Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Here is a description of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan from Amazon:

At the instigation of a matchmaker, Lily and Snow Flower, a girl from a larger town and supposedly from a well-connected, wealthy family, become laotong, bound together for life. Even after Lily learns that Snow Flower is not from a better family, even when Lily marries above her and Snow Flower beneath her, they remain close, exchanging nu shu written on a fan. When war comes, Lily is separated from her husband and children. She survives the winter helped by Snow Flower's husband, a lowly butcher, until she is reunited with her family. As the years pass, the women's relationship changes; Lily grows more powerful in her community, bitter, and harder, until at last she breaks her bond with Snow Flower. They are not reunited until Lily tries to make the dying Snow Flower's last days comfortable.

I decided to read this book because the girls on The Nest Book Club message board suggested it. I also really enjoy historical fictions that are set in Asian countries. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was exactly what I was looking for. I thought the parts about foot-binding were very interesting. I found myself wincing at certain points; it sounded so incredibly painful! I guess I would be considered very ugly in China at that time; my feet are size 12! I thought it was so cool that the women of China had their own language that the men didn't even know about. Reading about Lily and Snow Flower's friendship made me sad for all of my friendships that have ended. It normally takes a lot for a book to make me cry, but this one definitely did. I was just bawling! This book counted for the Summer Book Challenge.

4 out of 5 stars