Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Lily is haunted by memories–of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. 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.©2005 Lisa See; (P)2005 Books on Tape Inc.

Critic reviews

“Lisa See has written her best book yet. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is achingly beautiful, a marvel of imagination of a real and secret world that has only recently disappeared. It is a story so mesmerizing the pages float away and the story remains clearly before us from beginning to end.”—Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club and The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings

“I was mesmerized by this wondrous book–the story of a secret civilization of women, who actually lived in China not long ago. . . . Magical, haunting fiction. Beautiful.”—Maxine Hong Kingston, author of The Fifth Book of Peace

“Only the best novelists can do what Lisa See has done, to bring to life not only a character but an entire culture, and a sensibility so strikingly different from our own. This is an engrossing and completely convincing portrayal of a woman shaped by suffering forced upon her from her earliest years, and of the friendship that helps her to survive.”—Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

I really enjoyed this one

This wasn't a great masterpiece but it was an enjoyable story. I found it because I did a search for Women's Historical Fiction. It went into a lot of detail about the circumstances of a woman's life in 19th century China. For instance,I had always heard foot binding was painful and dangerous, but this went into graphic detail so you could empathize a lot more.
I found certain parts of the story underdeveloped. The author could have delved deeper and certain aspects fell flat. But as far as storytelling goes, it was a good story. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this and it was an easy listen if you're multi tasking along with it.
The narrator was decent but very nasally.

Wonderful

This book was wonderful. I enjoyed the captivating storytelling. It was so interesting. It brought me to tears several times. I would recommend it and have to many of my friends. This will be rated as one of my favorites.

Amazing!

Lisa See has an incredible gift for making you feel what her characters feel. They become real. And Janet Song is a gifted narrator. This was my first audio book by Lisa See and I experienced more emotions than I can name while listening to this story. It has a very graphic description of foot binding which is not for the squeamish but well worth listening to. I never knew how much these women went through for social status and a better life. The relationship between these 2 girls/women is remarkable. Must listen!

wow

this book..I cried so hard. I understand the regret of the main character. 😭 just wow.

Lovely Story

Provided great insight in to Chinese culture at the time as well as a study of human nature.