Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
by Lisa See
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Book Summary Information
Author: Lisa SeeEdition: Paperback
Published: 2006-02-21
ISBN: 0812968069
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Book Reviews of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
Book Review: An average attempt at historical fiction....
Summary: 3 Stars
I had mixed feelings about this novel. Parts of it intrigued me and there were times when I felt a connection with the characters but for the most part I felt that Ms. See did too much "telling" and not enough "showing." I ended the novel without getting a true sense of who the characters were and what made each of them tick. I was also disappointed that Ms. See did not develop some of the story lines a little more fully. For example, I wish she had written more about Lily's wedding night and her marriage. I realize that the book was primarily about the friendship between Lily and Snow Flower but I think that these events were paramount to shaping Lily's life and her interactions (given that husbands defined women). I wouldn't have minded if Ms. See lengthened the novel to add these details.
Finally, I felt that Lily lacked emotion. She seemed entirely too stoic to me and I think that was a big part of why I felt a lack of connection with her.
I don't regret reading this novel but I would recommend Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth" over this for anyone who may be deciding between the two.
Summary of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared 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 deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.Lisa See is the author of Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the critically acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles.
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