"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 nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created
in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As
the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose
stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their
hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of
foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared
loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find
solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a
misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to
tear apart."
Join the Riverdale Book Discussion Group on July 23 at 6:30 p.m. for a great discussion and refreshments.
No comments:
Post a Comment