Snow flower and the secret fan summary

Sign In Sign In. New Customer? Create account. Jump to Summaries 2 Synopsis 1 Edit.

Lily , an year-old Chinese woman, is a widow now, and old enough that she can say things that would once have gotten her in trouble. She says she spent her life longing for love, despite being undeserving of love as a woman. She was an obedient girl and woman, but took obedience too far. Her only rebellion was nu shu , or secret women's writing, and she describes a fan sitting in front of her covered in nu shu notes she exchanged with her laotong bonded female companion , Snow Flower. The story to follow is Lily's autobiography, which will be burned upon her death.

Snow flower and the secret fan summary

Rate this book. Buy This Book. A brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness. In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu "women's writing". Some girls were paired with laotongs, "old sames," in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone but especially to women in order to get better perspective on their life and to enjoy a good story about the bonds of sisterhood. I had high hopes for this book, but ended up feeling deflated and disappointed.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a historical drama film directed by Wayne Wang , based on the novel of the same name written by Lisa See. They are paired as laotong by a matchmaker who is also responsible for arranging their marriages. Meanwhile, in the present day Shanghai, their descendants Sophia Liao and Nina Wei struggle with the intimacy of their own pure and intense childhood friendship. As teenagers, Sophia and Nina were introduced to the idea of laotong, and they signed a traditional laotong contract on the cover of Canto-pop Faye Wong 's album Fu Zao Restless in English. Faye Wong was their favorite singer and their liberated dancing to the "degenerate" sounds of the cheerful refrain "la cha bor" was one of the reasons Sophia's stepmother attempted to separate them. Eventually they are separated but come together again when Sophia falls into a coma after being struck by a taxi while cycling. Reunited at long last, they must come to understand the story of the strong and close ancestral connection hidden from them in the folds of the antique white silk fan or lose one another forever in the process.

Historical Fiction. A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives. This absorbing novel — with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before — takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see. Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha , Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship. The prose is elegant, the voice sure, the story unforgettable—at times punishing in its authenticity. The wonder of this book is that it takes readers to a place at once foreign and familiar— foreign because of its time and setting, yet familiar because this landscape of love and sorrow is inhabited by us all.

Snow flower and the secret fan summary

Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. The Golden Lily. Bound feet that finished at less than 4 Western inches in length were considered "golden lily" feet, while feet that ended up longer were considered silver inches or iron 5 inches or more lilies. Lily's feet end up being 2. Three Fingers. Lisa See admits to typing all her novels nine as of using only three fingers. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Plot Summary. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does.

Ss239 lottery result

Which, of course, is horrible mutilation to a woman living in the 21st century Western world, but was the very epitome of beauty and sexual turn-on for 19th century Chinese. With all of the sorrow and pain that these two women endure there is lots in this book about the happiness and joy that life brings them as well. Transported back to 19th century China, I believe I arrived at a better understanding of a woman's position in this society. Lily, upset at Mama for lying to her about Snow Flower's situation, cuts Mama out of her life emotionally. Jekyll and Mr. Shanghai Girls Lisa See. Excuse my sarcastic tone but I cannot wrap my head around how awful this part of Chinese history is. Lisa herself admitted she writes sad books. Puwei, my home village, is in Yongming County, the county of Everlasting Brightness. Something went wrong If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Have you ever wanted to know how it would have been if you would have lived in another time, like the Roaring Twenties, or ancient Egypt or Rome? So I am happy for Good Reads. Your guide to exceptional books BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. I am admittedly grateful for not ever having to experience these often overwhelmingly harsh relationships in the way that these women did!

If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.

Their worth was determined solely by whether they could produce sons. A powerful and emotional coming-of-age novel set in the s by the bestselling author of West with Giraffes. They suffered so much abuse and, from a very young age, they were cultivated for marriage because, after all, all women were good for was for giving birth to sons. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Snow Flower begins to talk of Taipings and rebellions. When she receives word that Snow Flower has found a group of sworn sisters who are willing to hear her complaints, Lily feels betrayed and cuts off all contact with Snow Flower. Renews March 8, March 1, But does that make for an enjoyable read? Nina and Sophia have not learned nor had the care to learn this language. New Customer? Her story is that of a secret world of writings that women shared and ancient Chinese customs of foot binding. What reasons are given for this dangerous practice? Fox Searchlight acquired North American rights to the film, [6] and released it July 15, After several weeks the banished servants return and the epidemic wanes. Your Free Trial Starts Now!