Lily, the narrator, was born on June 5, 1824—”the fifth day of the sixth month of the third year of the Daoguang Emperor‘s reign”.
The novel starts in 1903, when Lily is 80 years old and looks back on her life. In rural Hunan province called Puwei, a county in China, Lily is destined to become a laotong pair with Snow Flower, a girl of the same age from Tongkou. The laotong relationship is a sisterly relationship, closer than husband and wife. The two grow up together and learn to read and write Nü Shu, the secret writing of women (who were not taught to read and write back then). They go through the foot binding ritual together. Lily ends up with beautiful feet (according to herself) and is therefore able to make a good wedding match. Because Snow Flower’s father is disgraced, her match is not so good. This is where the women start growing apart. Lily’s husband doesn’t want Snow Flower to visit and Lily can only visit every now and again.
When Snow Flower leaves her abusive husband, Lily is as supportive as she can – in her eyes, but Snow Flower decides to move away. Lily is hurt and breaks all contact with Snow Flower. It’s not until Snow Flower is dying that the two women meet again.
This book is so beautiful, and horrible (the footbinding is horrible) at the same time. I have read it twice now, and I’m sure I will read it again in the future.
Read for the Read Between the Lines Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 40: A Book Set in Asia
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
