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taniyo_k 's review for:
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
by Lisa See
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“‘There is no place for embarrassment in medicine. These are natural things that occur within women.’”
This is the second historical fiction novel about a real life female healthcare provider I’ve read this year (the other being The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, which was a 5 star read). I enjoyed both for the inner dialogue of their protagonists who are in the midst of managing their medical professions as well as the day-to-day concerns of their households and families. While Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was clearly well-researched, much of the historical context was provided through forced exposition that felt unnatural and stalled the progression of the story. I thought that the “rice-and-salt years” section of the book, which portrays Lady Tan during a 3-year period of her late-20s and early-30s, was the most compelling as a story (although, perhaps relatedly, it also contained some of the most fictionalized plot points of Lady Tan’s life). I think that a version of this book that expected the reader to immerse themselves into narrative, with less hand-holding through didactic explanations of historical practices, would have ultimately been a stronger and more emotionally impactful novel.
This is the second historical fiction novel about a real life female healthcare provider I’ve read this year (the other being The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, which was a 5 star read). I enjoyed both for the inner dialogue of their protagonists who are in the midst of managing their medical professions as well as the day-to-day concerns of their households and families. While Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was clearly well-researched, much of the historical context was provided through forced exposition that felt unnatural and stalled the progression of the story. I thought that the “rice-and-salt years” section of the book, which portrays Lady Tan during a 3-year period of her late-20s and early-30s, was the most compelling as a story (although, perhaps relatedly, it also contained some of the most fictionalized plot points of Lady Tan’s life). I think that a version of this book that expected the reader to immerse themselves into narrative, with less hand-holding through didactic explanations of historical practices, would have ultimately been a stronger and more emotionally impactful novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail