It is present day Shanghai and Nina and Sophia are struggling to maintain their childhood friendship among the demands of career, relationships, and family. Drawing from the lessons of the past, Nina and Sophia learn to understand their ancestral connections to Lily and Snowflower… their laotong, and the ways of 19th century China.
Like nu shu secrets within the creases of a fan…. both story lines mesh to tell one… of hope, love, and friendship.
Laotong or LaoTong (in English: old sames; written: 老同 in Mandarin) is a type of relationship within Chinese culture, which was practised in Hunan, that bonded two girls together for eternity as kindred sisters.
There were two cultural practises in Hunan in past centuries that acknowledged women’s social bonds. One was Laotong, the other was Laotang.
Chinese women commonly refer to each other as “Sisters.” This is a recognition of the importance of women’s supportive relationships, which helped them endure hardship over their lives. Preparation for marriage might involve a Laotang relationship between several young women; the sisterhood would be dissolved upon marriage. After marriage, new sisterhoods could be formed later between married or widowed women.[1]
For Chinese women, the Laotong or “Old-Sames” relationship was the most precious friendship bond. This was a more rare and formal relationship between women. A woman could only have one Laotong, and the bond was for life.
Yesterday I reviewed the audio version of Snowflower and The Secret Fan. This was quite the coincidence when I was offered to review the movie which released this week on DVD and Blue-Ray. I of course, said yes to this review as I missed out on this one in the theater.
At first the movie concerned me when I heard the main characters were not the lily and Snowflower I had expected…. but have patience, soon you will see that it is just being told from a second story line that I really grew to enjoy. Going back and forth between the modern Nina and Sophia and then to the history of Lily and Snowflower was an interesting way to present the story.
While I appreciated the audio greatly and highly advise you read or listen to the book first, I would recommend the movie as well as a compliment to the other. Beautifully detailed it brought tears to my eyes more than once. I was at once very impressed.
Along with the review of the book, I was asked to have a Laotong night with friends…. you don’t have to twist my arm to hang with friends! A road trip was planned to our cabin with my cousin’s wife Rhonda, and two other wonderful friends, Belinda and Sheila. It was a lot of fun as none of them had been to the cabin before.
We spent the day exploring the north shore shops and had lunch at the Blue Fin Bay Grill. We went back to the cabin where we made fajitas and chatted and laughed and wore mud masks and watched movies. It was just what my heart needed… time with friends… time to laugh and time to share.
If you read Book Journey on a regular basis you probably know that I enjoy many adventures with friends and work to make that time happen to renew and restore. I know that it is not always easy to do when you have time commitments, family, and small children but let me tell you that your friendships are important and time with friends… makes you a better you.
Here are a few ways you can plan time with friends:
A phone call when time is short….catch up!
A coffee date at a favorite coffee shop
Take in a movie – even a matinée
Send a card or small gift in the mail to those you can not see do to distance
Road trip… always talking about that shopping trip or sight seeing? Make it happen! 3 of my friends and I finally made that happen after years of talking about it in June.
A gym date – double duty! 🙂
Giveaway
I was sent three copies of the book Snow Flower and the Secret Fan to share with the girls who did the Laotong night with me. They took two of the copies… and I still have one left for one of you! I also have been offered a DVD or Blue Ray give away of the movie!
To enter for these giveaways (I will choose two winners, one book, one movie) leave a comment here telling me either of a fun night/ weekend you have done with friends – OR one you are planning to do.
For an extra entry, subscribe to Book Journey by signing up on the right hand side bar and let me know in a separate comment. If you are already a subscriber, let me know that in a separate comment for the extra entry.
USA and Canada only please… I will announce the winner Friday in my morning post.
Book Journey 
My 16 birthday party was at a gymnastics gym. It was a sleepover, and we had fun! I finally got my back handspring by myself!
And one that we will have is the night before my wedding!!! 😀
I am subscribed to Book Journey!
I took some out-of-town friends to Disney World for a weekend and we had the most amazing time—makes me want to do it again SOON!
I’m an email subscriber!
I am a subscriber and love absolutely LOVE Book Journeys. I am a teacher and try my hardest to find time for my own reading! Passionate about reading!!!
A fun GNO (Girls Night Out) lately consisted of P.F. Chang’s lettuce wraps, and shopping at Target…bought one of the best books I have ever read that night, The Help. Love my dearest, oldest friend of 24 years. We have a ball no matter what we do! Love you Sissa!
I’d love to win the book! I plan a double whammy gym date with a friend.
harvee44 at yahoo.com
I’m a GFC follower – Harvee Lau
I really enjoyed the book, but the movie actually makes me a bit nervous… So, I haven’t watched it yet.
The movie is really good and if you are concerned about the foot binding – it is handled well… it is actually interesting to see how they wrap the foot.
My daughter and I recently went to a restaurant in a town nearby and then to see “The Help”! It was such a fun night!
“I’ve been wanting to read the book, so I’d love the chance to win it!
I’m a long time email subscriber.
I’ve been a subscriber for a while now.
My friends and I plan play dates for our children that are really more about us getting together and having multiple children to amuse and play together so we can talk. We do occasionally do a girls night out for dinner or a movie, but as work schedules can be hard, sometimes mommy/kid playdates work as well, if not better, than alone time.
A few months ago, three of my girlfriends and I got together for dinner. We used to be co-workers. Two have moved on, but we keep up with each other thru Facebook. Our dinner, we kept laughing until tears, we had do much fun! We now try to get together once a month!
I follow you on twitter!
I ADORED THE BOOK…WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE MOVIE….WE WENT TO A SPA/HOTEL NEAR US AND HIKED, ATE AND THE TOWN JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A WIZARD OF OZ FESTIVAL GOING ON (SOME TOWN IN INDIANA)…SO MANY DOROTHY’S AND SCARECROWS. WE MISSED THE APPEARANCE OF THE LAST SURVIVING MUNCHKIN THOUGH…
I AM AN EMAIL SUBSCRIBER
i always enjoy going out to dinner w/ friends 🙂
i’m a follower, too 🙂
I have a tradition with a group of gals to go to an author event. We will have dinner and attend the event, buy books and sometimes go on for drinks.
I am actually just about to go out with my best friend for some delicious Mexican! Nothing spells out friendship better than a delicious Margarita! 🙂
I missed your blog so much! I relocated to America now, and am finally settling in, which means I’m back in the Blogosphere. And lemme tell you, it’s good to be back!
My girlfriends & I tend to do weekday day outings – our last was a trip across Nova Scotia to the apple orchards of Annapolis Valley: on a mission to find organic apple cider vinegar. We found that, some fresh apple cider & beautiful scenic views of the Bay of Fundy from Blomidon Lookoff.
I’m a subscriber (under a different email address). Thanks for the extra chance to win!
I am a subscriber. Thanks for the giveaway
Recently we decided to drive up to Yosemite for the day and have a picnic. It was a 3 hr drive. And we got lost for 1 hr on the way up going in the opposite driection lol. So it didn’t leave much time for us when we finally got there (since it was Sunday and we had to work the next day). But it was sooo beautiful and we got lots of great pictures and probably some much needed exercise lol. Even though we weren’t there for long, we enjoyed it so much we’re planning to go back soon.
I’m a subscriber!
I went on an all Girls trip to Dublin last year! Five women, no husbands or kids! It was fun! I’ve read the book and have even met tge author, but havent seen the DVD so would love to win it!
I want to have a girls night out soon and have dinner (mexican or itlaian), go to a movie and then stop at the coffee shop and yak about the movie and whatever else sounds like a good topic.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I already subscribe to Book Journey
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com