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Lady Tan's Circle of Women
Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel | Lisa See
51 posts | 47 read | 34 to read
The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century Chinaperfect for fans of Sees classic Snowflower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women. According to Confucius, an educated woman is a worthless woman, but Tan Yunxianborn into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and lonelinessis being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinationslooking, listening, touching, and askingsomething a man can never do with a female patient. From a young age, Yunxian learns about womens illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purposedespite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with itand they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each others joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom. But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wifeembroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights. How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tans Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
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BoleyBooks
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rachaich
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Pickpick

I like her books and how she writes about women in Chinese history.
This didn't disappoint. It was interesting and detailed, I liked that she had facts alongside more frivolity such as decor and dresses. Obviously not very nice at times but well done.

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rachaich
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Pickpick

I like her books and how she writes about women in Chinese history.
This didn't disappoint. It was interesting and detailed, I liked that she had facts alongside more frivolity such as decor and dresses. Obviously not very nice at times but well done.

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LiteraryinPA
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Pickpick

I finished this in the nick of time for tomorrow‘s book club! I found it very interesting. I‘m not sure whether I‘ll read more by Lisa See but it was cool to learn about a time and place that are unfamiliar to me (China in the 1400-1500s).

tpixie Yes! Very interesting times!!! I did learn that maybe I do have one trigger after all— foot binding!!! 2w
tpixie I loved the little mystery and ancient pathology/forensic anthropology. And I loved it when the wives got to go to that party instead of the mistresses!!! 2w
nanuska_153 I am currently reading The Little Girl of Hummingbird Lane for my book club next week and I'm loving it, was wondering what else did she write 2w
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RiversEve
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5 stars

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OutAndAbout
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Amazing account of two girls in 1500s China from different classes who grow up as best friends. One becomes a doctor, the other a midwife. Incredibly detailed accounts of life as a woman in this era. Wonderfully researched and artfully written. The doctor published a book of cases on which the author based the fictional, but historically inspired stories. High recommend.

BkClubCare And: For more medical feminism + historical fiction, read 2mo
OutAndAbout Yup. Read that. I agree, similar women-doctor mojo. Good recommendation! 2mo
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Amor4Libros
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#Two4Tuesday

1. My daughter and my ancestors (especially Mom!)

2. Yunxian from tagged book.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!🌞 3mo
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LiseWorks
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Eggs Perfect 👌🏼 4mo
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GinaKButler
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Up next on audio! 🎧
This will give me a bingo!

#bookspinbingo

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Cathythoughts
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We read this for our Bookclub , Set in 15th century China. I learned a lot about this time, fascinating and often upsetting , traumatic. I gave this an 8 out of 10. It scored well in the Bookclub… and the discussion was excellent.

LeahBergen It‘s great when a book inspires conversation (as opposed to some that we enjoy but have zero to say about 😆). 5mo
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen That‘s so true Leah ❤️😃🙃 5mo
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Cathythoughts @BiblioLitten Thanks 👍🏻♥️ I just stacked it. 5mo
Tamra 👏🏾 A good discussion is so energizing! That‘s my one complaint with our IRL club is that a couple of members only want to read feel good stuff and happy reads often seem to have less to talk about. I didn‘t realize that until now. 😆 (edited) 5mo
Cathythoughts @Tamra Yes , a good discussion is energising indeed 👍🏻♥️ 5mo
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BkClubCare
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“Cringy!”

I love author events! #iloveauthorevents

Go see Lisa See if she is in your town - but only if you love to support women stories, fierce friendship, and fascinating history. I thoroughly enjoyed her talk, her personality, everything she shared. AND!! Her score for this book here on Litsy is 💯 which means either or both: book is good and the Litsy community is awesome 👏

BkClubCare CRINGY is her word for embracing truth ; YEP-she shares some REALLY cringy stuff in her books but all true! (edited) 5mo
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Cathythoughts
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Just starting for Bookclub 💚💚💚

LeahBergen I‘ve enjoyed a couple of her books. 👍 6mo
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen Oh that‘s good to hear 👍🏻❤️ This one is off to a good start. 6mo
TrishB Have this on the pile 👍🏻 look forward to your review. 6mo
Cathythoughts @TrishB Only starting , but it‘s really good 👍🏻 ❤️ 6mo
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Book club read. Based on a real woman from 1500s China. A doctor, wife, and mother. Lady Tan kept a diary of her patients and treatments which See used to create this fictional story. This novel is female-centric—Tan‘s grandmother was a physician and passed the knowledge on to her. Shocking how male doctors were to preserve their female patients‘ modesty at all costs—“examining” them behind a screen and communicating only with her male chaperone.

Amor4Libros I loved this one! ❤️ 7mo
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Djspens
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about 1500‘s China. The story is fiction but the main character, Yunxian, authored a book in the 1500‘s documenting her treatment of patients.

