Overall, what did you think of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women? (No spoilers)

Overall, what did you think of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women? (No spoilers)

I really enjoyed this book. It is rich in history and well written. You can tell that the author, Lisa See, has spent a great deal of time researching the material for this book. It is written in a way that makes it easy to understand a history that may not be known to a lot of readers, me included. At the same time, it enticed me to delve deeper into some of the old Chinese female rituals (even the tortures of foot binding, with some images -- yikes).

A winner! I had read Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women, years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed that book, so it came as no surprise I liked this book. Lisa See writes well about lesser known lives of Asian women. I knew very little about Chinese medicine, and I found it fascinating.

I loved it! I found the historical information fascinating and as a retired physician I enjoyed reading about the medical remedies employed.

An engaging informative historical read and one the reader feels apart of Lady Tan's life both her struggles and successes with the support or oppose her ambitions. I also, learned so much Chinese society during this time period. including the medical practices and family expectations of their children.

Lisa See’s novels are so rich in history and knowledge, and yet very readable. This one is no exception. I very much enjoyed learning about the ancient medical practices and ins and outs of Chinese society and its hierarchy. Lady Tan led a rich and meaningful life.

I heartily recommend it and will share with my book club. I’ve told others how fascinating it is.

This is an exceptional book. So well researched. The medical knowledge of 15th century China in itself is incredible. I really enjoyed it

I love, love, loved this book! I think it is my favorite of the three books by this author that I have read. I will recommend it to all of my Bookclub members and as many other people who will listen! 😀

I enjoyed this very much. Having read Lisa See’s The Island Of Sea Women, I knew she would provide an in depth view of history and culture. So much of the book made me stop and go to her web site and others to see the marriage beds and photos of other The Forbidden City etc. Her writing is immersive and addictive.

I loved the book and am always “wowed” by the ay Lisa See can weave the history of the culture with a very interesting story. I always look for her to come out with a new book.

Lisa see did not disappoint !
As a physician and a woman I was very excited to read this book.
It is amazing that we are able to once and for all realize that women have contributed to society in all its glories.
Not just as the “ breeders” ( I was nicknamed that as a resident years ago)

I loved it! I've read all of Lisa See's books except for a couple of her early novels, and I'm always so impressed with her research. I thought Yunxian was a great protagonist.

I thought Lisa See did a great job at presenting the characters and the history of this period in China. I had read her book The Island of Sea Women, and was not surprised at her ability to write a remarkable book. I found myself researching to understand more about the horrific process of foot binding.

I loved Lisa See’s Island of Sea Women and couldn’t wait to read Lady Tan’s Circle of Women - and it did not disappoint! The writing is beautiful without being too much. The characters were well developed. I enjoyed learning about Chinese medicine from hundreds of years ago and also glad to have a bit of a mystery thrown in. Women are amazing and it is good to be reminded of how strong and courageous they were centuries ago when women were basically property. A very enjoyable read!

I didn’t find most of the characters, besides her grandmother, particularly compelling. Most were motivated by self interest. Yun was the hero of the story. She was committed to helping the women around her. I found her brave and interesting.

As a historical novel it was well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was enlightened about life in China at that time.

I enjoyed the book as the glimpse into ancient Chinese culture it allowed us. I was overwhelmed by the foot binding moments and went on a deeper dive into the practice. I have to say I found this mutilation of young girls to be disturbing and that it went on until early/mid 20th Century is so sad for all those generations of women. I found the book to be enlightening and addictive.

I enjoyed it. It was very well researched and I always love learning about another culture and time while reading historical fiction.

I found Lady Tan’s Circle of Women to be an excellent read. After reading See’s Island of Sea Women I assumed this new historic novel would be as interesting and it is. Characters were well developed, ancient cultural practices were described well over the course of the book and the storyline drew me in instantly and continued its intrigue throughout the book. See is a masterful researcher and novelist.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which is well-researched and well written. While the cultural rules of the time period are horrifying to a modern feminist, Lisa See does an excellent job describing it and portraying that even within the time period constraints, friendships can form and thrive and a talented woman could use her skills to help others.

