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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
![Snow Flower and the Secret Fan]()
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MSRP: $23.00
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Additional Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Information
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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.
From the Hardcover edition.
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What Customers Say About Snow Flower and the Secret Fan:
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They're making this into a movie. Whose character does Hugh Jackman play. I thought the story was about two Chinese women in China. Is there a white man in the book too.
I felt for all the characters, and loved the husband for Lily. I love historical fiction, and this one was no exception. I loved the dynamics between Snow Flower and Lily, and though I sensed the ending, I loved it. Great story telling with great characters and relationships throughout. I cannot wait to read another See novel.
I must say that I read every word in this book instead of scanning over the longer paragraphs (we have all done that.). I thought this book was amazing. I am very busy and have time to read only quality books that capture me from the beginning. I enjoyed learning about Chinese culture and customs. Although we must remember this is a book of fiction, I feel enough research was done to support this as a "historical fiction."
It is well-written and reminded me of Memoirs of a Geisha, except that this is about Chinese women. This was a wonderful story by Lisa Lee of a very young girl growing up in Southern China in the 19th Century. She is the voice of the story. At the age of 7, she was introduced to another girl her age who would become her lifelong "old same" as they were born on the same day and year and had other attibutes in common. This is their story in growing up together and sharing a special friendship.
I was transported to 19th century China as I read the words of Lily and her experiences with footbinding, marriage, and her lifelong friendship (laotong) with Snow Flower. I can't believe I waited so long to read this book. Chinese women in this period of China's history lived a rather secluded life, almost always separated from men. Shame on me. This book was wonderful, lyrical, entertaining - all the makings of a wonderful novel. They even had their own written language, nu shu, which is spotlighted throughout the novel.The aspect of the novel that most affected me were the detailed descriptions of the footbinding process that most Chinese girls endured in the early years of their lives. This process was incredibly painful and basically handicapped the woman's movement for the rest of their lives.
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