This historical novel of 19th century Chinese feminists was my latest book club selection, and it broke what felt like a long dry streak, in terms of finding good, literary novels to love.
The feminists in question are teenagers who don't want to get married off to far away villages to serve as house slaves for their in-laws. Things were not so good for the chicks in those days.
Refusing to marry but staying in their hometown (vs. joining a Buddhist nunnery) was a really big deal and a cause for shunning and more overt abuse, from everyone in the town they didn't want to leave, including their families. The f word isn't used anywhere in the book, btw, just the idea of girls/women being able to control their own destiny.
Even at 311 pages it is a quick, enjoyable read. Thank the book gods! I found this on a readalike list for Lisa See and am psyched to have at the rest of McCunn's backlist.