Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

A Novel

By: Lisa See

Narrated by: Janet Song

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

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 19th-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

"Engrossing....Both a suspenseful and poignant story and an absorbing historical chronicle." (Publishers Weekly)

Beautiful but so sad

Would you try another book from Lisa See and/or Janet Song?

I love both the author and the narrator

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story was what it was, that's what makes it so sad

What about Janet Song’s performance did you like?

Janet Song's gives the story an authentic feel

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Interesting

Very interesting story about this time period.I didn't love this story but I did find it a very interesting listen.

Loved it!

A window into the culture of 1700's China and the importance of relationships between women. This book is captivating to the last page, a testament to good writing.

An Absolute Delight!

This book offers an excellent inside look at the class and gender discrimination that pervaded the era. The author did a lovely job of weaving the relationship of the girls into an intimate and heartwrenching story. Some might say that this book is "women's work" and would not be enjoyed by men, but my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it passed the time on our daily commute.

Best Friends Living Through Tough Times

If you could sum up Snow Flower and the Secret Fan in three words, what would they be?

Foot binding sucks

Any additional comments?

I learned a lot about the ancient Chinese tradition of foot binding and how hard it is to get around afterward.

Beautiful story!

I love not only the story itself, but the glimpse into history that this book brings.
The performance is great as it makes you feel their emotions and feelings.
I highly recommend this book.

oh my heart...

this was a really heart wrenching and emotional book. I went through so many feelings while listening. the strength and weakness of being a woman, the complexity of all the roles one plays, the friendships of other women are pivotal to this story and each of our own lives. 4.5☆

Narrator sounds like she has a cold

Didn’t like narration or the characters, but story is interesting and has life lessons at the end.

Not My Most Favorite

I was mostly confused listening to this book. The relationships were not easy to decipher, so with the adition of a foreign culture it was difficult to follow the story line at first.

There is no way this story can measure up to "Memoirs of a Geisha," so you will be dissappointed if you think it does. You will read of difficulties of women in this time, and learn of the significance of their relationships. And therein lies a major facet of this story: the tension of the relationship between Lily and Snow Flower. It has been questioned by others whether Lily is seen as a heroine or a villian in this story. It is a good question.

I would not say do not get this book, but then again, there are numerous other choices that are more enjoyable.

Perhaps it was just the narrator

I learned a lot about Chinese customs and culture, presented in this book passionately and sensually, but those elements were lost in the narration. The story held my attention long enough to see through to the end, but the narrator seemed like the wrong choice, either for this story in particular or for narration at all I cannot say. I think I would have liked the book better if I had read it myself, or if it was presented by someone who conveyed the story with more conviction. But as I said, the combination of story and reader was at least enough for me to finish listening, so there’s something here worth trying.