This absorbing novel – with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before – takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see. Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret code, nu shu – "women's writing" – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world. Some girls were paired as "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 windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old-same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha , Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship. (from Lisa See's Website)
Lisa See presents well written and researched “word pictures” of 19th century Chinese – Hunan Province- culture, traditions and history; woven into a memoir of Lily, in a Laotong relationship with Snow flower, commencing with their foot binding and sustained through the feminine art of communication -Nu Shu.
ReplyDeleteWe are sucked into the play of destiny of these two people, who are endowed with “eight matching characters” yet thrown into diametrically opposite lives. While each of them is subjected in their own ways to deal with their male dominated society, reeking in suppression and abuse of women, yet succumb to these “man-made” oppressions and propagate it, the feminist in me is infuriated!!!!
The women believe that they are so undeserving that, Lily feels guilty for all her good fortune, and is apologizing and seeking redemption by telling her story. Her biggest flaw was her extreme love and possessiveness of Snow flower. She is a courageous and compassionate survivor who is blessed with a lot of good luck.