FUN FACT
I wrote an email to Lisa See in August describing my admiration towards her books. I included a list of questions I hoped she would answer, thinking I would probably never get a response. However, not only did I get a response, but she kindly answered all of my questions! Amazing, right? So below is one of the questions I asked and her answer to it. Just goes to show that authors can totally be approachable and responsive!
LISA SEE'S STYLE
Having read several of See's books, I feel that they all have three core stylistic components in common:
1. They all attempt to emulate Chinese
2. They are all written in the first person perspective
3. They are all split into sections
The following analysis is under the umbrella of the aforementioned components.
DICTION: OVERALL: Terms that are specific to the time period of which See writes
EXAMPLES:
Shanghai Girls: International Settlement, French Concession, rickshaw boy, Angel Island, FOB (fresh-off-the-boat)
Scene from the movie Snow Flower and the Secret Fan |
IMAGERY: OVERALL: Selectively describes items/people/events of cultural relevance
EXAMPLE: The main character, Li-Yan, grows up wearing traditional Akha clothing but gives it up for modern wear when she enters the city.
DETAIL: OVERALL: Selectively describes items/people/events of cultural relevance
EXAMPLE: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: the processes of foot binding are explained in extensive (and sometimes gruesome) detail. So the common audience can understand what is going on
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LANGUAGE:
OVERALL: Long flowing sentences loaded with cultural references USAGE: To write Chinese in English EXAMPLES: See's novels. In every book the rhythm of Chinese is being sought after, and everything works together to bring about the feeling of China |
SYNTAX:
OVERALL: Long flowing sentences loaded with cultural references USAGE: To write Chinese in English EXAMPLES: Shanghai Girls: Extensive use of commas to describe setting |