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Amor4Libros
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Pickpick

What a wonderful book! This is my second book by Lisa See and her storytelling is so equally raw and beautiful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my choice for #TwinPeaksReadingChallenge prompt 23 @Yuki_Onna 😊

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OutsmartYourShelf
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Very occasionally you start reading a book & you know immediately that it's going to be a bit special. Straight away, the reader is immersed in fifteenth century China, I don't claim to know how accurate the storytelling is, but the detail to the worldbuilding is wonderful & the characters come alive in the prose. The only downside was having to see how women & girls were viewed, including the elite ones. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Overall for me, it was one of those reads that you know you will remember for a long time. 5🌟

Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5422622551
Read 19th-22nd Feb 2024

#ReadAway2024
@Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
9mo
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JoJo13
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WOW.

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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
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4/5
Very good historical fiction, well-written and well-researched.
I really enjoyed traveling through time, and learning more about Chinese history and eastern medicine. It's a very good story about friendship and about women supporting other women.
I feel like Lisa See really did her research to write a realistic historical fiction, which I appreciate.

Cosmos_Moon_River Cool, I‘ve read a few of her books and have enjoyed them all. Looks like a new TBR 📚 9mo
Aimeesue See‘s got pictures of the marriage bed handed down through her family on her website. Really interesting! 9mo
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Acoleman
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Pickpick

This was a great read. It really delves into the complicated relationships between women, both in family and in friends. It also address all the ways being a women requires special knowledge care. Could not picture a man being able to get through reading this book. Lots of talk about blood.

BkClubCare And worms!🪱 Ew… 10mo
Acoleman Right . . . Lol 10mo
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BkClubCare
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Esther is ecstatic to help me review this fast read for #BookClub #DogsofLitsy

Some sentences are more than clunky but it was a good read, characters to cheer for, lots of interesting history, and I am glad to have read it. Plus, I wanted to spend all my time reading — a feeling (?) which I have been missing these last few weeks. (My first book by this author.)

#WiaN2024 Category: Shape #HistoricalFic

Ruthiella Make sure she doesn‘t get too excited there! ❤️🐶😂 10mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 10mo
bthegood I understand that feeling and love when I find a book that gets me there😊 10mo
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BkClubCare @Ruthiella I know, poor thing 😍 10mo
BkClubCare @dabbe - thank you. 🐶 ❤️ 10mo
BkClubCare @bthegood - my current read is also giving me these good vibes, as well! 😃 10mo
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Beatlefan129
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I managed to finish one more book before the end of the year. Lisa See is an excellent writer and I always learn so much from her books. Inspired by a real woman, this story centers around Yunxian and her life in 15th century China as she grows up to become a talented physician who treats women. I loved her depictions of the relationships between many types of women—mothers, daughters, and friends. It was good to close out the year with a pick!

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Aimeesue
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Bought a hard copy of this one for my mom for Jolabokaflod, then the ebook was on sale on Christmas Day, so now I‘m reading it too. My RA is flaring big time and it‘s hitting my fingers and toes hard, so I‘m def feeling the whole agony of foot binding thing right along with these girls. What insanity foot binding was! And to do it to your daughters? Gah!😟

AnnR Sorry you aren't feeling well. I hope the flare passes soon. 11mo
Aimeesue @AnnR Thanks! I‘m hoping my immune system settles down before I have to go back to work in January. It got a little too excited over the holidays 😬 11mo
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Texreader
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Ebook on sale today (Christmas) only

TheBookHippie Oooo! 11mo
47 likes1 comment
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Cathyloves2read
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I guess I saved the best for last? (Or almost last anyhow). I really enjoyed this book. It astounds me to learn of the way females were treated during the Ming Dynasty. Foot binding? No way!! This is a book that I just didn‘t want to end. The author has a way of making you feel as though you‘re right there in the scenes she‘s describing. This is the second book I‘ve read by Lisa See that I‘ve absolutely loved.

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SabGinesi
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First snowfall of the year this morning and I am starting this finally! I'm so excited, I love Lisa See!

Most of her books have resonated with me so well and I hope this is one of them 😊

#books #lisasee #ladytan #canada

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Kgaudiuso
Pickpick

I didn‘t think I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did. While the imagery of what the women had to do to make themselves appealing was uncomfortable, I felt like I came out of this book with so much more knowledge. I enjoyed reading about the relationships between women during that time.

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Amie
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Pickpick

Good. Interesting to read about a place and time that I don't know much about.

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Evita
Pickpick

4.5 out of 5! Beautiful story worth the read.

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Floresj
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This is a well written, completely engaging historical fiction novel set in 1500s China. Chinese culture and women‘s friendships, roles, and responsibilities create an engrossing storyline. Concubines, foot binding, Chinese medicine, family drama, and midwives makes this one receive a high recommendation from me!

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Breanne1
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My Sept #BOTM picks! None of the primary picks grabbed me so I went with a member favorite.

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candc320
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Pickpick

This is the 1st book by this author I‘ve read/listened to and it definitely won‘t be the last! It presents a part of history I didn‘t know anything about and it was both fascinating and unbelievable to think what these women had to put up with/go through. I will say I think my interest might have floundered some if I was reading the print version of this, but the audiobook was wonderful! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

candc320 I forgot to say that this satisfies the August #TBRTarot prompt of “Choose a book which has a person‘s name in the title”. @CBee 1y
CBee @candc320 awesome! 1y
CMCurtis77 Her books are all amazing!! Fell in love with her writing in college and keep up as they come out!! 1y
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MysticFaerie
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Pickpick

4.5⭐️/5⭐️ The book was really good... and the cover art is stunning!

