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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

by Lisa See
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Thryft
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Thryft

Hidden bond of friendship forged through secret writing

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan could be a good read for someone looking to delve into the intricacies of female friendships in a deeply patriarchal society. Set in 19th-century China, this book explores the painful journey of Lily, a young girl who undergoes footbinding and forms a unique bond with her friend Snow Flower. The most distinctive feature of this book is the exploration of nu shu, the secret women's writing, which becomes the medium through which the women express their deepest thoughts and emotions. Through the hidden bond of friendship and the power of secret communication, Lisa See beautifully captures the resilience and strength of women in the face of societal expectations.

  • California Book Award for Fiction (Silver) (2005)
  • Lincoln Award Nominee (2008)
  • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Adult Fiction Honor (2005)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

by Lisa See
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780747582922
Authors: Lisa See
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Date of Publication: 2006-01-01
Related Collections: Historical Fiction
Goodreads rating: 4.09
(rated by 370841 readers)

Description

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.
 

Hidden bond of friendship forged through secret writing

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan could be a good read for someone looking to delve into the intricacies of female friendships in a deeply patriarchal society. Set in 19th-century China, this book explores the painful journey of Lily, a young girl who undergoes footbinding and forms a unique bond with her friend Snow Flower. The most distinctive feature of this book is the exploration of nu shu, the secret women's writing, which becomes the medium through which the women express their deepest thoughts and emotions. Through the hidden bond of friendship and the power of secret communication, Lisa See beautifully captures the resilience and strength of women in the face of societal expectations.

  • California Book Award for Fiction (Silver) (2005)
  • Lincoln Award Nominee (2008)
  • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Adult Fiction Honor (2005)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.