Living the Fictional Dream

A few weeks ago, I discovered Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See on one of the summer reading tables at Barnes & Noble. The idea that captured me and pursuaded me to buy the book was the idea of nu shu, a secret language known by females and for females, kept a secret from the men.

The book is set in 19th century China, when footbinding was mandatory for all women who wanted a good marriage. After the footbinding, the women saw little but the inside of the women’s rooms in their homes or their husbands’ homes. They communicated with the women in their natal families and other friends using this secret language embroidered on handkerchiefs and clothes and written on fans.

The women’s society in this novel is like a secret society, revolving around but separate from the society of the men. Of course, in this society where sons are beloved and daughters are considered interlopers that cost money to raise for someone else to reap the benefit from (the sons they will bear), it makes sense that the women would find outlets for their needs for creativity, identity, and companionship.

This novel is the story of Lily and her friendship with Snow Flower, her “old same.” The relationship between the girls is arranged when they are children, and they become closer than sisters through nu shu correspondence and long visits. They are very similar, both born in the year of the horse, but they are on opposite tracks in life. Lily’s rank moves up while Snow Flower’s moves down, and their relationship strains to stay strong despite the changes and other people’s negative views.

This book is not necessarily a “feel good” book, but it is very interesting to read. It takes the reader into a culture that is vivid and (most likely) like nothing they’ve been introduced to before. We’re all used to hearing about what a “horror” foot binding was and how it was degrading to women, but in this novel, it was a normal part of life. The women both hated it and took pride in it.

Lily is a powerful character and very resourceful. It is amazing how, as a woman, she can still exert control over the men in her life. Snow Flower is an emotional and tragic figure, powerful in her own right. I’m a sucker for a story about relationships between women — especially mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends — and the relationship between Lily and Snow Flower is at times both beautiful and painful to watch.

If my description sounds at all interesting to you, I would recommend that you pick up a copy of the novel. I’m definitely glad that I read it. However, I would warn you, that there are graphic descriptions of things like the footbinding, so if that would be too much for you, then you’d either need to pass or skip over those parts.