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knp4597 's review for:
Lady Tan's Circle of Women
by Lisa See
emotional
informative
medium-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:
Yes
Reading Lady Tan’s Circle of Women felt almost like encountering a 15th-century Chinese version of The Handmaid’s Tale. It was equal parts a moving personal narrative and a broader commentary on how patriarchal societies repeatedly attempt to diminish the power of brilliant women.
The familiar themes are all there: mediocre men clutching to authority, wielding control over women’s bodies and lives, fearful of what might happen if women were allowed to learn, to heal, to speak freely. The world the author paints is immersive—steeped in the rituals, traditions, and restrictions of Ming dynasty China—yet it resonates uncannily with struggles that echo across time and cultures.
The story balances historical detail with an almost timeless urgency. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is not just a window into the past, but a mirror held up to our present. A celebration of women’s ingenuity and endurance, and a sharp reminder of the fragility of that progress when men’s fear turns to control.
The familiar themes are all there: mediocre men clutching to authority, wielding control over women’s bodies and lives, fearful of what might happen if women were allowed to learn, to heal, to speak freely. The world the author paints is immersive—steeped in the rituals, traditions, and restrictions of Ming dynasty China—yet it resonates uncannily with struggles that echo across time and cultures.
The story balances historical detail with an almost timeless urgency. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is not just a window into the past, but a mirror held up to our present. A celebration of women’s ingenuity and endurance, and a sharp reminder of the fragility of that progress when men’s fear turns to control.