Book Review Lady Tan’s Circle of Women

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Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

About the book

In 15th century China two women are born under the same sign, the Metal Snake. But life will take the friends on very different paths.

According to Confucius, ‘an educated woman is a worthless woman’, but Tan Yunxian – born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separation and loneliness – is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. She begins her training in medicine with her grandmother and, as she navigates the male world of medicine, requiring tact and diplomacy, she struggles against the confining world of her class.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose – despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it – and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of tradition, 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 Tan’s 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.

Comments

All members at our meeting enjoyed this story.

Historically we found the story fascinating. Chinese history in the mid 14th century, the Ming Dynasty. Although the story is a fictional account the historical detail throughout is enthralling.

The level of research of 15th century China is admirable. 

The story is centred around the real life of a female doctor, Tan Yunxian.

At the age of fifty she published a book about her medical cases, all of which were female. This book remains in print to this day thanks to her male descendants from the 17th century.

There is little to nothing known about the real Tan Yunxians life so the story revolves around the fictitious life story of a girl, born into a family of privilege in the Confucian period in China. 

The story beautifully details the lifestyle of females in her aristocratic family. Fortunately for Tan her family highly respects education and learning. 

Foot binding, social and class restrictions along with the educational requirements for young women to make them good daughters, good wives and then good mothers is engagingly well written throughout Tan’s life.

Our group also loved the detail of research by Lisa See into the medical cures that Lady Tan used and the descriptions of her diagnostic methodology with each of her patients. The novel also details the lack of appropriate medical diagnosis offered to women during this time.

There is an engaging story that runs through the novel with each character giving inciteful detail into the lives of the people of that class and sex during the time period, particularly midwives.

Tan Yunxian, through Lisa See, has been given her place in history with recognition of her medical brilliance, her ongoing self education and learning, and her care for her fellow females, no matter their class or social standing during this incredibly repressive time for so many in human history.

Read by MJ Readers Book Club

Book Review Stone Yard Devotional

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Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

Summary

A woman abandons her city life and marriage to return to the place of her childhood, holing up in a small religious community hidden away on the stark plains of the Monaro.

She does not believe in God, doesn’t know what prayer is, and finds herself living this strange, reclusive life almost by accident. As she gradually adjusts to the rhythms of monastic life, she finds herself turning again and again to thoughts of her mother, whose early death she can’t forget.

Disquiet interrupts this secluded life with three visitations. First comes a terrible mouse plague, each day signalling a new battle against the rising infestation.

Second is the return of the skeletal remains of a sister who left the community decades before to minister to deprived women in Thailand – then disappeared, presumed murdered.

Finally, a troubling visitor to the monastery pulls the narrator further back into her past.

With each of these disturbing arrivals, the woman faces some deep questions. Can a person be truly good? What is forgiveness? Is loss of hope a moral failure? And can the business of grief ever really be finished?

A meditative and deeply moving novel from one of Australia’s most acclaimed and best loved writers.

Comments

This story is more of an introspection by the main character whose name we are never told. She moves into a little outback convent where she recounts memories and events in her life. In the Spartan religious surroundings where there is a routine of work and prayer she gradually lets go of her past life embracing the simple lifestyle but retaining her atheist beliefs.

There is a huge disruption to the quiet of the convent in the form of a mouse plague which gives the reader insights into the horror of living through such an event.

A recurring theme is how childhood experiences shape and define the people we become and how later understandings may fail to change the results.

Whilst it is well written, most of us did not find any pleasure in having reading the book. One member found it ‘peaceful’ but the rest of us couldn’t see the point of it and didn’t connect or empathise with the main character.

Rating – 4/10

Read by Dundas Readers Book Club

Book Review The woman on the bridge

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Summary

Dublin. The 1920s. As war tears Ireland apart, two young people fall in love amongst events that will bring tragedy and tough choices as they fight for a better future.

In a country fighting for freedom, it’s hard to live a normal life. Winnie O’Leary supports the cause, but she doesn’t go looking for trouble. Then rebel Joseph Burke steps into her workplace. Winnie is furious with him about a broken window. She’s not interested in romance. But love comes when you least expect it.

