Reviews

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

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stripehouse's review against another edition

5.0

This is a great book if you’re interested in how foot binding was achieved and it really just tells a story about just how little the Chinese cared for women for centuries. I had a couple of moments where I had to avert my eyes and pause before reading on it was that brutal. Anyway, enjoy!

sams84's review against another edition

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5.0

I was really surprised by how engrossing this book was and how much I enjoyed it. See has created to characters that embody the female tradition in 19th Century China from the establishment of their friendship, their experiences through foot binding and arranged marriages and the pressures on them to bear sons for their husbands. There are many aspects of life in China at the time which is unique and unusual and could surpass the story of the relationship between these two women but See manages to balance the realities of these traditions with the little ways that Lily and Snow Flower overcome these and manage to live their own lives despite these confines. See also shows the role of nu shu in helping maintain the friendship between Lily and Snow Flower and thus how important this would've been (and possibly still is?) to women across China. This is an insightful and emotive read that has a certain charm that my words do not do justice to.

sjrj20's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was a very interesting read. I couldn't put it down very easily, but had to because it's not a quick read. I felt a learned a lot about the role of women not only in ancient China but today as well. I'm glad that we don't do a lot of what they did back then. However, I feel that we need to work together more, support and accept each other as we are.

elissalynn's review against another edition

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4.0

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I couldn’t put it down. It was heartwarming and tragic and informative. The narrator’s friendship with Snow Flower was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about the historical context of the period.

emicree's review against another edition

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5.0

Very well written and engaging. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan introduced me to a culture I was not familiar with in a way that will stick with me forever.