THE LOTUS SHOES

Little Flower is poor but talented--and she has beautiful feet, which is unusual for a woman of low status in early-nineteenth-century China. Katharine Chin delivers a striking performance, enriching this novel's historical setting with expressive storytelling. She conveys Little Flower's coming of age at a time of great strife and intrigue in a voice that blends fragility and resolve. Her depiction of Linjing, Little Flower's employer, balances Linjing's sense of entitlement with her deep-seated frustration. Chin's rhythm and inflection sustain the intrigue as Little Flower begins to make a name for herself with her skill at embroidery and catches the eye of a nobleman. Chin's articulation of Mandarin phrases adds cultural depth, grounding the listener in the time and place. M.R. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]