Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
By Lisa See
- Release Date: 2005-06-28
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
Lily is haunted by memories–of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Lisa See's Peony in Love.
Reviews
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
4By danieluniss53I am a fan of Lisa See and this is the fifth book of hers that I have read. She communicates well through her characters and is always a learning experience. Happy Reading!Amazing book
5By AugustLily23My mom recommended this book to me to read at the beach. I read it in two days!! Great story!! I felt this book in my soul... a must read!Outstanding!!!
5By Dylan IskanderIt was a privilege to read such a well written, thoroughly researched and achingly beautiful story. This story will stay with me for a long time.love it
5By HhynybtAbsolutely amazing book filled with so much detail about Chinese lifeGreat read
5By Ivy417Fascinating book....had me thinking about the story and culture for weeks after I had finished reading the book! The storyline is very engaging, while providing a very interesting historical perspective. A great historical fiction piece.Wonderful
5By TAD822I read this book in two days! I just couldn't stop reading it. It shows great power and very strong emotion among women who lived extremely male-dominated lives.Beautiful story
5By LosangelA friend recommended this book to me and I loved it. A beautiful story of friendship, also very enlightening on a culture I knew nothing of.Excellent!
5By xtinutz86Beautifully written. Each page paints a picture and draws you into each character.Snow Flower and the secret fan
5By Ron #wonderful!Tragic and beautiful.
5By BlooberiiI learned so much from this book from Chinese history, to relationships between girls. It would be easy for women in all aspects of life to relate to and enjoy this story.Snow flower and the secret fan
5By MimiB6This was a truly inspiring book of fiction. It gave me anguish at times but the undying love throughout the story was so moving and made me cry and laugh at the same time. I would not have wanted to live at this time but I am sorry I never had this type of love with a woman. A beautiful story and written with love.Amazing
5By KimbolittleThis novel takes you on a journey that moves you and makes you think about the depths of friendship and loyalty.Wonderful
5By VvvvggggThis is the best book I've read in a long time. Lisa See brings you back in time to a mysterious culture. The foot binding practices were the most interesting to read about. I loved this book!Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
4By RomaHealthIf you are culturally inquisitive and have an interest in the Asian persona, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan opens a new world for the reader. While I thought of this, in many ways as a "women's book", I learned so much from reading it and I am grateful to my wife for recommending it. The author's style is transcendental and actually puts you in the world of Lily and in a time that Westerners, like myself, have yet to fully comprehend. This is truly an extraordinary work.Enticing and Enthralling
5By Erics MomSnowFlower and the Secret Fan - a beautiful gentle title which drew me in and cast me into a world of simplicity and complexity - of beauty and ugliness. I lived every emotion thought the main characters. What a wonderful story of dichotomies and passion - a true longing for the ties that bind a lifelong friendship and deep love between women. A wonderful torturous beautiful story.Amazing
5By Justincredible1986I read this book in my collage English class and I have to say I wasn't wanting to. I don't like reading but as soon as I started I got more and more involved. I finished the book in two weeks(that's a very short time for me) I recommend anyone who has a need or want to learn to read this. Rumor has it there will be a movie read this first. You'll thank me later.Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
5By Spirit CheeseburgerI wasn't able to put this book down and read it ALL in one day. The characters and descriptions were so well done that it put you there with them. I'm thrilled there is a continuation.
