Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, Lensey Namioka
Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, Lensey Namioka
5 Rating(s)
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Ties That Bind, Ties That Break
A Novel

Author: Lensey Namioka

Narrator: Emily Woo Zeller

Unabridged: 3 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/01/2013

Synopsis

Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families follow this ancient tradition. But Ailin loves to run away from her governess and play games with her male cousins. Knowing she will never run again once her feet are bound, Ailin rebels and refuses to follow this torturous tradition. As a result, however, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement. And as she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family is no longer willing to support her. Chinese society leaves few options for a single woman of good family, but with a bold conviction and an indomitable spirit, Ailin is determined to forge her own destiny. Her story is a tribute to all those women whose courage created new options for the generations who came after them.

About Emily Woo Zeller

Emily Woo Zeller is an Audie and Earphones Award–winning narrator, voice-over artist, actor, dancer, and choreographer. AudioFile magazine named her one of the Best Voices of 2013. Her voice-over career includes work in animated film and television in Southeast Asia.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Meisha on August 04, 2021

I read this my freshman year of high school and remember the images and story telling of the binding really freaking me out. The idea of feet binding scared me. But I also remember loving getting to learn about another countries history other than our own!......more

Goodreads review by Ashlee Bree on September 13, 2022

"I was no delicate shoot buried in the sand. I was a stalk of bamboo, strong enough to stand against wind and snow.” Chinese society in 1925 left few options for a single woman borne of a respectable family. She could marry well, join a nunnery, or become a concubine. However, Ailin Tao’s bold convic......more

Goodreads review by Trisha on August 04, 2020

This one was a freebie from Audible. The plot is set in the year 1911 when foot-binding was a mandatory practice for Chinese women. Ailin, third daughter of a rich Chinese family resists getting her feet bound, a decision which is supported by her father inspite of the disapproval from her mother. T......more

Goodreads review by Paige_y on September 19, 2013

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break By: Paige Y. The title of my book is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka. This book is definitely something worth reading, and I recommend this to anyone who loves reading historical fiction. The three main reasons I would recommend this book is one it giv......more

Goodreads review by Ariss on December 05, 2012

The year is 1911, in China young girls are expected to bound their feet, a disgusting, painful process. Ailin, a five year old free spirit, goes against her mother and uncle making her, would have been easy and boring, life hard and exciting. I read this book when my teacher recommended it to me. Ai......more

Quotes

“Powerfully told in flashback, Ties that Bind, Ties that Break is a thoughtful exploration of the ways cultural pressures can bend not only our personal values but even our physical appearance…Gripping, lyrical.” Amazon.com, editorial review

“Ailin’s reminiscences, used as narration, are simple and straightforward, and the discussions of foot-binding are startlingly effective.” VOYA

“[A] gripping historical novel…Her writing is so atmospheric and closely informed that it appears to offer an insider’s perspective on a vanished way of life…This colorful novel has the force and intensity of a memoir.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Narrator Emily Woo Zeller inhabits her character wholly in this enlightening story of Ailin, a girl growing up in 1920s China. Zeller’s subdued, controlled voice conveys the societal rules, both spoken and unspoken, for women during this period. In high contrast is nine-year-old Ailin’s bold determination and defiance as she refuses to have her feet bound…Zeller’s young voice, smooth reading, and facile pronunciation of Chinese names further complement the story.” AudioFile

“The story vividly shows a culture just beginning to move away from its traditions; it also shows how a bright, young girl was able to assert her will and what she suffered from doing so. The narrator Emily Woo Zeller reads the story well, expressing Ailin’s strong will in the beginning and her ultimate resignation to her fate, her estrangement from her family, and her adjustment to living with Westerners.” SoundCommentary.com

“Set against the backdrop of political unrest and social change, this novel provides a realistic window into turn-of-the-century Chinese culture…great for recreational reading, this solid story will also work well in supplementing social-studies units.” School Library Journal

Awards

  • AudioFile Earphones Award
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