Reviews tagging 'Gore'

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

17 reviews

dmsmith914's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

mdwsn27's review against another edition

informative mysterious slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

ashima25's review against another edition

adventurous informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 A beautifully written and insightful novel that gave me a unique perspective on womanhood from a conservative background. As a young unmarried woman myself, I found the details on marriage, moving into the in-laws' house, pregnancy and post-pregnancy very informative and relished the atmosphere created by See, almost as preview of what could potentially come, albeit in vastly different circumstances and backgrounds. There was added delight in reading the Chinese euphemisms  for topics often brushed aside—such as moon water for periods and honey pot for chamber pots. 

While stronger character development would have further strengthened the novel, overall, it is an immersive read, rich in detail and written with great sensitivity in building authentic and fully-realized female characters of that time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death and Infertility

Minor: Sexual content

carminhomarrana's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jmeier's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual content, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

nehaanna's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

nellebelle's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Infertility, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Gore, Miscarriage, and Grief

Minor: Abortion and Alcohol

blueup's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This is a book about women's (mostly upper class women but also with a glimpse into working women) role, and lives, in China during the Ming Dynasty, 15th century.

I expected a book about female friendships way more lighthearted than what this was! It wasn't lighthearted at all, but I enjoyed it very very much nonetheless. Just a warning in that direction! This is not for the faint of heart as it discusses pregnancy issues extensively, birth stories, and all kinds of medical struggles that women can face throughout their life.
There is a lot dedicated to the terrible practice of foot binding. A lot of descriptions felt quite gory to me, making wince in horror at what these women endured.

It definitely is an arduous life these women lead, even as upper class women, the restraints that gender roles force upon them invite so much sympathy and emotion.

You do eventually see this circle of women around Tan Yunxian, though she seems very alone in her honorable pursuits for most of her life. The older women guide and support her, and she navigates the communication obstacles she encounters with her best friend MeiLin with an ever present desire to maintain the friendship forever. 

Our protagonist is admirable, but I also really enjoyed that she is brought to see the privileges that her class allow her, and the prejudices and rules she has absorbed from her surroundings and not questioned before. She doesn't dramatically change, but she evolves realistically, she changes her mind and listens when it's pointed out to her that she doesn't have the full picture. I really liked having MeiLin's pov in this giving us the other side to women's lives at that time, that which is less often portrayed in dramas, the poor, working, not so glamorous women who are essential to our societies.

Writing-wise, i felt completely immersed in the world of the characters, the descriptions and comparisons felt enshrined in Chinese culture, so it was just like watching a cdrama! 
I really loved the tone of the book too, how, despite the horrors constantly happening, the tone was gentle and comforting, and also did not glamorize the obstacles the women go through, but took them on as part of their life, with the gravity and respect they deserve. 

It was such a captivating read, and made me want to read more of the same author! I can only recommend this book if you're interested in reading about women or Chinese culture! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Infertility, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

kaybii's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

missbrookss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic