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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
I thought it was very interesting and I loved the premise but the way the story was presented had me bored
This was our family book club pick, and I’m so glad we chose it. It was my first Lisa See novel, and what a fascinating introduction to her work. I really enjoyed learning about 15th-century Chinese culture, especially from the perspective of women across different social classes. There’s so much richness in seeing how they lived, what was expected of them, and how they pushed back in quiet (and not-so-quiet) ways.
Yunxian, the main character, grows up in an elite household, trained by her grandmother, one of the few female doctors of her time. Alongside her friend Meiling, a young midwife, Yunxian learns medicine, but also the power of friendship and the weight of tradition. Watching these women navigate their roles, families, and futures felt both inspiring and emotional.
The first part of the book was a slow burn—it took me about 150 pages to really get into it—but once the story shifted to the imperial city, it picked up in such a satisfying way. I do wish we’d gotten a bit more early on about Yunxian and Meiling’s bond, but I loved their arc overall.
My own experience in the healthcare system, my brain was especially fascinated by the medical details—how they treated women’s health, what they believed about the body, and how those beliefs still linger today in both Eastern and Western approaches to care. It made for great discussion with my family, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone into historical fiction or medical history.
Yunxian, the main character, grows up in an elite household, trained by her grandmother, one of the few female doctors of her time. Alongside her friend Meiling, a young midwife, Yunxian learns medicine, but also the power of friendship and the weight of tradition. Watching these women navigate their roles, families, and futures felt both inspiring and emotional.
The first part of the book was a slow burn—it took me about 150 pages to really get into it—but once the story shifted to the imperial city, it picked up in such a satisfying way. I do wish we’d gotten a bit more early on about Yunxian and Meiling’s bond, but I loved their arc overall.
My own experience in the healthcare system, my brain was especially fascinated by the medical details—how they treated women’s health, what they believed about the body, and how those beliefs still linger today in both Eastern and Western approaches to care. It made for great discussion with my family, and I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone into historical fiction or medical history.
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this one. The ancient Chinese medicine part was fascinating.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
medium-paced
informative
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book came highly recommended, and it was interesting to read about a time and place in history different from my norm, but I did have a hard time getting through this one. I liked the bones of the multigenerational story, but something about the characters didn’t quite click for me.