Book Club Discussion Questions for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Discuss |  Reviews |  Beyond the Book |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

A Novel

by Lisa See
  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Readers' Rating (10):
  • First Published:
  • Jun 28, 2005, 272 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Feb 2006, 288 pages
  • Rate this book

About this Book

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

In a book club? Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter and get our best book club books of 2025!



For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.


Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. Lily endures excruciating pain in order to have her feet bound. What reasons are given for this dangerous practice?

  2. Did See's descriptions of footbinding remind you of any Western traditions?

  3. If some men in 19th-century China knew about nu shu and "old same" friendships, why do you think they allowed these traditions to persist?

  4. Reflecting on her first few decades, Lily seems to think her friendship with Snow Flower brought her more good than harm. Do you agree?

  5. Lily's adherence to social customs can seem controversial to us today. Pick a scene where you would have acted differently. Why?

  6. Lily defies the wishes of her son in order to pair her grandson with Peony. Does she fully justify her behavior?

  7. Lily sometimes pulls us out of the present moment to reflect--as an old woman--on her youthful decisions. What does this device add to the story?

  8. How would you film these moments of reflection?

  9. If Lily is writing her story to Snow Flower in the afterworld, what do you think Snow Flower's response would or should be?

  10. Did you recognize any aspects of your own friendships in the bond between Lily and Snow Flower?


Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Random House. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

Membership Advantages
  • Reviews
  • "Beyond the Book" articles
  • Free books to read and review (US only)
  • Find books by time period, setting & theme
  • Read-alike suggestions by book and author
  • Book club discussions
  • and much more!
  • Just $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.
  • More about membership!

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
Broken Country (Reese's Book Club)
by Clare Leslie Hall
A love triangle reveals deadly secrets in this thriller for fans of The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing.

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    The Original
    by Nell Stevens

    In a grand English country house in 1899, an aspiring art forger must unravel whether the man claiming to be her long-lost cousin is an impostor.

  • Book Jacket

    Angelica
    by Molly Beer

    A women-centric view of revolution through the life of Angelica Schuyler Church, Alexander Hamilton's influential sister-in-law.

  • Book Jacket

    The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
    by Liza Tully

    A great detective's young assistant yearns for glory, but first they have learn to get along in this delightful feel good mystery.

  • Book Jacket

    The Whyte Python World Tour
    by Travis Kennedy

    Rikki Thunder, drummer for '80s metal band Whyte Python, is on the verge of fame, love—and a spy mission he didn’t expect.

Win This Book
Win These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas

"[An] atmospheric tale of unexpected hope." —Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author

Enter

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

E H L the B

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.