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Author Kathryn Harrison booklist (click here)

Book Review By Ingrid Koehler
The Binding Chair or, A Visit from the Foot by Kathryn Harrison

This book is about how a woman leaves Chinese society and joins the ex-pat community of Shanghai around the turn of the previous century, going through Russia to France on the way. It's supposed to be about the strange fascination/revulsion of footbinding, and the character's struggle to accept/liberate herself from her mutilation. There are so many characters and switchbacks on plots that it becomes muddled and confused. Literary devices used cloud the plot, dillute the message and cheapen the story.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story - 1900-1920's
Political/social activism Yes
Plotlet:
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes
Woman's story? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - long lived adults
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - society

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
Europe Yes
European country: - France
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Russia - China
Misc setting

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - touching of anatomy
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