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.
language: English
title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
titlecomplete: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
characters: Lily, Snowflower
genres: Asian Literature, Fiction, China, Adult Fiction, Historical, Asia, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Adult, Novels
ratings_count: 367688
places: Hunan Province, China
awards: awardedAt: 1104566400000
name: California Book Award
category: Fiction (Silver), awardedAt: 1199174400000
name: Lincoln Award, awardedAt: 1104566400000
name: Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature
category: Adult Fiction Honor
publisher: Random House Audio