Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Wow! You can never go wrong with a Lisa See book. Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was an utterly captivating, emotionally intimate and inspiring story.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

This story had everything! I found myself utterly transported to China during the 15th century and was completely immersed in the rich in culture, class distinctions, foods, family, mystery, history and traditions. The research See puts into her stories in order to really bring the reader into the character’s lives and world is astounding.

During this time in China women were undervalued in their society. They suffered nonstop abuse and blame from birth. They were educated/trained from birth on how to serve their husband and in-laws, and their only real value was to birth a son. This of course was an underlining theme of the story, BUT See also brought forth the theme of sisterhood and how women must lift each other up and band together in order to have hope for a better future and peace in the present.

How was the pace?

This was a fast-paced story and I could not put it down!

Do you recommend this book?

I cannot recommend this book enough! It has found a permenant spot on my lifetime favorite shelf, and left me with one heck of a hangover!

I’m also thankful that I got to read this moving story with Becca. The story itself gave us so much to discuss as it made for an excellent buddy read. This is also the perfect story for book clubs, given the vast number of elements to spark topics of conversation: Chinese culture; Mother-daughter relationships; Foot-binding; Arranged marriage; Female relationships; Chinese history; Chinese medicine etc.

Thank you, Scribner Books, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.