Today, we’re diving into our November book club pick: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See. I really enjoyed this novel — it was rich with cultural detail and beautifully immersive. But I also had plenty of issues with it, which I’m excited to unpack with you today!
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What I Loved
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women transported me straight to the Ming Dynasty — think 1500s China — and the historical detail was incredible. The vivid descriptions of homes, furniture, food, daily life, and women’s roles were fascinating.
I especially loved the insight into traditional Chinese medicine: male doctors at the time weren’t allowed to touch or see their patients (even during childbirth!) because it was considered dishonorable. So midwives — usually women of lower status — handled labor and delivery. I was glued to every detail about how childbirth complications were handled, the social norms, and how women navigated their roles within such rigid class structures.
If you love a novel that’s rich in cultural detail and historical accuracy, this one delivers.
What Fell Flat
For all the parts I loved, a few things didn’t land for me:
1️⃣ The Pacing
The story is broken into three parts — each focused on a different stage of Lady Tan’s life — but within each part, the pacing dragged. It often felt sluggish and at times just stuck. I caught myself feeling bored when I didn’t want to be.
2️⃣ A Random Mystery
There’s an early mysterious death that’s brushed off as an accident, then completely ignored for hundreds of pages — only to pop back up in the last 30 pages, get solved in two paragraphs, and never really tie into the plot in a meaningful way. I found it clunky and unnecessary.
3️⃣ The Characters
This one stings the most. I didn’t care about anyone. I appreciated the characters for what they were, but I wasn’t rooting for them. When tragedy struck, I didn’t feel much. And for me, that’s tough — I’m a very character-driven reader. If I can’t connect, I struggle to stay invested. I also found the dialogue — especially between Lady Tan and her childhood midwife friend — oddly stiff and flat, which made their bond feel forced on the page.
✔️ Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely — with caveats. If you’re drawn to stories about women’s lives in historical contexts, traditional medicine, and cultural nuance, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is worth your time. It’s deeply immersive and beautifully researched — even if it does meander now and then.
A Few Other Books I Read
Before I wrap up, here are a few other books I read lately:
✨ Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
A dark, weird story about a woman breaking away from her family’s satanic cult. Pretty out there — and not the best book ever — but it was entertaining enough to keep me company while unpacking after our move.
✨ The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
A re-read for me. This book is a gem if you’re craving a reminder to slow down and live intentionally. One I plan to return to every few years.
✨ The Measure by Nikki Erlick
A fascinating premise: every adult over 22 gets a mysterious box with a string inside that reveals how long they’ll live. Would you look? The characters were meh for me, but the idea was strong enough to keep me turning pages.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it — the good, the bad, and the still-worth-reading! Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a beautiful glimpse into another time and place, even if it’s not perfect.
Thanks so much for being here today. I hope you enjoy this book if you pick it up — and I’ll see you back here next week!