OVERVIEW
There has not been a historical novel written by Lisa See that I have not loved! I read her books without knowing anything about them at all. Lady Tan's Circle of Women was EXCEPTIONAL!!
I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and I love reading about Chinese culture so I can understand my family as the wife of an ABC (American Born Chinese) and a mother to a hapa (multi-racial with Asian) daughter. This novel was based over 500 years ago, but I can see how some of the traits have not changed in the Chinese culture and family at all!!
Lady Tan's Circle of Women must have required so much research. It is obvious that Lisa See spent a lot of time learning about the time period to be as accurate as possible. She totally succeeded as this book is amazing!!
So far Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See is competing with The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende for my TOP BOOK of 2023!!
REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing in Lady Tan's Circle of Women is in a word: beautiful. All five of my senses were engaged as I read this book - I could HEAR, SEE, SMELL, TOUCH, and TASTE what the characters were experiencing!!
Lisa paints such a beautiful picture as the novel unfolds. She is a magnificent artist and treats us to a different world where we may escape and enjoy the story that occurs before our eyes.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This novel has VERY strong female characters! The novel is based on Tan Yunxian's life from the age of eight to fifty over 500 years ago in China. She was the first famous Chinese doctor who also published a book with simple cures for ailments common to women and girls. Yunxian was involved in a profession that did not have status during the time period that she lived. Plus, women were primarily treated by male doctors who knew little to nothing about menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It is no wonder that so many women died in childbirth and that infants did not survive. A female doctor was a true lifesaver to other women.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is about Yunxian's interaction with her family, female friends, and female patients. She is married through an arranged marriage at fifteen and her mother-in-law is the stereotypical one who dislikes her. But Yunxian finds her own way to fight back and help many people during her life with her skills! There is some mystery, intrigue, and ugliness in the storyline, but that is real life even now!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Stunningly gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
The title Lady Tan's Circle of Women explains it ALL!
Gut feeling: 5.0 stars
I always love Lisa See's books and this was another wonderful treat!
Highly RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
343 pages
7 days to read it (I was trying to savor it, but inhaled it in the past two days)
Read it as an epubBook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 06/06/2023
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5151351781
https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/scribner/
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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