What is the author's style in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See?

Lisa See's writing style mimics the clipped speech and brevity that we perceive in the Chinese language as it compares to English. It is difficult to remember that the author is not Chinese, since Lily Lu is such a developed, Chinese personality. Terms foreign to English speaking readers are placed in a context that allows the reader to easily understand their meanings. The meanings of other Interesting terms, such as "golden lilies," also become clear within the context of the story. It is not clear why Lisa See italicizes the word "cash" throughout her story, but it seems possible that it was such a sought-after commodity that the word held great importance to the characters.