Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Horn Tooting Scale: 3 Toots!

• 1 toot for being a well-researched historical novel
• 2nd toot for being a well-researched novel set in rural China
• 3rd toot for being a feminist novel - at least, that's how I read it

Points of interest:

• The concept of laotong - a lifelong contracted relationship between two girls that would provide the deep emotional attachment not often found through an arranged marriage
• Nu shu- the secret phonetic women's writing that lasted for a thousand years in China.
  
• Intense chapter about having one's feet bound at the age of 7. OUCH!!!

Synopsis:

In the mid-1800s in rural China near Guilin, Lily and her laotong, Snow Flower, were born on the same day, at the same hour, to families that matched in every regard excepting that of socio-economic status. Lily was the number two daughter in a tenant-farming family. Snow Flower occupied the same family position in an upper class family fallen on hard times through her father's opium addiction.

At age 6, Lily is singled out by the matchmaker as having the potential for perfect feet, golden lilies. This quality, even more than a pretty face, allows for a socially advantageous marriage. Lily is watched closely and is eventually matched with the premier catch of the surrounding villages. However, before that event, she is matched with Snow Flower in a laotong relationship that is even more important and longer lasting. They are contracted to serve as life-long best friends. To love and support each other unconditionally. This is the most important relationship that either girl will have in life, superseding even that of their marriage.

Unfortunately, their vastly different social standing (Snow Flower is married to a butcher which is EXTREMELY low status in a Buddhist society) slowly comes between them. As Lily moves upward, Snow Flower learns the true meaning of degradation. Through miscarriages, a horrible mother-in-law, an abusive husband, and then serious illness, Lily is helpless to comfort Snow Flower. The culmination of the strain on their relationship comes when Lily misreads the nu shu on their secret fan to mean that Snow Flower has betrayed her to form a new sisterhood with three women from her village. Actually, Snow Flower has not sworn sisterhood with these women, but the misunderstanding is not cleared up until after Snow Flower has tragically died.

I found it interesting that the author, Lisa See, set up the pair of old sames so that the frigid one (Lily) achieved all of the success in life, while the passionate one who enjoys "bed relations" with her husband (Snow Flower) found happiness in no other area and then died miserably. Does this reveal a bit of the old virgin/whore dichotomy on the part of the author? Just a thought.

This book is beautifully written and well-researched. I would highly recommend it to others and am thankful that my library recommended it to me.