Encore Book Group

The April 2025 meeting of the Encore Book Group will be held at 1:30 PM, Monday, April 28st, downstairs at Lapham.  

This month, we’ll be discussing "Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See", a New York Times Bestseller!

This historical novel tells the true story of Tan Yunxian, a 15th-century woman physician in China, trained by her grandmother, one of the few female doctors in the country. Raised in an elite family, Yunxian faces the challenges of living in a society that devalues educated women. Despite these societal restrictions, she learns the pillars of Chinese medicine—looking, listening, touching, and asking—skills that allow her to treat women in ways men cannot.

The novel also explores Yunxian's deep friendship with Meiling, a young midwife-in-training, as they share a common purpose in treating women’s illnesses, especially related to childbearing. However, Yunxian’s arranged marriage and the demands of her mother-in-law force her to abandon her medical work and embrace the traditional role of a wife. Lady Tan's Circle of Women is a moving tale of friendship and resilience, illustrating how one woman’s courage and determination transcended the limitations of her time, with her remedies still used five centuries later.

There is always a lively discussion! 

You can contact Anne Sutcliffe. If you get on the email list, you can be alerted to any changes in the schedule or venue and book availability.