Quick and Dirty⁣
-linear timeline historical fiction⁣
-single POV ⁣
-ancient Chinese setting⁣
-fierce female MC⁣
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Thoughts⁣
I won't lie. I was somewhere in the first 25% of this book and felt lost in the details when I messaged my friend Sam (@inked.in.pages) to ask if the book got better. Up to that point, the author had focused on world-building, detailing everything from the way people dressed and moved to the meticulous art of foot binding. I was feeling lost in the details and unsure if I should continue. Sam assured me that it got better and that my time would be well spent. Not long after I started listening to the audio while reading the ebook, and that seemed to do the trick! I was able to fully engross myself in Yunxian's story without getting so lost in the rich language of See's story-writing. Yunxian is an admirable character, and her plight to care for the women in her mother-in-law's household (and beyond) despite the disapproval she faced is compelling for any lover of feminist fiction. And See's descriptions of ancient Chinese customs, traditions, and values added depth and dimension to the story that elevated the experience. Most importantly, the friendship between Yunxian and Meiling was heartfelt and true. Will I read more of Lisa See's work? I'm sure I will, but this time I'll know to be prepared for the richly woven tapestry of characters, world-building, and slower-paced plot.

I’ll read any book written by Lisa See! She is a master storyteller and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is no exception.

The main character is a fictionalized version of real-life physician, Tan Yunxian, who penned the earliest known writings by a female doctor in China. Through Lady Tan’s Circle of Women we get to know Yunxian (along with her best friend, Meiling) through her four stages of life: childhood (milk years), to young adulthood (hair-pining), to middle-age (rice and salt) to her final years (sitting quietly).

When writing about the role of women in 15-century China, the author certainly did her research. I felt transported to this time in history, understanding the culture and beliefs (particularly regarding the second-class treatment of women).

Of all the author’s books, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is most like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, right down to the details surrounding foot binding. I always come away learning so much about Chinese history and culture through Lisa See’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa See has done it again - a fascinating historical novel of a time period I know absolutely nothing about. Engaging and well researched, it was hard not to immerse myself in this novel.

The only fault I have with this one, is it didn't stand up to her others for me - those were more engaging. However, this was informative and interesting and I do recommend. Lisa See is a fantastic author and brings her historical novels to brilliant life.

Tan Yunxian is born into an elite family in 15th century China during the Ming dynasty, the time where women's feet where bound. Tan Yunxian is raised by her grandparents, she rarely sees her father in the big family compound.
Her grandmother is one of the rare female doctors of that time, who treats patients with traditional Chinese medicines, remdies and cures. Her grandmother is an expert in this field, with experience for many years, and she teaches Yunxian the most important pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations; looking, listening, touching, and asking. which is something only female doctors understand when treating a female patient. Yunxian learns where women's illnesses, and illnesses related to childbearing, and she becomes close friends with a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. But all the years of training to become a female doctor, abrubtly seem to stop when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, and her mother-in-law forbids her from doing her curing practices to the women in the household and to ever see her best friend Meiling again. She is forced to do what an obedient wife is supposed to do; embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. w

Yunxian wants to break free from everything she is forced to do, she just wants to treat and cure women and girls. But women didn't have that much power to do what they wanted, but Yunxian Tan found a way and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later.

The book is beautifully written, full of historical detail that the books of Lisa See are well known of, and this book is no exception. Where the previous books of Lisa See sometimes took place in both China and sometimes the USA too, this book is completely set in 15th century China. The book is so detailed I could just imagine this being turned into a movie someday as the author already paints such a lifely image of that time period and the people in it. The storyline is very good, altough I found it a bit that some parts where repetitive, and sometimes I missed a certain bit of action that could made it even more a page turner. With this I mean that some parts where only about Yunxian trying to cure people which is tremendous, but when it only repeats in many parts of the story, it can come over of more or less reading the same over and over again. But further on this is a well reseached and beautiful book with lots happening and historical Chinese characters and places that truly come alive on the pages

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about life in China centuries ago. I was aware of female foot binding, and thanks to Mulan I had a passing knowledge of matchmakers, but otherwise I'm like Jon Snow and know nothing. After reading this book, I feel like I know pretty much exactly what it would have been like to be an upper-class woman in China hundreds of years ago.

