Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

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  I seem to be in the minority about this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was a compelling enough story that kept me interested, but I was never fully engaged by the characters. The reader was clearly supposed to feel very emotional about these two women and I just couldn't muster it. I felt a lot more interested in the historical details and enjoyed the more general exploration of the culture much more than the personal narrative.

  The story also seemed very predictable... (show more)

  I seem to be in the minority about this book. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. It was a compelling enough story that kept me interested, but I was never fully engaged by the characters. The reader was clearly supposed to feel very emotional about these two women and I just couldn't muster it. I felt a lot more interested in the historical details and enjoyed the more general exploration of the culture much more than the personal narrative.

  The story also seemed very predictable, perhaps because, as another reviewer mentioned, the technique of telling the story in flashback gave too much foreshadowing and created too many spoilers. My feeling about foreshadowing is that it should be a bit more subtle than: "I was at a moment of supreme confusion, and I believe it set the stage for what happened later...It was as though I'd swallowed the meat of a diseased pig and it slowly began to spoil my insides. (paragraph break) I had not yet become the Lady Lu who is respected today for her graciousness, compassion, and strength." How could you not figure out that they were going to fight and that it was going to be Lily's fault? The book was full of obvious hints like that and whatever suspense there was ended up feeling forced.

  It wasn't a terrible book, but nothing particularly noteworthy that would make me recommend it to anyone or keep thinking of it once this review is done. Which, by the way, is now. (show less)

   

  by Facebook User on Apr 19, 2009 at 05:36PM

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  This book was visceral. While reading the chapter on foot-binding, I actually had to keep wiggling my toes to ensure that they were intact.

  What surprised me the most was that this excruciating time in their lives was actually not the worst experience that they would have. To be a woman in this society was far more painful.

  Reading from Lily's perspective got to be annoying, since she always seemed to be lucky enough to avoid hardships like a lowly marriage, unloving husband, an i... (show more)

  This book was visceral. While reading the chapter on foot-binding, I actually had to keep wiggling my toes to ensure that they were intact.

  What surprised me the most was that this excruciating time in their lives was actually not the worst experience that they would have. To be a woman in this society was far more painful.

  Reading from Lily's perspective got to be annoying, since she always seemed to be lucky enough to avoid hardships like a lowly marriage, unloving husband, an inability to bear children, or losing a child to any of the epidemics. Since the standards of society treated her well, as a woman with beautiful feet and many children, she totally bought into the misogyny at the expense of her soulmate. That makes me very angry at her, but keeps me emotionally involved. The difficult part is that if I were in the same position as Lily, I think it is possible that I might make some of the same mistakes. Books that make me introspective are always enjoyable. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Jul 10, 2009 at 02:23AM

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