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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
I became fully absorbed in 15th century China and found the characters very well-rounded and easy to empathize with. Very well-written. A writing style that pulls you in to the world it creates.
emotional
informative
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:
No
I learned so much from this book. While it seemed like a lot of medicinal information, it was readable, not dense. Lady Tan grew from an eight year old to an old woman, sometimes able to practice medicine in the open, most times in hiding. The constraints around a woman of her family stature were huge—from foot binding to obedience to a mother-in-law at age 15 (taken from her family!) to not being able to leave the women’s area of the compound—ever. While having her life seemed to be the ideal, it was other characters who seemed to have more freedom (Meiling, who had a lower job as a midwife but was able to move around the town), even Poppy, the maid, who did not have bound feet and also moved around town.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There wasn't anything I particularly disliked or had qualms with, but I've definitely been left wanting more. Especially more of a strong sense of unity and support amongst all of the women in the "circle" rather than just the few (well-expressed) relationships with the women in her life that Yuxian did have.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
informative
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:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Lady Tan is a compelling, confident, and fascinating woman. Since inspired by a true story, I fully immersed myself in the plot and felt all the dissonance that the character had to amble through. The time period and setting was completely unknown to me, so it was captivating to learn more about that time in history.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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