There were so many things described in this book that pissed me off. We were treated to some mildly detailed descriptions of foot binding, and what can happen to women because of it. There was one scene in particular where I thought something rather unfortunate had happened to one of Yunxian's daughters, but soon found out that what had been described was the desired result. Again, I knew of foot binding before I started reading this story, but I had no idea about how absolutely horrible the practice was for the women doing it.

I also found it hard to get over the way mothers-in-law treat their son's wives as depicted in this story. Nowadays I get it when MILs aren't fond of the women their sons choose, but back then the marriages were arranged so MIL would have had some say in who was marrying her son. To then treat your new daughter-in-law who has been forced to leave her family home (in many cases the only place she has ever even seen) like garbage for simply existing is asinine.

Then there's the aspect of medical care for women. Women aren't supposed to be doctors, but men aren't allowed to touch or see female patients. How could anyone expect that kind of treatment to lead to positive outcomes for women? But this one doesn't even surprise me all that much, considering how women's health concerns today, in industrialized nations, are often dismissed as inconsequential.

It was just one thing after another making it clear that basically all women are property, at least all well-to-do and beautiful women. While a wife's place at her husband's side was pretty much guaranteed unlike his concubines, she was still considered his property and at the mercy of the ruling lady of the compound.

The one high point, and something that I desperately hope was true, is that husbands were expected to sexually satisfy their wives. Sure it was believed that a woman's pleasure helped ensure pregnancy, but it was still an expectation for the men. And it was probably the one actual bright spot of being a woman in China back then.

Overall I give Lady Tan's Circle of Women 4.867 out of 5 stars.

What an amazing new book from Lisa See! I was fascinated by the medical terminology used back then and the gender inequalities when it came to women in the medical profession. Lisa See does an amazing job tugging at your heart strings and I can’t wait to read her next one!

Inspired by the true story of a 15th Century woman physician in China, Lisa See tells the story of Tan Yunxian, who was raised by her grandparents letting the medical arts after her mother's death. Her grandmother is one of the few female doctors in China. She teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, which are limited in practice from male doctors to female patients, as men are forbidden to look at, touch or speak with female patients directly. Meiling, the midwife's daughter, and Yunxian quickly form a friendship cut short and altered after Yunxian's mother-in-law forbids Yunxian from practicing medicine and seeing Meiling. Eventually, through her merits and work, Yunxian regains her friendship with Meiling and can honor her husband's family and prove herself as a worthy doctor. It is an inspiring and unique story.

I love Lisa See! Two of my faves are The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane and The Island of Sea Women. I realized that part of my fondness for these two is the amount I learned about history, China, women, and so much more – while being entertained by a fantastic story, with character I CARED about. Books that make me THINK and FEEL – that’s wondeful!

The backstory on how Ms. See came to write this is shared in the afterword. Don’t miss it! It is just so serendipitous that a book the author just happened to pick up in the early days of the pandemic prompted this story to be imagined, researched, and written.
The story is set in 15th-century China, and revolves around Tan Yunxian, a young girl from an elite family who is raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother is one of the few female doctors in China, and she shares her knowledge with Yunxian, especially the “Four Pillars” of Chinese medicine: Looking, Asking, Listening, and Touching.

Yan learns alongside Meiling, a young girl in training to be a midwife. They are incredibly close until it is time for Yan to enter into an arranged marriage. TBH I loved the story of their friendship, and despite having nightmares about foot binding, I found the detail of their daily life incredibly fascinating.

I’m grateful to Scribner and Netgalley for providing a copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. Five BIG stars.

This is one of her best books. Well researched, well written, very absorbing. I enjoyed this one immensely. Her writing only gets better and better.

Another great story by Lisa See, this novel tells the story of Tan Yunxian, a young woman who grows up learning about medicine and how to treat the ailments and problems faced by women. As in many of See's novels, this one also has a friendship at its heart. This friendship spans years and crosses a socioeconomic divide. The novel is loosely based on facts but reads like non-fiction with the details of fashion and traditions of that period. I enjoyed inhabiting the world (although I'm grateful that I don't actually live during that time!) while I read this novel.

