Monday, January 28, 2008
January 2008 Most Excellent Meeting!
Ushering in a new era of civility and order to the book club meetings, the group met without malice on January 26th in Glastonbury. See comments on last months selections, "Three Cups of Tea", and "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan". As usual, the dinner was fab! Conversation turned to political ruminations as the night drew on. Books chosen for next month were "Freakonomics" and "By George".
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"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" was read and enjoyed by all the women club members. The graphic information about foot binding and seclusion of women in that culture and time were the primary topics of conversation. Two men read the book and were not as enthused. One could not get into it at all.
"Three Cups of Tea" was given a thumbs up by everyone. After reading several books set in this part of the world we are starting to get an affinity for Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. We all agreed how amazing Greg Mortenson is but also marvel at his wife and families support.
One thing I never got out of Snow Flower was exactly why the foot binding was considered so attractive in that culture. Bob J
Maybe this will help. "The custom is commonly cited by sociologists and anthropologists as an example where an extreme deformity (by the standards of both contemporary societies and from a medical viewpoint) can be viewed as beauty, and also where immense human suffering can be inflicted in the pursuit of a beauty standard." Also, remember the excerpt from the book that would document this. Lily states that throughout her entire marriage her husband had never lost his fascination with her tiny feet and would hold them in his hands. (I am not sure, however, if this was during "pillow time" or not).
"Bed business," not "pillow time."
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