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A review by mal_reads_books
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Anybody interested in reading this book should know that this contains gratuitous, disturbing graphic medical detail. This includes foot binding injuries and infections, everything that comes out during childbirth, and more.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a historical fiction based on real life doctor Tan Yunxian. The concepts of traditional Chinese medicine are explained in great detail to audiences unfamiliar with it and presents numerous patients to show its uses. Much of the book, especially the first few chapters, is spent educating and showcasing to readers Chinese medicine and Ming dynasty society. As interesting as these topics are, the overdescription bogged down the story for me. For the detail of information shared, I would rather read a nonfiction or watch a documentary.
The writing also had several issues. First, I didn't like the overuse of proverbs because it felt too preachy. Second, I disliked the constant use of euphemisms like "child palace" and "moon water". Apparently these are literal translations of certain words (zigong = uterus = "child palace"). Explaining it once is fine, but seeing the characters constantly say "monthly moon water" got tiresome to read. Third, I felt at times the author exotified the setting and characters; this includes my earlier two points.
What I did like about the book was female solidarity across different classes. There was so much focus on "saving face" and obedience to what was expected of one's role that people would find ways to get around it. The family drama was also kind of fun to read too.
Given the sapphic undertones of Yunxian and Meiling's relationship, I was a little disappointed it didn't turn out that way.
So overall, this book was just ok for me. Lisa See clearly did plenty of research, and I appreciate her thorough approach. It's great that she brought awareness of Tan Yunxian to Westerners. However, the balance between informing and storytelling could've been better.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a historical fiction based on real life doctor Tan Yunxian. The concepts of traditional Chinese medicine are explained in great detail to audiences unfamiliar with it and presents numerous patients to show its uses. Much of the book, especially the first few chapters, is spent educating and showcasing to readers Chinese medicine and Ming dynasty society. As interesting as these topics are, the overdescription bogged down the story for me. For the detail of information shared, I would rather read a nonfiction or watch a documentary.
The writing also had several issues. First, I didn't like the overuse of proverbs because it felt too preachy. Second, I disliked the constant use of euphemisms like "child palace" and "moon water". Apparently these are literal translations of certain words (zigong = uterus = "child palace"). Explaining it once is fine, but seeing the characters constantly say "monthly moon water" got tiresome to read. Third, I felt at times the author exotified the setting and characters; this includes my earlier two points.
What I did like about the book was female solidarity across different classes. There was so much focus on "saving face" and obedience to what was expected of one's role that people would find ways to get around it. The family drama was also kind of fun to read too.
Given the sapphic undertones of Yunxian and Meiling's relationship, I was a little disappointed it didn't turn out that way.
So overall, this book was just ok for me. Lisa See clearly did plenty of research, and I appreciate her thorough approach. It's great that she brought awareness of Tan Yunxian to Westerners. However, the balance between informing and storytelling could've been better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Misogyny, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content