Lily is the daughter of a humble farmer in Yongming County, and to her family is just another mouth to feed until she can be married off. But, when she is six years old she is brought before the ambitious local matchmaker who delivers some startling news: Lily is no ordinary girl. If they are bound properly, her feet will be flawless. In nineteenth-century China, where a woman's eligibility is judged by the shape and size of her feet, this is extraordinarily good luck. Lily now has the power to make a good marriage and change the fortunes of her family. But first she must undergo the agonies of footbinding, learn nu shu, the famed secret women's writing, and make a very special friend. A girl will be chosen as her 'old-same' which is a relationship almost akin to marriage and treated with as much seriousness. Her 'old-same', Snow Flower, is a wonder to Lily. She comes from a refined family and is elegant, educated, but cannot suppress her adventurous streak. Even though their worlds are far apart and they rarely see one another, the two girls develop a deep bond through their letters written in nu shu which they paint on fans and embroider on handkerchiefs.
As the years go by, Lily and Snow Flower share the burden of being born female in feudal China and find comfort in their friendship until they come of age to be married. But a bitter reversal of fortune is about to change everything. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is a story of two extraordinary women surviving in a time of strict rules and ancient customs. With the eye of a historian and the vibrancy of a true storyteller, Lisa See has written a truly mesmerizing novel filled with colour, fascinating detail and heartfelt drama.
This is the sort of historical fiction I love. It takes me to a time, place, and culture I am only passingly familiar with, and makes me want to learn more. I found myself running to Wikipedia on more than one occasion, especially to better understand foot-binding. Some may get caught up in the accuracy of the historical fact, but to me this book was about much more. It’s about friendship; mothers and daughters; class-based, feudal society; the role of women, not only in their family but in society in general; betrayal; husbands and wives; love; and misunderstanding. Because we see things through Lily’s eyes, we often don’t understand what’s going on any sooner than she does. As readers, we are tied so closely to her discoveries that we feel her astonishment, happiness, sadness, and pain. I also found the book to be well-written. Oftentimes an author can adopt the speaking and writing style of their characters to the detriment of the reader, but the prose here is gentle and engaging. This sparked several interesting discussions in my book club, and I recommend it for yours. I’ll definitely read another book by Lisa See.
