Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Another of Lisa See's books that I loved from cover to cover. It's heartwarming and satisfying to read about the beautiful bonds of the women who support each other. But it's also sad and incomprehensible to read about horrific customs like footbinding.

I can't imagine breaking the bones in my feet, so I can marry well. Any more than I can imagine bending to the will of my mother-in-law or purchasing a concubine for my husband. Yet all this and more are part of a woman's life in 15th-century China.

Lisa See completely transports you to this era and shows you what it's like to be a mother, daughter, wife, daughter-in-law, and friend. She shows you the harshness of some relationships and the beauty of others. In addition, she excels at demonstrating the life of women in an elite family.

And finally, she allows you to understand that although most women accept the archaic customs and ideals, some, like Lady Tan, long for more and fight the battle to break free.

I enjoyed every minute of this book and highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for providing a complimentary copy of the book.