Koe, Amanda Lee - Sister Snake

Title: Sister Snake Author: Amanda Lee Koe Genre: Literary Fiction, Asian American Fiction, Feminist Fiction, LGBTQ+ Pages: 272 Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers Release Date: December 3, 2024

Synopsis:

This novel reimagines the Chinese folktale "The Legend of the White Snake," exploring themes of sisterhood, queerness, passing, and the struggle against conformity.

A glittering, bold, darkly funny novel about two sisters—one in New York, one in Singapore—who are bound by an ancient secret.

Sisterhood is difficult for Su and Emerald. Su leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore. Emerald is a nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim as she freely uses her beauty and charms to make ends meet. But they share a secret; once they were snakes, basking under a full moon in Tang Dynasty China.

A thousand years later, their mysterious history is the only thing still binding them together. When Emerald experiences a violent encounter in Central Park and Su boards the next flight to New York, the two reach a tenuous reconciliation for the first time in decades. Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore so she can keep an eye on her—but she soon begins to worry that Emerald’s irrepressible behavior will out them both, in a sparkling, affluent city where everything runs like clockwork and any deviation from the norm is automatically suspect.

• Su: Leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore.
• Emerald: A nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim and using her charms to make ends meet.

Their lives intertwine unexpectedly, leading to a journey of self-discovery and challenging societal expectations.

LGBT Themes:

• Queer Relationships: The novel explores the complexities of queer relationships and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in different social contexts.
• Exploration of Identity: The story delves into themes of identity, self-discovery, and the struggle to live authentically.
• Social and Cultural Commentary: The book offers a critical commentary on societal norms, gender roles, and the limitations of conformity.

Relevant Tags:

Literary Fiction, Asian American Fiction, Feminist Fiction, LGBTQ+, Sisterhood, Queer Relationships, Self-Discovery, Social Commentary, Reimagined Folklore