Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel

Our book club read this book and so glad it was chosen. If I saw on shelf I would have not picked up. This book is full of history and friendships.

This was my second time reading the book for book club. This time I discovered so much more - I already knew the plot, so was able to savor the way Lisa See intertwined Tan Yun Xian’s life and the actual book of 31 cures she authored during Ming Dynasty China. Take a minute, dive into the chinese zodiac, foot binding in Chiba, and chinese herbal medicine - you’ll find it fascinating. Truly, if you enjoy historical fiction, this is an excellent read!

This books takes place in 15th century China, and it does not disappoint. The details of the ways in which women lived and were treated… “an educated woman, is a worthless woman.” The main character Lady Tan, was remarkable. Proving over and over again throughout the book that trusting your gut, and doing what is right - still holds some good in the world. She fought to be a doctor, to be a mother, to be THE wife, and to hold the truth to the upmost standard of care. I think for me at the end, where she did what she wanted and attended the party, she changed the course by creating her own path instead of using the one that was paved for centuries. That’s remarkable in a very strict and generational culture. She learned to love herself, by simply being herself and empowering her inner woman. Really quite a powerful book. Women are incredibly resilient, and we should never forget that. 🧡✨

The book was interesting and easy to read. It captures my imagination from the era and how difficult it was to be an educated women of influence

I found this book fascinating on several levels. It was fast paced, yet filled with countless visual pictures of the dresses, décor, furniture, food, etc. That it was based on an actual female doctor in the 1400s hooked me in right away. Yes, the foot binding is gruesome, but compare it to medical practices in Europe in the 1400s. As usual, Lisa See magically transports us to a very different time and culture.