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4.26 AVERAGE

emotional informative fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I flew through it! It sparked a lot of interest and curiosity in me for Chinese history and science/medicine. I think it’s amazing that Tan Yunxian‘s book is still around and used today. 
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slchen_'s review

4.25

very engrossing listen with intense,
horrifying, and deeply sad moments all described so vividly and brutally. fascinating view into imperial china
medium-paced
informative sad slow-paced
challenging informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Read as part of the library book club. Very vivid descriptions of some pretty disgusting things. I knew of foot binding but I had no idea to this extent. There was a lot of information about Chinese medicine. Also emphasized how little men know about a woman's body.

I would like to read more books by Lisa See.

maybe i am just going through my chinese admiration phase but i feel full of love for tan yunxian and meiling. i devoured the second half just today. although i was expecting more recipes i did learn much about ancient china. what i take is that i love women so much and how we take care of each other, everything my gender had to endure of thousand of years i cannot but feel complete admiration for these brave and inspiring women. the phrase "you're so lovely that you shame the flowers" and their friendship touched me profoundly. the final paragraph bought me to tears, "human life is like a sunbeam passing through a crack" "what yet i might do when surrounded by so much beauty and love" will probably haunt me.
what to do now...
dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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