Snow Flower and the Secret Fan in What's the Name of That Book???

Feb 02, 2015 Jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, own

This book made me feel claustrophobic. The idea that not only were you not supposed to leave one area of your house, but actually could not go more than a few steps because of your bound feet, is horrifying to me. I genuinely think I would have had a nervous breakdown. I had a panic attack when I got my braces on, because the fact that there was something pulling at my teeth, poking at my lips, about drove me over the edge. So I have nothing but admiration for women who lived like this. Who were ...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Shoshanah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I haven't actually read that many books that take place in China, but everything I have read I've really enjoyed. I was assigned to read Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth in middle school, which I enjoyed so much I went on to read the sequels. A few months ago a read another of Lisa See's books, Shanghai Girls, which while only part of it takes place in China itself it is still about the Chinese culture and traditions. With this background I was expecting to enjoy this book as well, and I'm happy t I haven't actually read that many books that take place in China, but everything I have read I've really enjoyed. I was assigned to read Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth in middle school, which I enjoyed so much I went on to read the sequels. A few months ago a read another of Lisa See's books, Shanghai Girls, which while only part of it takes place in China itself it is still about the Chinese culture and traditions. With this background I was expecting to enjoy this book as well, and I'm happy to say I wasn't let down.

Lily is a young girl being raised by a farmer in the remote Hunan county. At 7-years-old she is lucky enough to enter a contract of lifelong friendship, a laotong, with another young girl Snow Flower. She receives her first message from Snow Flower on a fan, which they then use to record the history of the friends the highs and lows of their lives both together and apart.

Simply put, I loved this book. Yes, I enjoy the characters and their hurdles and triumphs, but I think I enjoyed learning most about the various traditions and the culture of China in the mid-1800s. As you might expect foot binding in definitely present here, and I couldn't help but be fascinated at the process and all the details provided of just how it actually happened.

Another tradition the is almost central to the novel is nu shu, the language that Lily and Snow Flower use to write to one another. It is believed to be the only written language developed for women only as a way to write secretly amongst themselves without their husbands' knowledge.

I'm definitely glad I was able to pick this book up, and after reading (and enjoying) two of Lisa See's books I've definitely planning on reading the rest. And not only that, Im hoping to be able to see the movie version of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan when its released later this summer.

Disclosure: I was provided this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. ...more

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Apr 04, 2009 Misha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: literary, asian-american, china

SNOW FLOWER & THE SECRET FAN: NOTES

• Lily, a widow, 80 years old (3)
• “I am old enough to know only too well my good and bad qualities, which were often one and the same. For my entire life I longed for love. …To win their affection, I was obedient—the ideal characteristic for someone of my sex—but I was too willing to do what they told me to do.” (3)
• Mother love/teng ai: pain & love (4)
• “The binding altered not only my feet but my whole character, and in a strange way I feel as though that pr ...more

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Aug 23, 2015 J. Trott added it · review of another edition

Girls have their feet bound. There was no soccer. I enjoyed the read nonetheless.

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Jul 29, 2008 Maria Elmvang rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008, cultural, not-owned, 5-stars

Very interesting book. I had a hard time putting it down - not because of the plot as much as because of the characters and the culture and traditions described. I winced when reading of how Lily had her feet tied, but was also fascinated. There was a tad too much foreshadowing, but since it was written like a memoir, that didn't bother me too much. ...more

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Jul 30, 2007 Betsy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I picked this up because I guess I thought it would be like "Memoirs of a Geisha." I was wrong. I think the author was so enchanted with the stuff she knew about foot binding that she spent WAY too much time dwelling on it. I was left pretty cold by it overall, and I LOVED "Geisha." I don't understand the acclaim she's gotten for the book. ...more

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Jul 28, 2007 CLM rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalfiction

Beautifully and precisely written but I must admit I really don't like Asian novels and was relieved when I had finished (it was for my book group). I nearly bumped into the author at BEA in June, and was one of the few in the vicinity not gushing to her about this book. ...more

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