Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Lisa See
4.09
382,926 ratings 20,627 reviews
In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared 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 deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.
Genres: Historical FictionFictionBook ClubChinaHistoricalAsiaAdultAsian LiteratureAdult FictionAudiobook
288 Pages

Community Reviews:

5 star
144260 (38%)
4 star
151745 (40%)
3 star
68975 (18%)
2 star
13552 (4%)
1 star
4394 (1%)

Readers also enjoyed

Other books by Lisa See

Lists with this book

Memoirs of a Geisha
Gone with the Wind
The Pillars of the Earth
Best Historical Fiction
7170 books • 25303 voters
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Hunger Games
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Best Books of the Decade: 2000s
7226 books • 28355 voters
The Help
The Kite Runner
Water for Elephants
Best for Book Clubs
14275 books • 18202 voters
The Hunger Games
Pride and Prejudice
To Kill a Mockingbird
Best Books Ever
74241 books • 275039 voters