Join our monthly book club for an engaging discussion of our latest selection Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See.
Join our monthly book club for an engaging discussion of our latest selection, Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See .
New members are always welcome. 12 Copies of Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See will be available for check out from the Montrose Library service desk one month prior to the book club meeting date. Please stop by the Montrose Library, email montroselibrary@glendaleca.gov, or call 818-548-2048 to reserve one of the 12 copies. If we run out of copies, you'd like to pick up a copy at another branch, or you prefer a different book format, you may request a copy here https://glac.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S185C1984119.
Book Description: According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is 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 Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.
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.
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 wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, 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 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? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
Parking Information: Library parking is available onsite. Parking entrance is behind the Fire Station and Library buildings on Sunset Ave. Visitors receive 3-hour free parking and 15 minutes drop off parking is available in front of the Library. Accessible parking and wheelchair ramp is available in the parking lot. For additional information about this event, please contact Montrose Library at 818-548-2048 or send us an email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov
We welcome persons with disabilities to participate in all our programs and events. For accommodations requests, please email LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov
The Montrose Library, located on the east end of the Montrose Shopping Park, is a classic neighborhood branch library with materials and activities for adults, teens and children. Programs include adult activity based social clubs, teen volunteer programs and children's storytimes. The 1961 building offers a lot of natural light and includes a quiet room in the adult fiction area.
