Beyond the Book – Coming Soon!

My fabulous book group moderator, Julie Robinson, is filming a television show

Julie, Lisa and Kim

called “Beyond the Book,” at least that is the current working title.  The concept is to explore a different book each episode through a conversation with the author and expeditions that explore aspects of the novel.  The first episode delves into Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and the second show is about Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  Julie asked me to participate in the filming of the group discussion with Lisa. 

I read the book in 2005, so I dashed through it again to refresh my memory.  I rarely read a book twice, there are just too many books I never get to already, and usually a book doesn’t stand up to a second reading.  But I liked Snow Flower  even better the second time.  Of course, remembering the book wasn’t my biggest worry, what competed for stress was 1) what was I going to wear and 2) would I really look ten pounds heavier on camera?

The book is a wonderful story of friendship, loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, women’s relationships (mother/daughter, sisters, friends) all wrapped up in an intimate view of 19th century Christian society.  It is told by Lily, a farmer’s daughter, who ultimately rises well above her station in life.  At the age of seven, she forms a laotong relationship with Snow Flower.  As laotongs they are to be faithful lifelong friends, closer to each other than anyone else in life. 

Lily and Snow Flower communicate with each other through nu shu, a women’s written language.  Nu shu allowed women to share their thoughts and lives at a time when women were seen as little more than expensive vessels to bear sons.  Nu shu was based on phonetics and had to be read in context otherwise a misunderstanding could develop, as occurred with Lily and Snow Flower.  The author learned of nu shu through a news program.  She researched the topic and then traveled to a remote Hunan county in China to speak with women who remembered how to write nu shu and with women who had their feet bound.  On Lisa’s return journey, Lily started speaking to her and formed the genesis of the book. 

Foot binding is described well enough to give me foot cramps.  The practice of foot binding was a sign of status because only those with enough prosperity could afford to support largely incapacitated women.  Once a woman had her feet bound, she could not walk long distances or work in the fields.  A successful foot binding set a girl’s future, if she lived through the process (one in ten died).  Lily describes the importance of foot binding on page 34: 

My small feet would be offered as proof to my prospective in-laws of my personal discipline and my ability to endure the pain of childbirth as well as whatever misfortunes might lie ahead.  My small feet would show the world my obedience to my natal family, particularly to my mother, which would also make a good impression on my future mother-in-law.  The shoes I embroidered would symbolize to my future in-laws my abilities at embroidery and thus other house learning.  And, though I knew nothing of this at the time, my feet would be something that would hold my husband’s fascination during the most private and intimate moments between a man and a woman. 

The reader experiences Lily’s foot binding step by painful step: the wrapping of cloth strips around turned back toes; the forced walking; the breaking of the bones.  It was a two year process of pain.  It made me cringe over and over again.  It’s something I think about every time I take my kids to the orthodontist to have their braces tightened and they experience two days of pain.

Once a woman has had her feet bound, she wears very tiny shoes that support the front part of her foot with her heel hanging over the back edge.  These shoes are exquisite.  They are silk with detailed embroidery.  Part of this episode of Beyond the Book includes an expedition to a large collection of slippers to see their beauty and craftsmanship.

Although Snow Flower is a peak at Chinese history and culture, the scenes that stay with me are universal: holding a loved one as she dies; searching for love; feeling betrayed by discovered secrets; jealousy over other relationships; good fortunes breeding intolerance and impatience; atoning for wrongful acts.  Lisa uses the lens of Chinese culture to discuss issues that confront people in Los Angeles, Prague, Dubai and Capetown.

Julia filmed this episode in an upstairs room at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California that evoked the rooms Lily and her female relatives lived in their entire lives.  The building is the former residence of Grace Nicholson.  Ms. Nicholson’s intent in building the home in 1924 was to use it to showcase Asian Art.  During her lifetime, the downstairs rooms were galleries and she lived upstairs. Lisa See’s great-grandfather was a patriarch of Chinatown in Los Angeles.  He and Ms. Nicholson were personal friends.  The descendants of both families have continued the relationship.

Julie is in the process of editing the episodes of “Beyond the Book,” and then she will begin pitching it to producers and networks, always a precarious business.  We’ll let you know as soon as it is on the air.