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book_lizard42's review
4.0
I had never heard of this book until about a week ago when several people I have contact with rated or reviewed it.
I really enjoyed this book. "The Good Earth" is one of my favorite books of all time, and this one surprisingly ranks right up there. It's an intimate peek at customs in late 19th century China. The characters are believable and human, and the customs are fascinating. "Snow Flower" was well-researched.
I really enjoyed this book. "The Good Earth" is one of my favorite books of all time, and this one surprisingly ranks right up there. It's an intimate peek at customs in late 19th century China. The characters are believable and human, and the customs are fascinating. "Snow Flower" was well-researched.
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cancer, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Vomit, War, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Excrement and Sexual content
mxshining's review
4.0
It is really interesting to know a bit more about China - or at least about how it used to be. I explains a lot. But the beginning of the book was a bit slow and it was kind of difficult for me too get into the story. I'm afraid I finished it because I'm interested in China, and not because it was a very good book. Towards the end of the book, the story became better though and I was kind of moved by the last pages.
tamgperkins's review
4.0
Great story abou the power of friendship. Author does a wonderful job drawing powerful visuals and providing great detail about the history and culture of China.
book_concierge's review
5.0
Our own "sworn sisterhood" (book club) had much to discuss on the topic of "footbinding" and other ways modern women are "bound."
See takes us to 19th century rural China, when marriages were arranged, feet bound and having sons was a woman's only means of achieving purpose in life. Lily and Snow Flower become "old sames" (Laotong) at age 7 and pledge their never-ending love and devotion. They communicate using "nu shu" - a secret women's language - writing verses in the folds of a fan. But a misunderstanding of the purposely vague language causes a nearly irreparable rift.
I'm not sure I like Lily at all - she is so self-rigtheous. But then, all she ever sought was unconditional love - someone to love her despite her faults.
An extraordinary book! Highly recommended.
See takes us to 19th century rural China, when marriages were arranged, feet bound and having sons was a woman's only means of achieving purpose in life. Lily and Snow Flower become "old sames" (Laotong) at age 7 and pledge their never-ending love and devotion. They communicate using "nu shu" - a secret women's language - writing verses in the folds of a fan. But a misunderstanding of the purposely vague language causes a nearly irreparable rift.
I'm not sure I like Lily at all - she is so self-rigtheous. But then, all she ever sought was unconditional love - someone to love her despite her faults.
An extraordinary book! Highly recommended.
redlerred's review
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy, Child death, Suicide, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Domestic abuse
shareen17's review
4.0
I've read The Good Earth and Joy Luck Club, so I already knew to be grateful not to be born a woman in past times in China. Reading this book brings my appreciation of being born an American in post-women's movement times to whole new levels. I'd heard of foot-binding of course, but had no idea the horror that experience was. This book is the story of a deep friendship between two women growing up in the 1800's in China, but it really felt like more of a vehicle to explore historical facts about women's lives. I didn't really enjoy or love reading this book, but I learned so much and thought so much about it that I'll give it 4 stars for that.
macsuga's review
5.0
The detail of footbinding and the love of a mother was spellbinding! I loved the imagery and detail. I didn’t want to put this book down
ambershah's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
casspro's review
5.0
I'm a little shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. I was kind of in a book slump, where I had so many unread books on my shelf and I hadn't really fallen in love with any of the books I had read recently. I picked this up, after having it collecting dust for over a two years, and didn't expect anything out of the ordinary. I thought it would be one of multitude of books that I read while the TV was on, or the last ten minutes before I went to bed, never really focused and eventually gave up on after reading 100 pages of a plot that I didn't ever absorb. I would chalk it up to "another lost cause" and add it to the donate pile.
BUT after reading the first couple of pages, I was taken about. Yes, it's a little flowery in language. Yes, it's a little redundant in it's plot devices. Yes, it focuses a lot on the misogyny and neglect and abuse that females have be accustomed to throughout the years. And I still read on. I still looked forward to getting into the chapters, rather than just through the book. I didn't look forward to the ending by chapter 3. I made quiet, uninterrupted time to read without distractions. I enjoyed reading.
Is it my new favorite? No. I have yet to find another book that gains membership into a very elite club. But I give it such outstanding reviews because it busted me out of my slump.
BUT after reading the first couple of pages, I was taken about. Yes, it's a little flowery in language. Yes, it's a little redundant in it's plot devices. Yes, it focuses a lot on the misogyny and neglect and abuse that females have be accustomed to throughout the years. And I still read on. I still looked forward to getting into the chapters, rather than just through the book. I didn't look forward to the ending by chapter 3. I made quiet, uninterrupted time to read without distractions. I enjoyed reading.
Is it my new favorite? No. I have yet to find another book that gains membership into a very elite club. But I give it such outstanding reviews because it busted me out of my slump.