Joseph’s family shelter fugitives and smuggle weapons. Joseph would never ask Winnie to join the fight; but his mother and sisters demand commitment. Will Winnie choose Joseph, and put her own loved ones in deadly danger? Or wait for a time of peace that may never come?

Ireland’s tumultuous independence struggle is the backdrop for an unforgettable story of courage and heartbreak, in which heroes are made of ordinary people. Inspired by the story of Sheila O’Flanagan’s grandmother, The Woman on the Bridge is the unmissable, compulsive new novel from a bestselling author.

Comments

This is a sad story of inequality and oppression set in Ireland during the time of ‘the troubles’ which is the background for the novel. It begins in 1920 and is based on the life of the author’s grandmother. England’s military presence and the bullying tactics of some of the troops worsen the impoverished conditions of the Irish people and the civil unrest and politics splits families and friendships.

The reader views this through the story of two young people caught up in the activism and the impact that this has on their families as their own relationship develops.

Whilst some of the historical content was interesting to read, we all found this story to be mundane and shallow. It was essentially a romance set in a turbulent time in Irish history.

Read by – Dundas Readers – Rated 5/10

Book Review Romantic Comedy

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Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Summary

Life is (not)* a Romantic Comedy…

After a series of heartbreaks, Sally Milz – successful script writer for a legendary late-night TV comedy show – has long abandoned the search for love.

But when her friend and fellow writer begins to date a glamorous actress, he joins the growing club of interesting but average-looking men who get romantically involved with accomplished, beautiful women.

Sally channels her annoyance into a sketch, poking fun at this ‘social rule’. The reverse never happens for a woman.

Then Sally meets Noah, a pop idol with a reputation for dating models. But this isn’t a romantic comedy – it’s real life.

Would someone like him ever date someone like her?

Skewering all our certainties about why we fall in love, ROMANTIC COMEDY is a witty and probing tale of how the heart will follow itself, no matter what anyone says. It is Curtis Sittenfeld at her most sharp, daring and compassionate best.

Comments

What a great, fun read! Very well written, charming and smart.  It’s a little different to your usual ‘chick-lits’, but thoroughly enjoyable all the same.  There were mixed reviews at the start, some of us loved the detailed workings of how they make a weekly comedy show, others found it a little dry.  However, once we pushed past this onto the next chapter, and the emails back and forth between Sally and Noah, we were hooked.  Rooting for Sally and Noah’s relationship to work within the confines of presidential elections and covid lockdowns.  We quite enjoyed this one. 

Read by Cultcha Club – 7/10

Picture You Dead Book Review

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Picture you dead by Peter James

Summary

Harry and Freya, an ordinary couple, dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried amongst the tat in a car boot sale.

It was a dream they knew in their hearts would never come true – until the day it did…

They buy the drab portrait for a few pounds, for its beautiful frame, planning to cut the painting out. Then studying it back at home there seems to be another picture beneath, of a stunning landscape. Could it be a long-lost masterpiece from 1770? If genuine, it could be worth millions.

One collector is certain it is genuine. Someone who uses any method he can to get want he wants and will stop at nothing.

Detective Superintendent Roy Grace finds himself plunged into an unfamiliar and rarefied world of fine art. Outwardly it appears respectable, gentlemanly, above reproach. But beneath the veneer, he rapidly finds that greed, deception and violence walk hand-in-hand. And Harry and Freya Kipling are about to discover that their dream is turning into their worst nightmare. . .

Comments

This is a well plotted story with a range of interesting characters. As this is the 18th book in the Roy Grace series, some of the characters were familiar to those who had read previous titles in the series and whilst this was not essential to reading this story, it seemed to make a difference to understanding the existing relationships between many of the police.

A missing art masterpiece, which could be worth millions, is found by chance at a car boot sale. This sets off a wild ride into the art world where we meet a master forger, a reclusive art collector and some very unsavoury characters who are dealing in the darkest corners of the art world.

Detective Roy Grace and his team become engaged in tracking down the miscreants in the convoluted plot and ultimately, things are tidily brought together.

The writing has a ‘televisual’ style but some of us found it to be a very long read which we felt could have been condensed.

6.5/10

Read by Dundas Readers