Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel by Lisa See Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
Book Review: Only Through Pain Will You Have Beauty...
Summary: 5 Stars
"For my entire life I longed for love. I knew it was not right for me - as a girl and later as a woman - to want or expect it, but I did, and this unjustified desire has been at the root of every problem I have experienced in my life." (pg. 3)
This is a line among the opening passage of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" that begs to be noticed, for it is a glorious summation of - and explication for - the story's many woes. Author Lisa See has crafted a beautiful and exotic tale of ill fortune, dashed hopes and the brittle foundations of friendship and family. The tale centers around two women from youth to old age, the story told with bittersweet rumination by Lily, a widow in her 80's known as Lady Lu, matriarch of the house of Lu. Once the daughter of a lower-class farmer in the village of Puwei, Lily's fortune begins to change as she and her sisters go through the painstaking process of foot binding, a common practice up until the early part of the 20th century in China that horribly disfigures the feet. Despite the pain and suffering, the practice made the feet diminutive and alluring to men, thereby ensuring a larger dowry and a more marriageable girl depending on whether she had golden lotuses (feet no larger than 3 inches) or silver lotuses (feet no larger than 4 inches).
While Lily's feet are being bound, the family receives continual visits from an important matchmaker named Madame Wang. Much to their surprise, M. Wang informs them that not only has Lily has been sought by the prosperous Lu family as a wife for their son, but she is also eligible for a laotong ("old same"). The laotong relationship will involve Lily and a girl from another village that will last their entire lives and bond them on a level more intimately than their respective spouses. As complies with Lily's sign (horse), element and several other important characters, she is introduced to Snow Flower by their first communication on a delicate fan adorned by nu shu, a secret writing that Hunan women have used exclusively for centuries. These communications, as well as meetings in person, will continue throughout the years, through marriage, children, war, famine and death. Though their souls entwine, their bond threatens to break apart when Lily discovers that Snow Flower has been hiding a terrible secret.
The portrayal of women in this novel can be a bit irksome for someone with moderately feminist views: they are viewed as property, with many ideals to reinforce this view (the Three Obediences - "When a girl, obey your father; when a wife, obey your husband; when a widow, obey your son"). They are also bred to the be consummate ladies while waiting hand-and-foot on their husbands and the rest of the household into which they marry, at mercy to the matriarch (mother-in-law). Lily, ever practical, makes it clear that her golden lilies were her prime objective in seeking approval from her mother, her matchmaker and her husband. It is described in shocking detail:
"...my goal was to achieve a pair of perfectly bound feet with seven distinct attributes: They should be small, narrow, straight, pointed and arched, yet still fragrant and soft in texture. Of these requirements, length is the most important. Seven centimeters - about the length of a thumb - is the ideal. Shape comes next. A perfect foot should be shaped like the bud of a lotus. It should be full and round at the heel, come to a point at the front, with all weight borne by the big toe alone. This means that the toes and arch of the foot must be broken and bent under to meet the heel. Finally, the cleft formed by the forefoot and heel should be deep enough to hide a large cash piece perpendicularly within its folds. If I could attain that, happiness would be my reward." (p. 26)
This desire to seek approval is only reinforced during the foot binding process when Lily's mother tells her over and over, "A true lady lets no ugliness into her life. Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you find peace. I wrap, I bind, but you will have the reward."(pg. 30) (WARNING: HERE BE SPOILERS) It is this same desire to please that compels her to expose the deepest recesses of her heart to Snow Flower, only to feel betrayed in the end by Snow Flower's inability to be forthcoming, her seeming lack of emotional reciprocation. Even the torment of the Taiping Rebellion and their struggle to survive together does not soften Lily's steely judgment and in aiming to expose Snow Flower for her duplicity, Lily exposes her own weakness in her inability to forgive and mends both of their broken hearts nearly too late. (END SPOILERS)
See's prose is languid and rich throughout, keeping the reader thoroughly ensconced in the life and loss of Hunan women and their familial duties. One can almost see, feel, taste, touch and smell everything due to See's attention to detail and the agony, melancholy and perseverance of her protagonists is felt deep within. If you enjoy a well-written tragic novel on occasion as much as I, you can't go wrong with "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" - it will steal your heart but earn your forgiveness when the last pages are turned.
Book Review: Intriguing but dry
Summary: 3 Stars
After having read and LOVED Memoirs of a Geisha, I was eager to dive into this novel in hope of finding a work of similar breadth.
I won't say this was a disappointing read, as it was very well-researched, but this book cannot compare to Memoirs of a Geisha in terms of emotional depth. Personally, I did not feel involved at all the entire time I was reading. There's a distinct sense of distance and dryness in the writing, and I'm not sure if it is simply Lisa See's style, but it took a great deal away from the experience for me. I couldn't get into the characters' griefs and triumphs and felt disconnected.
It simply isn't a masterpiece. However, still very much recommended for those interested in asian culture. It is an interesting and unique story, there's no denying that, but it is not as full and affecting as it could have been.
Other recommendations: The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue, The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield, The Color of Water by James McBride
Book Review: Wonderful Story
Summary: 5 Stars
Beautifully written. You get immersed in the lives of the characters. Great read.Book Review: kept me up all night
Summary: 5 Stars
My friend recommended this book and it sat on my bedside table for a while. Finally picked it up and started reading. It got me from the very beginning. I read it in two nights. Loved it! Its a beautiful story about friendship and the ties that bind it. Had me boo hooing...Book Review: Culture Shock
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great book which gives you a lot of insite into a culture from the past that still has some of the same traditions being carried down today. I loved this book.