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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by
Start date
August 6, 2011
Finish date
August 12, 2011

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What Members Thought

Lindsay
Aug 16, 2011 rated it really liked it
Shelves: adultfiction, history
I thought most of this book was really beautiful. It chronicles the life of a Chinese woman who rises from her social rank as the child of a poor farmer to the wealthy wife of a merchant, meanwhile fostering a special friendship with a girl of the same age named Snow Flower. The ending was a little abrupt, but I was continually impressed by how fully Lisa See stayed true to the voice of her character, even when explaining cultural customs like foot binding, in which a woman of that time and the ...more
Mary Catherine
Dec 12, 2008 rated it really liked it
The story of two young girls in 19th-century China who become lifelong friends. Worth reading just for the descriptions of the practice of footbinding. I had a completely wrong idea of what footbinding actually was, so I found it fascinating in a very disturbing way to learn about. This book details the extremely difficult lives that women lived in China at this time and also depicts the ways that they found love and companionship from the other women around them.
Nicole
Sep 13, 2010 rated it it was ok
I know this is hailed as a fantastic book, but I struggled with it. However, I will say much of what I struggled with was the restrictive culture and customs of 19th Century China, specifically in regard to women, and the fact that this was so well represented likely means the book was very well written. With all that in mind, I didn't look forward to this book, I didn't particularly like many of the character and I had great difficulty putting myself in their places. I probably wouldn't have la ...more
akaellen
Aug 31, 2009 rated it really liked it
Shelves: read2009
I really enjoyed this book - I was touched by the concept of the "old same" and also the "sworn sisters".
...more
Amy
Jun 07, 2007 rated it it was ok
I thought this book was okay. Nothing to write home about. It was interesting to learn more about the Chinese culture (my feet ached reading about foot binding), but I was rather underwhelmed by the story.
Les
Sep 17, 2007 rated it it was amazing
I loved this book! I loved the little girls, the secret writing, the information about foot-binding (but not its cruelty). I love the whole concept of "old same" and wish I had one myself. Read this book. ...more
Christina
Oct 05, 2007 rated it liked it
Shelves: 2007
Sweet story, was more into the historical aspects of it though...insane what people used to think.
Ana
Apr 13, 2007 rated it it was ok
Tina
Jul 10, 2007 marked it as to-read
Marsha
Oct 10, 2007 rated it really liked it
eve
Oct 15, 2007 rated it liked it
Laine
Dec 20, 2007 rated it it was ok
Nicole
Jan 05, 2008 marked it as to-read
Jill
Jan 18, 2008 marked it as to-read
quinn
Mar 23, 2008 rated it it was amazing
Susan
Mar 24, 2008 rated it really liked it
Shelves: historical, adult-fic
Katie
Apr 11, 2008 marked it as to-read
Andrea
Aug 30, 2009 rated it liked it
Shelves: booksreadin2009
Clayton
Sep 29, 2009 marked it as to-read
Cathy
Sep 30, 2009 rated it really liked it
Shelves: book-group
Veronica
Dec 18, 2009 rated it really liked it
Kate
Jul 07, 2010 rated it liked it
liz
Jan 25, 2011 rated it really liked it
Kathy Eiferle
Mar 14, 2011 rated it liked it
Jill
Feb 03, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Melissa
Jul 19, 2018 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: own
Shauna
Feb 28, 2020 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Lorie
Nov 13, 2021 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
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