Author Lisa See has crafted a book about 15th century Chinese woman doctor, Amy Tan’s Circle of Women. That’s the January selection of the WTB Book Club which meets on Zoom, Monday, January 12 at 7 p.m.
In this book of historical fiction, See was inspired by the true story of a woman doctor from the 15th-century in China. Born into a well-placed family Tan Yunxian is raised by her grandparents and learned all about Chinese medicine from her grandmother.
If you’d like to participate email: babova@aol.com for the link.
If you want to read ahead, the selection for February is Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. This dystopian novel won the 2023 Booker Prize and centers on the Stack Family as the Republic of Ireland slips into totalitarianism.
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Explore the tapestry of traditions and culture! Plus, the factual story of
Lady Tan.
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