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daphelba's review
3.0
When I first picked up this book, I didn't read the inside flap that said it was a retelling of "Cinderella". But within the first few chapters, all the elements of the fairytale are present. It was an interesting story through the first 3/4ths of the book. I was interested in Xing Xing and Wei Ping, the culture of the bound feet, and the cave home life.
However, I feel I became too invested in these characters for the story to end exactly as predicted. A dress and a pair of shoes do not completely transform a plain and unrecognizable child into a witty young beauty fit for a prince. There was a lot of build up, and an abrupt ending, and Wei Ping...who was not a wicked stepsister in any way, gets a sour sad finish that did not seem deserved.
Not my favorite
However, I feel I became too invested in these characters for the story to end exactly as predicted. A dress and a pair of shoes do not completely transform a plain and unrecognizable child into a witty young beauty fit for a prince. There was a lot of build up, and an abrupt ending, and Wei Ping...who was not a wicked stepsister in any way, gets a sour sad finish that did not seem deserved.
Not my favorite
amethystarchild's review
3.0
“Bound” is YA novel by Donna Jo Napoli. It’s Chinese version of the Cinderella story, with no magic, but lots of traditional beliefs. Xing-Xing lives with her step-mother and step-sister, and is treated like a slave by her family. She is friends with a koi-fish that she believes is the reincarnation of her dead mother. When her sister falls sick she goes to the next town to get a doctor, she makes friends with doctor, and brings home the cure. For a while things are better for her but her step-mother shows her true colors again and kills her fish to pay for the expenses to go to the big festival held by the prince. Xing-Xing accidently finds a dress and shoes belonging to her dead mother, so she feigns illness so they will leave her behind. She goes to the party alone, but when runs away, afraid her step-mother has spotted her, she loses her shoe. The prince looks for the girl who lost her shoe, and finally comes to Xing-Xing’s cave, she recognizes that the doctor from before was the prince in disguise, and willingly goes with him, leaving behind her cruel step-mother.
Content Warnings:
• Some hints at promiscuous content
• Foot-binding practices may be disturbing
I liked this book alright, I got sort of bored with it at times, but there was some good storytelling and the Chinese mythos and culture was interesting to read about in the book. I liked Xing-Xing as character, and the step-mother was complex and not simply evil, just cruel and unfeeling. The romance was a bit weird, but that fit because marriage wasn’t really about romance, but the fact that they were both intellectually compatible was pretty sweet. A passable book, and I liked it.
Content Warnings:
• Some hints at promiscuous content
• Foot-binding practices may be disturbing
I liked this book alright, I got sort of bored with it at times, but there was some good storytelling and the Chinese mythos and culture was interesting to read about in the book. I liked Xing-Xing as character, and the step-mother was complex and not simply evil, just cruel and unfeeling. The romance was a bit weird, but that fit because marriage wasn’t really about romance, but the fact that they were both intellectually compatible was pretty sweet. A passable book, and I liked it.
book_concierge's review
4.0
This YA novel is a retelling of the Cinderella story, set in the Ming dynasty era of China.
Xing Xing is bound to her Stepmother and half-sister. She is bound by tradition. She is bound to her ancestors, particularly her deceased parents. Her feet, however, are not bound. And she is also unusual in that her father believed in educating his daughters. While her half-sister Wei Ping showed no interest, Xing Xing thrived under her father’s tutelage and is an accomplished poet and a skilled calligrapher.
I loved the way this story unfolded. I learned from the author’s note at the end that the Cinderella myth is a common one through many cultures. And that she took her inspiration for this novel from the Chinese legendary folk tales. Still, Western readers will recognize many elements … from losing a shoe to evil stepmother to the prince’s search for “THE girl.”
I particularly appreciated the occasional poem which so eloquently expressed Xing Xing’s feelings. I’m a great fan of magical realism; Napoli incorporates this literary technique seamlessly.
Xing Xing is bound to her Stepmother and half-sister. She is bound by tradition. She is bound to her ancestors, particularly her deceased parents. Her feet, however, are not bound. And she is also unusual in that her father believed in educating his daughters. While her half-sister Wei Ping showed no interest, Xing Xing thrived under her father’s tutelage and is an accomplished poet and a skilled calligrapher.
I loved the way this story unfolded. I learned from the author’s note at the end that the Cinderella myth is a common one through many cultures. And that she took her inspiration for this novel from the Chinese legendary folk tales. Still, Western readers will recognize many elements … from losing a shoe to evil stepmother to the prince’s search for “THE girl.”
I particularly appreciated the occasional poem which so eloquently expressed Xing Xing’s feelings. I’m a great fan of magical realism; Napoli incorporates this literary technique seamlessly.
meramadree's review
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
danisg's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
trid_for_kicks's review
4.0
I didn't like this book at first. It took a while to suck me in, almost halfway through. I didn't like some of the cultural things, even though they were accurate to the place and time period--like saying that women were worthless and stuff like that--and I found the religion confusing. But the thing is, I know very little of Chinese culture, let alone ancient Chinese culture. And when the story began to pick up, I started to fall into the rhythm of the storytelling, the feel of life in that time period. I started to like the main character, Xing Xing, because I could see through the surface of a culture that I didn't understand, to the truth that she is a strong, brave, smart girl, who just wants to take care of her family, living and dead.
Good read.
Good read.
booklover160's review
4.0
This was one of my favorites growing up; so much so that I named my first panda (I now have a whole collection and obsession with pandas) Xing Xing. It means 'stars' and I loved that so much. Anyway, I enjoyed it as a kid and I plan on rereading it at some point soon!
alieneman's review
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
erincataldi's review
4.0
A fantastic rendition of the classic Cinderella tale. Years ago I took a class on fairy tales and we explored how many different cultures all across the globe have very similar stories and traditions, one of the most common is Cinderella. Last month we read Cinder which is a futuristic cyborg rendition of the Cinderella trope and this book, Bound, is a twentieth century Chinese retelling. Xing Xing lives in a cave with her stepmother and her stepsister Wei Ping and due to her feet being unbound is forced to do all the servant work. Xing Xing was educated up until her father's death so her stepmother is convinced that no one will ever want to marry an educated unbound, unattractive girl. Filled with great Chinese elements about family, traditions, calligraphy, and fish, this book compelled me from the get go. Donna Jo Napoli is master at fairy tale re-telling.
tani's review
2.0
I was a bit underwhelmed by this one, but I think it's me, and not the book. Sometimes, YA/middle grade just feels too young for me, and this is one of those cases. The cultural details were absolutely fantastic, but the story itself fell flat for me. It was simplistic and felt kind of slow, despite the short length of the book. It does work well as a Cinderella retelling, but I found myself at a disconnect from all the characters. I sometimes found myself wondering why Xing Xing was doing the things she was doing, which is never a good sign for my enjoyment. The only reason I didn't dnf it and just move on with my life was because it was so short.