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Quick answer: If you finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, try The Island of Sea Women, Shanghai Girls, Dreams of Joy, Peony in Love, Wild Swans and The Joy Luck Club. They share Lisa See's mix of women's friendships, family sacrifice and Chinese history.
Lisa See's 2005 novel tells the story of Lily and Snow Flower, two girls in 19th-century China who are matched as “laotong,” or old sames, and write secret messages to each other on a fan in a women's script called nu shu. It is a story of friendship, betrayal and foot-binding. Readers who finish it want more stories of Chinese women across history. These 15 books include See's other novels, memoirs and classic fiction.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Island of Sea Women | Lisa See | Adult | more Lisa See |
| Shanghai Girls | Lisa See | Adult | readers who like sisters |
| Dreams of Joy | Lisa See | Adult | series readers |
| Peony in Love | Lisa See | Adult | readers who like historical fantasy |
| Lady Tan's Circle of Women | Lisa See | Adult | readers who like women's history |
| The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane | Lisa See | Adult | readers who like cultural stories |
| Wild Swans | Jung Chang | Adult | nonfiction readers |
| The Joy Luck Club | Amy Tan | Adult | readers who like mother-daughter stories |
| The Kitchen God's Wife | Amy Tan | Adult | readers who want more Tan |
| The Bonesetter's Daughter | Amy Tan | Adult | readers who like family secrets |
| Memoirs of a Geisha | Arthur Golden | Adult | readers who like detailed settings |
| Empress Orchid | Anchee Min | Adult | readers who like court politics |
| Red Azalea | Anchee Min | Adult | readers who want a true story |
| Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress | Dai Sijie | Adult | readers who love books |
| The Good Earth | Pearl S. Buck | Adult | readers who want a classic |
1. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Two women divers on Jeju Island in Korea share a friendship through war and change. Another story of female friendship and history.
Best for: more Lisa See.
2. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Two sisters flee Shanghai in 1937 and arrive in Los Angeles. A family story of loyalty.
Best for: readers who like sisters.
3. Dreams of Joy by Lisa See
The sequel to Shanghai Girls follows May's daughter Joy to China in the 1950s. Sweeping, with a view of Mao's China.
Best for: series readers.
4. Peony in Love by Lisa See
A 17th-century girl dies of lovesickness and watches over her family as a ghost. Odd, lyrical and romantic.
Best for: readers who like historical fantasy.
5. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
A woman physician in Ming-dynasty China treats other women. Informative and warm.
Best for: readers who like women's history.
6. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
Li-yan, from a tea-growing village, gives up a child and searches for her. A story of family and tea.
Best for: readers who like cultural stories.
7. Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Three generations of women in China, from foot-binding to the Cultural Revolution. A landmark memoir.
Best for: nonfiction readers.
8. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Four mothers and four daughters tell their stories. A modern classic of immigrant life.
Best for: readers who like mother-daughter stories.
9. The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan
Winnie tells her daughter the story of her life in China. Moving and often dark.
Best for: readers who want more Tan.
10. The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
A woman uncovers her mother's secrets through writings. A story of family, ghosts and memory.
Best for: readers who like family secrets.
11. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Sayuri tells her life as a geisha in Kyoto. Lush and famous.
Best for: readers who like detailed settings.
12. Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
A fictional account of the rise of Cixi, from concubine to ruler of China. Dramatic and rich.
Best for: readers who like court politics.
13. Red Azalea by Anchee Min
Min's memoir of growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Vivid and often bleak.
Best for: readers who want a true story.
14. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
Two teens are sent for re-education and find forbidden novels. Short and charming.
Best for: readers who love books.
15. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Wang Lung rises from poor farmer to wealthy landowner. A Pulitzer Prize-winning family saga.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
How to Choose
If you want more Lisa See, begin with Shanghai Girls and Peony in Love. For true accounts, read Wild Swans or Red Azalea. For stories of mothers and daughters, choose Amy Tan. For short books, pick Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Some of these books describe foot-binding, war and other violence. Read at your own pace.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is nu shu?
Nu shu is a script used by women in Hunan Province, China. It was used to write secret letters, poems and songs.
Is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan a true story?
It is a novel, but it draws on real research into nu shu and women's customs in 19th-century China.
Is the movie faithful?
The 2011 film adds a modern storyline and changes parts of the book, so many readers prefer the novel.
Is it good for book clubs?
Yes. Its themes of friendship, loyalty and womanhood generate good discussion.