I liked this book very much! It drew me into a new different world and I enjoyed delving into this time period. I was able to visualize this world and the events depicted. That is the mark of a masterful writer. I also enjoyed Snowflower and the Secret Fan but I think this book went even deeper into an unknown world. Interestingly, I started reading this book after finishing The Frozen River about a midwife and women during the American Revolutionary period. Another excellent read I would definitely recommend.

Lisa See's Island of Sea Women was an enjoyable add-on to my Book-Chat monthly selection, so I looked forward to reading Lady Tan's Circle of Women. The book, however at first, was difficult for me to read because of its male-dominated society and cruelty. While a patriarchal society existed in the Island of Sea Women---the men were in charge even though they stayed home to care for the children--- the female divers shared friendship more so than the men and women in Lady Tan's Circle. With continued reading, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it to my book club, especially since we can supplement our discussion with a drink of tea.

I really loved reading this book for its historical significance and the constant reminder that women's friendship is of the utmost importance when women are considered "property" as well as today when most women are valued.

I found myself bookmarking quotes such as ...
"You must speak if you wish to be heard."
"I can survive most of these blows, but I will not give up who and what I am - even if that means hiding my actions by practicing medicine in secret."
"A friend without faults will never be found."
" A woman who helps others helps herself."
"The higher you fly, the more crushing the fall."

Lisa See is one of my favorite authors and she continues to amaze me with her newest book. I have watched her interviewed online many times and I am always awed by the depth of research that she does for each of her books. All readers of this historical novel need to read her Acknowledgements at the end to truly understand why this book is like time traveling back to fifteenth-century China. She is a gifted writer who can transport her readers to a far away land and time where she uses her research and words to make history come alive. I learned so much from this book and will highly recommend it to my book club.

I have always enjoyed See’s other books; however, I have enjoyed them more so than this one. Even though her characters are fully developed with the great attention given to the details of the time period and culture, the first part of the book was a bit slow. The plot never seemed to develop until the second part of the book. Perhaps these two reasons along with its chapters being overloaded with herbal concoctions that may have contributed to my disappointment.

I have always enjoyed See’s other books; however, I have enjoyed them more so than this one. Even though her characters are fully developed with the great attention given to the details of the time period and culture, the first part of the book was a bit slow. The plot never seemed to develop until the second part of the book. Perhaps these two reasons along with its chapters being overloaded with herbal concoctions that may have contributed to my disappointment.

I enjoyed it! I certainly did not like how females were considered to be of no worth other than to be used as a way to bolster a family's social status or wealth. The customs of the Chinese culture regarding foot binding as described in the book I found to be fascinating to the point where I looked for photos and more information. Women totally accepted this painful tradition. Of course, as a woman in the 21st century, I find it difficult to fathom why anyone would do this to their own child but I guess if this is/was all you knew one wouldn't question it. I intend to recommend this book to my bookclub! It was a great read!

I really liked this one. It took a while for me to get fully invested, at first it seemed a dense read. Having just read the author notes, I appreciate more all the research that the author did to make this authentic. I loved the main character but it was difficult to read about all the ways that women were treated at the time. Things are better for women today, but still nowhere near total equality.

I really enjoyed the topics of medicine, especially Chinese medicine and specifically for women.

This book didn't engage me. It's clearly well researched on how the women in the era lived but I didn't find the characters particularly interesting. They seemed like standard characters who were merely conveniences to show basic points that women weren't really allowed to leave the house, had to obey the mother-in-law, were treated as property, etc. I didn't feel that any of the plot points were original and that I'd seen them all before in other more interesting stores. I realize I'm a minority voice on this book but I found it tough to get through.

I really enjoyed Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. The book was well-written and obviously very well-researched. The insights into medieval Chinese medicine were fascinating. The Chinese culture of the time was entirely foreign and interesting to me. This was the first book by Lisa See that I have read, and I am interested in reading others.