Written by Lisa See, Reviewed by Erica
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the story of two women in 19th century China. Lily and Snow Flower become laotong, or “old sames,” at the age of seven and continue a deep friendship throughout their lives. At once beautiful and heartbreaking, the book tells of the hardships women in this society faced, such as footbinding, arranged marriages, and almost total isolation. But we also learn of the beauty of female companionship as these women embroider and sing together; they even invent their own language, nu shu, to communicate with their mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends. In the end, the women’s friendship is nearly ruined by a misunderstanding, and we ponder the very nature of female friendship. Lisa See has done a remarkable job of bringing this Chinese culture to life, of making her characters real and flawed, and of showing us that beauty can come out of even the darkest circumstances.