidservant--a muizai--to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery.
Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower's escape.
But when scandal strikes the Fongs, both women are cast out to the Celibate Sisterhood, where Little Flower's artistic prowess catches the eye of a nobleman. His attention threatens not only her improved status, but her life--the Sisterhood punishes disobedience with death. And if Linjing finds out, will she sabotage Little Flower to reclaim her power, or will she protect her?
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *The Lotus Shoes* by Jane Yang is a beautifully written historical novel that vividly explores 19th-century China, focusing on the intertw...
"You are low-born, I'm a lady. These facts are as solid as the ground we stand on."
This is a wonderful debut novel. The Lotus Shoes transports us to 19th century China where tradition collides with Western influence. Although Little Flower is sold as a muizai (servant) to the wealthy Fong household, she knows her worth. Her mother made sure to bound her feet at an early age to ensure a good marriage for her. She had perfect golden lillies, like a lady. Linjing lives in comfort, surrounded by servants, including her very own-Little Flower. She grows up with the finest things and is her father's favorite. However, in a bid for modernity, he decides to leave her feet unbound. Her bubble is burst. How can she be a lady and have large feet? A story of jealousy, integrity, resilience and love unfolds as the girls grow up together (they are the same age). It seems they are "stuck together" for better or worse.
Told in alternating POV's of Little Flower and Linjing, you can feel their sense of "lot" in the world, imprisoned by ideals of privilege, class and gender of the time. The story fully immerses you in the cultural history of 1800's China. Both girls suffer grief and loss. Can they learn to trust again? Beautifully written story.
This is a wonderful debut novel. The Lotus Shoes transports us to 19th century China where tradition collides with Western influence. Although Little Flower is sold as a muizai (servant) to the wealthy Fong household, she knows her worth. Her mother made sure to bound her feet at an early age to ensure a good marriage for her. She had perfect golden lillies, like a lady. Linjing lives in comfort, surrounded by servants, including her very own-Little Flower. She grows up with the finest things and is her father's favorite. However, in a bid for modernity, he decides to leave her feet unbound. Her bubble is burst. How can she be a lady and have large feet? A story of jealousy, integrity, resilience and love unfolds as the girls grow up together (they are the same age). It seems they are "stuck together" for better or worse.
Told in alternating POV's of Little Flower and Linjing, you can feel their sense of "lot" in the world, imprisoned by ideals of privilege, class and gender of the time. The story fully immerses you in the cultural history of 1800's China. Both girls suffer grief and loss. Can they learn to trust again? Beautifully written story.
Great historical fiction like this one make me want to read more! Yang' s words and storytelling paint a portrait that you cannot stop looking at.
Horribly sad and depressing. Another book about women being mistreated and diminished.
In the late 18th Century in China, Linjing and her maidservant, Little Flower, were limited by their sex and the constraints of Chinese society. Foot binding was still happening, but some Westerners had arrived and changes were occurring, and Linjing's mother arranges a match for her with a forward thinking man who does not want a wife with bound feet. The "golden lilies" of the upper class women were deemed very favorable and gave a woman a chance at a better match. Little Flower's mother starts binding her daughter's feet when she is only four to give her hope of a better future. However, when her father dies, Little Flower is sold to the Fong family as a muizai, so the money could be used for her brother's education. The patriarchy and oppression of women is the main theme of the book, so it is indeed a depressing topic. A women's plight was pretty awful. Low-born women and peasants toiled in the fields, women from privileged families were bullied by mother-in-laws. If they did not bear sons, they were forced out. Women ended up as prostitutes or concubines. Many were not allowed an education.
The relationship between Linjing and Little Flower is the focus of the book. High-born, Linjing is jealous of Little Flower's golden lilies and forces her to unbind her feet, causing them to be terribly deformed. She is also jealous of Little Flower's embroidery skills and feels her mother favors her.
The mean-spirited, spoiled Linjing continues to make life difficult for Little Flower, even after their circumstances change.
I have read enough books about foot binding, and Chinese life, but the part about the Sisterhood was enlightening. Apparently, some women fed up with the patriarchy and loathsome mother-in-laws, banded together to form sisterhoods which pledged celibacy.
If you like historical fiction and books set in different countries, you might like this one, but it is a very grim topic. Not recommended.
In the late 18th Century in China, Linjing and her maidservant, Little Flower, were limited by their sex and the constraints of Chinese society. Foot binding was still happening, but some Westerners had arrived and changes were occurring, and Linjing's mother arranges a match for her with a forward thinking man who does not want a wife with bound feet. The "golden lilies" of the upper class women were deemed very favorable and gave a woman a chance at a better match. Little Flower's mother starts binding her daughter's feet when she is only four to give her hope of a better future. However, when her father dies, Little Flower is sold to the Fong family as a muizai, so the money could be used for her brother's education. The patriarchy and oppression of women is the main theme of the book, so it is indeed a depressing topic. A women's plight was pretty awful. Low-born women and peasants toiled in the fields, women from privileged families were bullied by mother-in-laws. If they did not bear sons, they were forced out. Women ended up as prostitutes or concubines. Many were not allowed an education.
The relationship between Linjing and Little Flower is the focus of the book. High-born, Linjing is jealous of Little Flower's golden lilies and forces her to unbind her feet, causing them to be terribly deformed. She is also jealous of Little Flower's embroidery skills and feels her mother favors her.
The mean-spirited, spoiled Linjing continues to make life difficult for Little Flower, even after their circumstances change.
I have read enough books about foot binding, and Chinese life, but the part about the Sisterhood was enlightening. Apparently, some women fed up with the patriarchy and loathsome mother-in-laws, banded together to form sisterhoods which pledged celibacy.
If you like historical fiction and books set in different countries, you might like this one, but it is a very grim topic. Not recommended.
It is rare that I am so deeply effected and triggered by such visuals, but do not google what little lillies are. It was hard to get the image out of my head as I read the first half and Little Flower's desire keep her cherished (outdated) heritage and birth rite. It was really the second half of the book that I finally felt the draw and attachment. You can feel the well written words of the author the whole storyline but I felt like the interest of the plot picks up only once we meet the sisterhood, and only to the character, Little Flower. This would be a good bookclub read.
Book 4 of 2025 is The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang and WOW, what a journey! What started out as an audio book quickly turned into me rushing to grab the hardback because I just HAD to have it on my shelf.
Set in 19th century China, this beautifully written saga unfolds the harrowing tale of two young girls—one sold into slavery the other her mistress. It dives deep into the dark corners of human experience: love, betrayal, jealousy, and the powerful act of forgiveness.
Jane Yang masterfully weaves a narrative that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The imagery lingers, and the characters come alive, compelling you to reflection the complexities of their lives and your own.
If you’re looking for a book that resonates beyond the pages, The Lotus Shoes is it!
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.