Visit from the Footbinder

I enjoyed Prager's collection of short stories, which is well worth buying for the cover art alone: a woman's foot molded into the shape of a heel is juxtaposed with a picture of a Chinese woman with "beautiful" bound feet. Prager writes on a variety of subjects, from a group of women who get together and read their alumni bulletins to the title story in which young Pleasure Mouse anxiously awaits the visit from the footbinder, who will lead her into the exciting adult world that every older female she knows inhabits. Prager's plotlines and characters stay with you when the book is closed. I'm hunting the used bookstores for her other books.

This is one of the most creative selection of short stories I've ever read. She takes current attitudes and stands them on their head. You'll find yourself laughing hilariously and at the same time wiping away a tear.