Book Blurb: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan


Author: Lisa See


Genre: Historical Fiction


Synopsis: Two young girls are matched to be laotong, life long friends. But as they grow up they must deal with the realities of life in 19th Century China and their friendship struggles.


Stars: 3/5


Lauren's Review: I wanted to like this book much more than I did, but the problem was I had read The Good Earth by Pearl Buck not that long ago. After reading Buck's account of China, anything else just feels kinda fake. Also she used a few expressions that just jumped out at me as out of context, for example at one point the narrator is climbing a mountain and says that she was "beyond tired." This book is definitely an interesting read and study in female friendship, but if you're looking for a more realistic picture of rural life in China before the cultural revolution, go for The Good Earth.

There is a movie version out in select theaters now, I have yet to see it but I enjoyed the book enough I probably will.

Book Blurb: The Mermaid Chair

Title: The Mermaid Chair


Author: Sue Monk Kidd (who also wrote The Secret Life of Bees)


Genre: Romantic Fiction


Synopsis: A married middle aged woman goes home to take care of her depressed mother and has a mid-life crisis.


Stars: 0/5


Lauren's Review: Do not read this book. It sucks.

Why does it suck? Because the plot is boring and the main character is selfish. I understand that women are complex, emotional beings. But I also understand that when you have a nice husband who works full time so that you can pretend to be an artist in your cushy Victorian mansion, you really don't have that much to whine about. But Jessie whines and whines for a full novel. All the while ignoring the fact that her mother is DANGEROUSLY depressed and hurting herself. She is a terrible person. And I don't enjoy books about terrible people, unless they're interesting. And this one isn't.

That's why it sucks.

I hear The Secret Life of Bees is good, but I doubt I'll ever read it.