Bound (Samantha WL Lee, WestWords)

In Bound, Samantha WL Lee traces 3 generations of women across a century and 4 countries, bound by tradition, family and the pursuit of freedom. The novel opens in China in 1923, where a young Huan-Ju’s feet are unbound, marking her as the first woman in her family without lotus feet and sparking her desire to escape her village and its customs. The story then moves to Malaysia in 1968, where Shui-Tu, a teenager growing up in poverty, dreams of a better life in England and sees education as her ticket to freedom. The narrative concludes in Australia in 1980, as Lauren, Shui-Tu’s daughter, grapples with the privileges of her upbringing and her complex relationship with her family’s past. Lee’s prose is marked by melodic language and a strong sense of place, though at times the voice leans more towards a nonfiction register, prioritising historical and cultural context. For some readers, this tonal choice may enhance the narrative’s documentary quality, grounding its emotional arcs in lived experience. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to capture the complexities of familial relationships and the weight of cultural expectations, making Bound a must-read for anyone who appreciates multi-generational narratives and stories that bridge cultures and time. For fans of Alice Pung and Jane Yang, Bound explores cultural identity, generational trauma and the enduring struggle to break free from legacies.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Emma Pei Yin is a British-born Hong Kong-Chinese writer, editor and author. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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