"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is a beautifully written memoir, as the 80-year old Lily looks back on her daughter days in rural China.Born as the second daughter to a "so-so family" who lived in a "so-so town", Lily tells of preparation for a life of obedience, first to her father, then to her husband, and finally to her sons.But when Lily is seven years old, she has the good fortune to make a "laotang match", something like a sister sworn for life, with another seven-year old girl named Snow Flower.The two girls share the rituals of having their feet bound, betrothal, marriage, and the births of their children.Through the years, the girls maintain a relationship that is closer than their relationship to their husbands. In this beautifully narrated story, Lily reflects on the choices she made in her life, and one great wrong that she inflicted on her "old same" Snow Flower.Lily's observations on her life and the expectations of the Chinese society of her time for women are poignant and beautifully written.I was sorry to finish this beautiful book, and look forward to reading more works written my Ms. See.