A review by literature
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

emotional informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Lady Tan's Circle of Women, a historical fiction, depicts the real harsh truths that are often not shown in modern dramas. Particularly how women were regarded as mere objects, how prominent and dangerous footbinding practices were, and how medicine and disease were seen as spiritual forces rather than having scientific origins. Women-specific medicine was highly emphasized, and I think Lisa See did a great job at highlighting how integral it was back then for a doctor to understand the bodies and minds of women. Additionally, while not entirely accurate, you can tell Lisa did a LOT of research. Depicted was a life she did not live nor ever experience, but she has written so well as if Tan Yunxian wrote the book herself. 
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