Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780812968064
ISBN: 0812968069
Label: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: February 21, 2006
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Release Date: February 21, 2006
Sales Rank: 2661
Studio: Random House Trade Paperbacks

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
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.




Rating: - A beautiful novel.
This was such a wonderful book. I literally could not put it down when I started reading it on my vacation. The author describes the scenery so vividly that you will feel as if you are there with the heroines. I was not familiar at all with Chinese culture during this time period and it shocked me so much that I researched and read more about it for weeks after I finished the book. This book was well worth my money and time.

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Rating: - Beautiful Story
Lisa See has written a wonderful story about the friendship between two women in 19th century China. Lily and Snow Flower are the two main characters, and the book is about the special bond they share throughout their lives. Though sometimes things were not smooth sailing between the two, the bond still was there in some form.
The book talks about foot binding, and this is something that interested me alot. I knew that it was done, but I had no idea how painful the actual procedure could be. ... Read More

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Rating: - Book Review: Snow Flower & The Secret Fan
The Review:

Circa to my trip to the used book store. I did my friend Julie a favor by taking two boxes of books to the nearby used bookstore. They sorted through them and purchased what they liked. A $15 credit was issued. I looked for all sorts of books that I needed for my bookclub to buy with this credit. NO LUCK! Nothing I needed in stock. I cruised around aimlessly looking. I came across a "New Books" section. There, on the shelf at my eye-level, Snow Flower and Peony. Of ... Read More

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Rating: - A tale of two families
Another heart-rending look into a family's tragedy. The cultural setting of the book was fascinating and felt somehow familiar, not at all as if the author was educating me about the nuances of pastoral China. I winced when the girls' feet were bound and I cried when I understood that they would follow different paths. This narrator reminded me of Amir, who narrates The Kite Runner, and his love-hate attitude toward his almost-brother Hassan. Emotionally and morally complex, this tale grips the heart ... Read More

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Rating: - Wonderful book about culture of Chinese women
I enjoyed this book so very much. I believe you should enjoy books and learn something also. This was a fascinating story of how women lived in the days when their feet were bound and the secret writing they developed to communicate with each other. The relationship between the two main characters, Snow Flower and Lily, was so well written and the misunderstandings that can occur between friends, even to this modern day, are heartbreakingly portrayed. One of the best novels I've read in a long time.

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