A review by amiably
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i liked the complexity of the relationship between lily and snow flower. the contrast between the pair later in life as adults was interesting and it allowed for a clear display of china's social classes & religious beliefs at the time. the author definitely did a lot of research into nu shu, the laotong relationships, and 19th century china and it shows. 

some characters like mama didn't feel fully fleshed out. there were unnecessary details and tangents, especially when talking about the laotong relationships. overall it was a dry book that centered around pain, but the characters felt indifferent towards it.

interesting read that i was assigned but i wouldn't pick it up again.