Ask Lisa See! discussion
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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
What did you think of the movie?
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I thought this book was cheesy, it's been done too many other times, no suprises.
I like Lisa See's novels.I have read all of them. I think I liked Shanghai Girls best.
I just watched it... I am still crying! It was wonderful!
The movie never came to a theater in my area. Maybe on Netflix one of these days.
I think it's already on Netflix since the DVD was released November 1st. Check for it!
Thanks! I am a huge fan of Lisa's and was very disappointed.
I have it on my netflix and it's saying not until Nov. 29th. I'm hoping Lisa will write some more of her mystery series. Love her books too!
I loved the book, so I was excited to see the movie. I was very disappointed. The contemporary story was very confusing, and took away from the depth of the relationships between the girls,women, mothers and daughters in the book. I had difficulty in following the movie. The person I was with had not read the book and was completely lost. I hope to be able to attend the event in Naples, Florida in March for Friends of the Library, where Lisa See will be.
I thought the movie was good, but not as good as the book.
I am getting seriously upset with my post office. My copy of the DVD came in to town on the 3rd and I still haven't gotten it! My PO Master said to wait another day then come back if I still don't get it. Grrrrrr..... they sure don't seem to lose the bills, though, do they?!
I haven't seen the movie yet, I want to though! I'm going to start looking around for it. I love the book, so I have high hopes for them movie (:
Warning: the movie is not the book.
I loved the movie and couldn't stop crying! I have read Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy and loved both but I haven't yet read Snow Flower so I can't speak to how well the movie adapted to the book. However, I can say that both actresses were really good and really made me fall in love with their characters. Although Gianna is Korean and her Snow Flower parts were likely dubbed, she was really convincing playing a Chinese aristocrat reduced to a farmer. The 1820's Hunan set was also extremely authentic and beautiful. I thought the segues between the two parallel universes flowed well. The Chinese poetry that Snow Flower and Lily wrote on their fans also rhymed perfectly in old Chinese dynasty language. The calligraphy and foot binding scenes were also to a tee. It's all the details that impressed me. (Even down to the Shanghainese spoken by Sophia's stepmom and her choice in Teresa Teng's music, which you may have to be Chinese to appreciate) I can't wait to read the book because I cried so much mainly for the story itself. I just loved the fact that the moderns girls were able to redeem the regrets of the older generation.
Janet, the book is going to be very different because the modern-day relationship did not occur in the novel. It is strictly about Snow Flower and Lily and follows the course of their lives. I am sure you will really love it and if you are of Chinese descent, you will appreciate the detail and authenticity even more.
Sharon/ LFrog1386 wrote: "Janet, the book is going to be very different because the modern-day relationship did not occur in the novel. It is strictly about Snow Flower and Lily and follows the course of their lives. I am s..."Hi Sharon! Ohhh thanks so much for the headsup. I think I would've been in for a huge letdown (at least surprise) if I hadn't know this critical difference. I would've kept "waiting" for the modern story to reveal itself. Interesting....that's what happens when you watch the movie before reading the book I guess. haha can't wait!
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I look forward to meeting you in Florida. Make sure you come up and say hi.
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I'm really curious to hear what you think of the novel.
Lisa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I loved the book, so I was excited to see the movie. I was very disappointed. The contemporary story was very confusing, and took away from the depth of the relationships between th..."Dear Lisa, I got my tickets to the Friends of the Collier County Library Nick Linn Series in Naples, Florida on March 26, 2012. I look forward to hearing you speak about your books. Best wishes, Sarah Pongracz
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I'm not exactly sure where I'll be in Florida for the next book tour. I'll have all that information up on my website sometime after the first of the year.
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Cool! See you there!
i am so sorry that i watched the movie,it distorted my view of the book,i loved the book,great in every way,so moving simple,yet very ideal,but the movie,was a mismatch of then and now,not on the real focus of the beautiful friendship between the women ,and the footbinding,the whole thing that makes the book make sence,was just passed over,skip the movie,read the book
I find it's easier to view the two as separate stories. Clearly the story of Snow Flower and Lily take a back seat to the modern day friendship, so if you know that going in, you can steel yourself and try to enjoy it for what it was and not what it should have been. Let's hope her next movie is more true to the book!
I loved this book it was heartbreaking but in the sense that I cared about these women so much that especially the end of the book broke my heart. I could gush on and on. However I must say how disappointed I was in the movie the modern story took away the heart of the story and didn't tell the important parts of the story that made me care so much about Lily & Snow Flower I wish they would have just told their story and not added the modern times story.
I too read the book and loved it! I just watched the movie over the weekend and watched it with the suggestion of "Sharon" who suggested to view it as two different stories and with that found I actually didn't mind the movie. Some parts of the book were lost and that's too bad but overall the story of "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" most likely was viewed by some people who never read the book and that's good because now maybe they will. Thank you for your great books Lisa.
Lisa wrote: "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..."
Lisa, I just confirmed my ticket today for your March 26th appearance in Naples and I definitely hope to meet you at the luncheon.
I bought the book because of the movie trailer, and ended up reading the book before ever seeing the movie. I loved the book, Lisa, but the movie, which I got to see on the airplane heading home from Hong Kong was so NOT the book, I gave up midway. When Hollywood can not faithfully recreate your work, does it make you feel you have sold out somehow?
That's pretty harsh, if you ask me. Lisa has talked about how the movie was made in several instances throughout this blog and every time, she's made it clear that once she signed over the rights, she had little to no input on how the book was interpreted into a movie. She did not write the screen play nor did the director respect her opinions. In effect, her hands were tied.
I recently saw the movie and though it was good in it's own way, the book was way better. I understood the book way more than I did the movie.
Can we move on to the next Lisa See book which I read comes out Feb. 2nd ?
I loved, loved this book! The movie however was so disappointing! The movie completely glazes over the entire foot binding process, which is when the girls become so close, and it ignores completely that one is teaching the other to be a house wife and why. It had such potential...kind of a bummer.
I am looking forward to seeing Lisa See at the Collier County Friends of the Library luncheon on 3/26!
I very seldom like movies compared to the book. There are such a few producers and directors that can the make the transition. I was a little concerned about the comtemporary scenes, that they would detract fromthe story. They did not. I did want to see more of a depth of the relationship of the period friendship to see how it would tie into the modern day friendship. I think that to add more about the foot binding would have been disconcerting for many. It's not a pretty sight.
Saw the movie and appreciated the differences between the book and the film. I think the modern storyline helped to illustrate the timelessness of friendship, loss, and regret.
The book is so much better than the movie!!! I find when I read, as do most readers, I believe, SEE the story in their head and a movie never seems to make that come alive, no matter how good the movie. This book is one of my very favorites. I have given it as gifts and told so very many about it. Thank you for you sharing your extreme talent!!!
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Carla wrote: "The book is so much better than the movie!!! I find when I read, as do most readers, I believe, SEE the story in their head and a movie never seems to make that come alive, no matter how good the m..."
2. The movie was sandwiched between two blockbuster movies (Harry Pott..."
A diamond of the human spirit -- a a beautiful phrase.