I enjoyed this book. It was an interesting read . I found that I was able to read quickly and enjoyed the pacing and premise of the book. I would recommend to others.

I'm very fortunate to have just heard Lisa See discuss Lady Tan's Circle of Women at Douglas County Libraries in Colorado. In addition to being a master storyteller, she thoroughly researches each nuance of her books to ensure they are authentic and realistic. I particularly loved the characters in Lady Tan and the sense of hope that See inspired despite the obstacles faced by women at all levels of society. Highly recommend!

Story of a woman of high society in the 15th century who tries to help the women and children in her home by treating their illnesses because men were not allowed to see the women they were treating. Great book with great ideas that can be applied to our own lives

This well researched book, taking place during the Ming Dynasty is loosely based on a real person. Lady Tan is a female doctor, a rarity at that time, specializing in women's treatments. She came from several generations of healers. She is married of at the age of 15 and her mother-in-law is not a fan of hers and forbids her to practice within the women's quarters. Her best friend is a midwife, which ia a forbidden relationship to a person of Lady Tan's station. Lady Tan's skills become evident and she her friend are sent to attend the empress in her pregnancy. A wonderful tale that is a page turner and a good choice for bookclub discussions.

Another great read from Lisa See! I thought she couldn't top The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane and The Island of Sea Women! This may have done it. . .

Before the tale begins, the author generously helps a reader out with her Author's Note: "This story begins in 1469. . ." placing the story of Tan Yunxian, age 8 in a world so far removed from you and I that further context is required about the state of Western medicine on the North American continent (bloodletting, leeches). Further Western historical life landmarking with Columbus-sees-America (31 years after Tan Yunxian's birth) is offered, proving helpful to this reader.

From here to the very end is filled with the development and stories of Yunxian's growing circle of women. . .her angels, mentors, teachers, saviors, friends, guides, truthtellers, promise keepers. This is a book about medicine in a time in a China whose people fully believed they were in 1469 the latest and greatest, most advanced of civilizations and societies. Centuries of laws and traditions were honored and upheld. Wealthy families, led by wealthy men (1st sons who beget 1st sons) supported by helpmeets - women (bearing those 1st sons). All others were servants to the system. Yunxian was not a 1st son. She was a daughter. Luckily, she was the daughter of a rich doctor, educated and not opposed to her learning healing arts from her grandmother.

We read of Yunxian's milk days (little girl) to her hair-pinning days at fifteen (style of hair announces marriageability to the world), this journey continuing through her rice-and-salt days of growing and caring for her husband's family (young and old), through to the "time of sitting quietly," the time when a woman should wait to die in order to join her husband should he have gone before or be the one to await Himself.

But our Yunxian, choses to occupy her wait constructively with the help of one of her best ladies, Meiling. She takes up her writing tools, and like our wonderful Lisa See. . . .writes.

*A Sincere Thank You to Lisa See, Scribner, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.*

Loved reading a new book by one of my favorite authors. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was a wonderful story and did not disappoint. I found myself immersed in Yuxian’s journey and enjoyed each of the women that made up her circle. Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for the ARC of this book.

thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction novel

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

Once again, Lisa See has shown her incredible talent. The amount of research she does into cultures and customs shows in every paragraph.

An evocative, immersive read. I love that this is based on a real historical person, and thought See did an excellent job evoking 15th century China, including the role of women in society, the organization of society, and the medical practices of the time.

I love Lisa See’s writing. In my opinion, she is one of the best historical fiction authors out there, so when I saw an ARC of her latest release available on Netgalley, I had to request it.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is such a fascinating read. It takes the reader into the medical world of 1400s China and in particular the lives of female medical practitioners and patients. It goes into great detail about foot bindings, birth, and the role of women in different strata’s of society.

Tan Yunxian and Meiling are great main characters and I loved seeing the relationship between the two of them. They really show the contrast between different levels of society at the time.

All in all, if you are a Lisa See fan or enjoy historical fiction, you will likely enjoy this book.

TW: Miscarriage, foot binding, arranged marriage, classism, torture/whipping, murder

Thank you to Netgalley, Lisa See, and Scribner for the advanced copy of this book. This in no way affects the objectivity of my review.