Book Notes: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book started out incredibly strong with a painful description of foot binding. After the first hour or so, the book was never painful to listen to although drama and heartache permeate throughout. I did shutter however, every time “golden lilies” [feet] were mentioned. Snow Flower is the narrator Lily’s sworn sister, an arrangement set up similar to an arranged marriage. The girls’ relationship started at age 7 and lasted throughout their lives. They passed notes in their secret female-only language, nu shu on a fan. This was basically my first introduction to 19th century China culture and customs. I found it very interesting and refreshing to not be clouded by modern stresses and conveniences of life today. It was so entirely different that it truly felt like an escape from reality.



The author, Lisa See, does an adequate job of describing the characters physical appearance and an exemplary job describing feelings. The reader has an unmistakable understanding that women are lower than dogs until their Mother in Law dies and they are the head of the household. Because of their status, the sisterhood relationship is all the more important. The laotong is the most intimate of relationships in the sense that one’s sworn sister is the only one who truly knows and supports her. Prior to marriage, woman are treated as a burden, upon marriage a woman does not live with her husband until she is eight months pregnant, and even after that, if the woman only produces daughters she can be sold or given away. The story isn’t all dark, I was humored by talk of “bed business,” “his member,” and “his glory” and other charming euphemisms.



I found the story of Lily and Snow Flower’s lives riveting, and even though you know Lily lives to mature age, the reader can only guess when the other characters will “pass into the after world.” The reader has an intimate and raw sense of Lily’s emotions and feelings. As an emotional, reflective person myself I really enjoyed her introspection. I’m looking forward to reading more by Lisa See, and more on Ancient Chinese culture, of which my interest has just piqued.



MOVIE UPDATE: I saw the movie a few weeks ago and was terribly disappointed. Part of what I loved about the book was escaping to another century. The movie tells brief snippets of Snow Flower and Lily then goes back to modern day China to play out a similar scenario with two young women (i.e. family drama, death, spats and less than stellar spouses/partners). The significance of Snow Flower and Lily's friendship is hardly even touched. I'm sure on it's own, it was a decent movie about female friendships in China but it should have had a different title!



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