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Kboltz
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Pickpick

Every book that I read from this author gives me a new sense of what is was to be raised in China as a female. This book is unbelievable. From the foot binding to the Chinese medicine to the life behind the walls of the Forbidden City as a concubine this book shows how the woman of Chinese heritage depended on each other. Loved this book. Some parts, 😳😳😳.

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BookishTrish
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An entertaining look at being a female doctor in the 1400s in China. I learned a ton and heard a good story as well.

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julesG
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Thank you, @Cinfhen. I had the book on my radar, but your review made me actually get it and listen to it.

Story of a female doctor in 15th century China. Yunxian studies medicine for women from an early age. She's eager to learn and use her skills, but an educated woman doesn't lead an easy life in an elite family.

Fascinating historical fiction. Great #audiobook.

TrishB I guess I have to press buy 😁 1y
julesG @TrishB 😁 1y
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julesG
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TrishB This is sitting in my Amazon basket. 1y
julesG @TrishB Currently in the middle of Chapter 9 - the one where the MC gets married. It's fascinating. Slow, but there is so much about how life must have been like growing up in a family compound. How girls are treated, why feet are bound, what makes a good concubine,... and Chinese medicine 1y
Cinfhen Right?? It contains so much information but it‘s presented in such an accessible manner. It does pick up !! I loved it and I thought the narration was fantastic 1y
64 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

Loved this his book! Audio narration was excellent 🙌🏻Based on a remarkable woman who served as a lady doctor during the Ming Dynasty. So much history but presented in such an accessible manner. Definitely my favorite novel from See 🩷

TrishB Good to know- like reading different histories. 1y
Cinfhen I really enjoyed it so much @TrishB especially all the Chinese herbal remedies 1y
Megabooks Glad you enjoyed it! 1y
Cinfhen I think you‘d like it as well @Megabooks 😁 1y
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Cinfhen
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LOVING this audiobook but I think I might want to buy a physical copy. There‘s so much fascinating Chinese herbal medicine remedies mentioned. I‘m learning tons of fascinating things about Chinese culture too.

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JHSiess
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📚𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓮 𝓦𝓻𝓪𝓹-𝓤𝓹📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚 Patti Callahan Henry
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝗪𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 Meg Shaffer
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 Katie Bishop
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 Matthew Quirk
𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐞 Heather Chavez
𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫 Catherine McKenzie
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝗪𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 Lisa See

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 Jo Nesbo

Suet624 Lots of five stars! 1y
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Morton7
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My Favorite of the Month…

marleed Oh my goodness, I‘ve read all but one of these! We read alike! 1y
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KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

I love how this author has the unique ability through her writing to transport you back in time. This is another automatic buy author for me and I found this female driven read absorbing! Culture, class, and traditions combine into a page-turner of a read.

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Reecaspieces
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Reecaspieces
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marleed
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Pickpick

Although I love this cover, the story was not my favorite by this author. I appreciated the history looking at class differences, the tenuous power of the ruling wife in a compound, the fear of no sons to pray for your afterlife. Woman‘s doctor vs midwife - wow! But as interesting as Lady Tan was I couldn‘t get past the feet binding. I‘d make some joke about baby steps for women, but really it so disturbing.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It is a beautiful cover 💚📚 1y
marleed @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks oh my gosh, I hope Lisa See was gifted the original artwork for the cover. It is beautiful! 1y
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kelli7990
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This audiobook I preordered from Audible just became available on my Audible app. I‘ve never read a book by Lisa See before. I‘m looking forward to reading this. I don‘t know when I‘ll read it but at least I have it when I‘m ready to read it.

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TorieStorieS
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I‘m a huge fan of See‘s writing & I couldn‘t wait to dive into her latest! The book covers the fictionalized life of an actual doctor, starting from her childhood & spanning decades into her role as a revered medical authority. The characters, rich setting & impeccable detail make this an engaging & absorbing read. The research shines here without dumping it in or slowing the pace. I love the characters & the relationships that bloom between them!

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IMASLOWREADER
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when a favorite author likes your comment on their page 🤯 #nerdingout #readinglife

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Mpcacher
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I loved this novel. Set in 15th century China, the author has fictionalized the life of an actual woman doctor from that time, based on a book she wrote that is actually still available. How she becomes a respected practitioner from a 15-year-old bride makes for fabulous reading. The story is one of the role of women, the history of medicine, childbirth, friendship, and it even includes a mystery and intrigue. This may be See's best book yet. 5/5

jlhammar I added this to my #BOTM box for June. Now I'm even more excited! 1y
Mpcacher @jlhammar You won't be disappointed.
1y
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BookBosomed1
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Have a #botm haul on its way for June! I had already pre-ordered Elin Hilderbrand‘s newest book, or I‘d have also added that one to the box.