Lisa’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2011)

Lisa’s comments from the Ask Lisa See! group.

Donna wrote: "To "piggyback" on Mia's comment, I am wondering if growing up, you experienced and/or witnessed girls'interrelationships that inspired this wonderful story.
SNOWFLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN was the f..."

Haven't we all experienced having a best friend? Haven't we all dumped a friend or been dumped by a friend?

On Gold Mountain is about my family, which is Chinese American. It was my first in-depth earch into who I am and Chinese culture. Has it influenced all my other books? Of course! Just take a peek at the epigraph for On Gold Mountain, and you'll see that that Wallace Stegner quote has been at the heart of all of my books.

Mia wrote: "-Is that kind of friendship between two girls can exist in real life? Because the relationship did fascinate me long time after reading the book, it's really inspiriting!
-In your opinion, a mothe..."

The laotong relationship did exist in real life, as did sworn sisters. Even today in China, girls will still form friendships so close that they are called something like "sister-friends."

The reason mothers bound their daughters feet was out of pure love. This was the one thing they could do for their daughters to possibly give them a better chance at life. If they could give their daughters a pair of perfectly bound feet, then their daughters might be able to marry into a better family and have a better life.

Sharon wrote: "Dayna, according to Imdb.com, the movie was filmed in both Shanghai and the United States."

I believe that all the filming took place in China and all the post-production work happened here.

Dayna wrote: "Where was the movie filmed?"

In Shanghai and at a studio outside of Shanghai in Hungdian.

Alienne wrote: "I was just curious as to how much--if any--control you had over how the film was done. (Also, can I just geek out for a second and say your books are awesome? xD)"

I don't know that any writer has much control over how a film is made, unless he or she writes, directs, and produces it. I read every version of the script and told them exactly what I thought. Sometimes they listened; sometimes -- most often -- they didn't.

Sharon wrote: "Here are some photos Lisa has on her website. I am not sure if this is the woman she met and interviewed in China for the novel, but this is a rare look at what the foot looks like without the bind..."

These aren't photos that I took, but I'm really glad you've looked on my web site, because we all worked very hard to make it informative and visual.

I did interview a woman who had bound feet for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.

Meagan wrote: "I had the same question as well in regards to the research. lol

How hard was it to research foot-binding for those scenes in Snow Flower?

Those scenes were beautifully written, yet it horrif..."

Those secenes weren't hard for me to write. In fact, I think I had a kind of cavalier attitude about those scenes. To write about nu shu, I knew I had to address the reasons that women invented the secret language, which were that they were illiterate in men's writing and lived in total seclusion. Why did they live in seclusion? Because of their footbinding. So, oddly, I felt like this was just something I had to get through. Maybe my off-hand approach made that scene even harder to bear.

MJ wrote: "I'm wondering if any character in your books represents one of your ancestors? If so who in your family tree?

By the way, I love your books!"

One person has made in appearance in all of my books. In DReams of Joy, she was Madame Hu; in Shanghai Girls, she was Yen-yen; in Peony in love, she was the grandmother; in the mysteries, she was the neighborhood committee director; and in On Gold Mountain, the book about my family, she's my actual grandmother. Writing these characters has allowed me to spend time with my grandmother, even though she's been gone a long time. I consider it a true blessing.

Elissa wrote: "I always love the well-researched history in your books. For Snow Flower (or any of your books, really), how long does it typically take you to conduct the historical research? Does the story dicta..."

It now takes me about two years to do the research and write a novel. That said, I often have already spent years poking around a subject and thinking about it before I even decide to write.

As for how the story developes -- sometimes it comes from history, sometimes from character, sometimes from theme, and sometimes from an emotion. Every book has been different.

Merlee wrote: "I was so disappointed with the movie. I wanted to spend time in Snow Flower's world, and it seemed the contemporary story dominated the movie. Snow Flower is one of my all-time favorite books, an..."

For those who haven't yet seen the film, if I tell you that there's a scene with Hugh Jackman singing and dancing, then you'll know that, yes, there have been major changes to the story.

Erssie wrote: "Patrick wrote: "Now that the movie adaptation of Snow Flower is coming out on DVD (November 1), .......time to ask what you thought of the movie?''

I have not seen this movie. However, in general,..."

I really appreciated what you wrote at the end of your post. I really try to be in the room with the characters. I don't feel like a visitor. I don't want readers to feel like visitors. I don't want to make judgements. I want readers to make their own judgements.

Theresa wrote: "I read the book and absolutely loved it, and was really excited to see the movie. I'm sorry to say I was disappointed in that it is very different and barely touches on the topic of binding feet, ..."

There isn't very much in the film about footbinding, true. But do you think you could have watched a ten minute scene with bones cracking and children sobbing? I think that would have been much harder to take than reading that scene, which seemed to be very hard for a lot of readers.

Kathy wrote: "I selected Snow Flower as my book club choice this month because I loved it so much when I read it. Should we wait to see the movie before discussing the book, or will it help foster discussion of..."

Seeing the movie will definiately change the nature of your discussion about the book. So I guess it depends whether you want to focus on the themes in the novel or the differences between the nove and the film.

Pat wrote: "I live in rural western New York, and of course the movie never played in our area. I am going to get the DVD.

I understand Lisa will be in Naples, Fl. in March for a Friends of the Library eve..."

How fun that you'll be in Naples. I look forward to meeting you. Make sure you come up and say hi.

gratia wrote: "The cinematography is spectacular. The last scene of the movie is nicely done. I think it signifies the perpetuation of the tradition of "Lao Tong", although I have never heard of the term "Lao Ton..."

What sex scene? The one with Snow Flower and the butcher?

Shomeret wrote: "I thought the movie was actually a different work that should be judged on its own merits. I enjoyed the performances in the movie and the way the contemporary and historical story lines flowed in..."

I agree with you in the snse that a film is always different than a book. I think they should be judged -- and enjoyed -- differently.

Joy wrote: "Loved the book - didn't get a chance to see the movie.
Would love to hear from Lisa how she did her research for this book."

I did research in every way you could imagine. I looked on the Internet, spent time at the UCLA Research Library, went to China to the area where the nu shu women wrote, and interviewed lots and lots of people.

Elyse wrote: "I saw the movie in the theater when it was first released. The book was MUCH better. I'm not just saying this to make Lisa See feel better---or because I am a 'book-snob'.

Many times ---I th..."
Don't worry about being a book snob. We're all book snobs here!

Meagan wrote: "I still have to see it. I don't live near any movie theaters that had it, but I'm supposed to get the DVD on my birthday next week.

I saw the official trailer, and it was pretty. My friends who ..."

The film opened in limited release. In some cities it only played for a day.

Patrick wrote: "Now that the movie adaptation of Snow Flower is coming out on DVD (November 1), I think it's an appropriate time to ask what you thought of the movie? Have you seen it? Did you think it was a faith..."

What did I think of the movie? First, I was so thrilled to see it get made, and there are certain scenes that I realy love. But a film is not the same as a book. It can't possibly be the same. As you know, the director, Wayne Wang, added a modern story. Some people like it. Some people don't.