Lily is haunted by memories of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness. In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ( women s writing ). Some girls were paired with laotongs, old sames, in emotional matches that lasted throughout ...
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Lily is haunted by memories of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness. In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ( women s writing ). Some girls were paired with laotongs, old sames, in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become old sames at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, 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 lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship. "From the Hardcover edition.""
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Add this copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a Novel to cart. $5.73, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Audio.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a Novel to cart. $7.49, very good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Audio.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a Novel to cart. $7.90, good condition, Sold by The Yard Sale Store rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Narrowsburg, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Audio.
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Good. 4 Reliable AUDIO CDs withdrawn from the library collection. Some library marking. We will polish each of the Audio CDs for a smooth listening experience. Enjoy this presentable AUDIO CD performance.
Add this copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: a Novel to cart. $8.50, good condition, Sold by Firefly Bookstore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Kutztown, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Random House Audio.
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Used Good. Abridged edtion. 5 hours on 4 CDs. Case intact, CDs clean and undamaged. Slipcase has some light wear and corner damage. Firefly Bookstore sells items online and in our store front. We try to add images and descriptions when we can, but if you need additional information or photos of the books we list, please contact us.
Add this copy of Slow Flower and the Secret Fan, 4 Compact Discs to cart. $29.95, very good condition, Sold by J.E. Miles, A Bookseller rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from OCEANSIDE, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Random House Audio.
Good read. Lisa See's always urging you to the next page. Her characters quickly bring you from chapter to chapter and --all too soon-- to The End.
katydid15
Jun 14, 2012
bff
This book delved into the relationship between two women as they grow from little girls to women & mothers. Even though foot binding is a known fact, the description of the procedure was excellent. The obedience of the girls, to accept the custom as a given, was food for thought. The girls, who thought they were so close, shared everything, didn't really understand one another. I bought copies for several life long friends as we think we REALLY know one another, but do we?.
APStudent
Feb 26, 2012
AP World History Review: AMAZING
Lisa See did a great job creating this story. With a decent amount of knowledge of this era I found it to be factual and realistic. When it spoke of all the foot binding and the death that came to Lilly's sister from an infection from it, I felt as if I was seeing everything. The step by step description of events that occurred was phenomenal. The explanation of Lilly's emotions made me feel empathy for her and feel sorry for her. The book and the letters within it were so well written that I believed someone of that era actually wrote them at that era and time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that will keep you wanting to read, and you will end up have knowledge of the era it took place in, in the end. There may be scenes that may bother people do to blood and deep description of severe injury. If the person has a tolerance for these things this book would be perfect for you. This book is a great read and very informative about the era.
Editha C
Aug 19, 2011
Heart Warming story
The book made me realized the importance of friendship, love and sacrifice. It really touched my heart. Very well written
Curmudgeon
Jun 30, 2011
Insightful documentation, drama
Well researched, documented novel on a lost period in Chinese history. Well written with a taste of Chinese idioms.
