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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
4.1/5. Loved the story and was surprised it was based on a true story. Lots of strong female characters.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Brilliant! Beautiful story, rich culture, it's got it all!!!
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What happens when a woman decides she’s more than a womb, a wife or a pair of bound feet?
Set in 15th-century China, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women follows Tan Yunxian — an elite women who defies expectation by becoming a doctor in a world where women were expected to stay silent, make sons and bind their feet small enough (ouch!) to be desirable. Men had concubines; women had very few choices.
What stood out to me most was the way Lisa See centers women’s health — not just through herbal remedies and midwifery, but by showing how deeply illness is tied to isolation, control, and lack of agency. The emotional core of the story is Yunxian’s friendship with Meiling — a reminder that, in a system built to separate women, solidarity is its own kind of resistance.
It’s a slow, detail-rich novel, and while it didn’t completely land for me emotionally, it was still quietly empowering — a thoughtful look at how women have always found ways to care, connect, and carve out space for themselves, even in the smallest of courtyards.
Set in 15th-century China, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women follows Tan Yunxian — an elite women who defies expectation by becoming a doctor in a world where women were expected to stay silent, make sons and bind their feet small enough (ouch!) to be desirable. Men had concubines; women had very few choices.
What stood out to me most was the way Lisa See centers women’s health — not just through herbal remedies and midwifery, but by showing how deeply illness is tied to isolation, control, and lack of agency. The emotional core of the story is Yunxian’s friendship with Meiling — a reminder that, in a system built to separate women, solidarity is its own kind of resistance.
It’s a slow, detail-rich novel, and while it didn’t completely land for me emotionally, it was still quietly empowering — a thoughtful look at how women have always found ways to care, connect, and carve out space for themselves, even in the smallest of courtyards.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
No
This was excellent- well written, absorbing and evocative, it swept me into the world of Ming Dynasty China.
Once I got into this book I could not put it down- this was easily one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read in a while. It felt well researched and incorporated not only snippets of what life must have been like in an elite house in China during this time period, but also piqued my curiosity about traditional Chinese medicine.
Great start to this year’s reads- I definitely recommend this one.
Once I got into this book I could not put it down- this was easily one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read in a while. It felt well researched and incorporated not only snippets of what life must have been like in an elite house in China during this time period, but also piqued my curiosity about traditional Chinese medicine.
Great start to this year’s reads- I definitely recommend this one.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Important themes of women empowerment and bonding through ancient Chinese medicine and despite horrific oppression.
Loved all the wise teachings from Lao Tzu and Confucius, I presume. The quotes sometimes didn't relate to the text and there was no attribution. Would have liked to learn more about that.
This book needed a good edit since the descriptions became repetitive. I kept thinking I had reached the end of the plot and another chapter followed.
Loved all the wise teachings from Lao Tzu and Confucius, I presume. The quotes sometimes didn't relate to the text and there was no attribution. Would have liked to learn more about that.
This book needed a good edit since the descriptions became repetitive. I kept thinking I had reached the end of the plot and another chapter followed.