Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

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Description

Lisa See's novel about the lives of two friends in 19th-century China.

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis

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Summary

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... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Cast of Characters/Important People

Lily: The narrator. Born in a poor farmer's family, but marries into a rich family. She is grounded by rules and conventions.
Snow Flower: Lily's laotong, who is from a wealthy family and well versed in nu shu, later marries into a much poorer family. She is detached from conventional life, always seeking ways to rise above and escape from the daily chores of life.
Beautiful Moon: Lily's cousin, who dies shotly after her bethrotal.

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Memorable Quotes

“A lovely face is a gift from heaven, but tiny feet can improve social standing”
Madame Wang
“You go to another village. Your mother-in-law is cruel. Your husband doesn’t care for you. We wish you would never leave, but every daughter marries away. Everyone agrees. Everyone goes along with it. You can cry and beg to come home, we can grieve that you have gone, but you—and we—have no choice. The old saying makes this very clear: ‘If a daughter doesn’t marry out, she’s not valuable; if fire doesn’t raze the mountain, the land will not be fertile.’”
Lily's mother
“Raising a girl and marrying her off is like building a fancy road for others to use”
“Only through pain will you have beauty. Only through suffering will you have peace”
Lily's mother

First Sentence

I am what they call in our village 'one who has not yet died' - a widow, eighty years old.

List the chapters of this book.

Glossary

Laotong: "Old sames" - referring to a deep friendship between two girls, which is instigated by the mothers and matchmakers. These girls will be friends for life.
Nu shu: A secret written phonetic code used amongst women in ancient China.